Fitch

Divorce and Family Law

FITCH attorneys have earned a reputation for outstanding advocacy and counseling in all areas of divorce litigation. Clients turn to our attorneys for zealous, responsive, and effective representation in difficult divorce and family law cases. We recognize the importance of identifying each client’s needs and priorities. We are dedicated to obtaining effective and just outcomes for our clients.

The firm has succeeded in obtaining sizeable alimony and child support judgments for clients, in addition to securing multi-million dollar property settlements.

FITCH excels in representing individuals in cases involving high value assets and complex financial issues, such as those that arise when the marital estate includes privately-held corporations, limited partnerships, or trusts. Clients trust FITCH to effectively resolve such issues — whether by comprehensive settlement, mediation, or trial.

Our divorce lawyers handle complex and often hotly contested cases. We work tirelessly to achieve successful resolutions of disputes concerning the division of marital assets, child custody and visitation, alimony, domestic abuse, and permanent removal from the Commonwealth.

We approach child custody disputes with required sensitivity but also realize that the stakes are high. Our lawyers have successfully litigated child custody disputes involving allegations of sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, alcoholism, and mental illness.

We prepare and negotiate prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect accumulated wealth, inheritances, family trust interests, and business interests in the event of divorce or death of a spouse. We often negotiate and draft provisions regarding alimony rights in the event the marriage ends by divorce. In addition, we have experience litigating disputes concerning the scope and enforceability of prenuptial agreements.

We have found that many clients wish to avoid a courtroom as the forum for resolving serious differences and instead choose to participate in nonbinding mediation or other form of alternative dispute resolution. We are skilled advocates in mediation, conciliation, and arbitration, and have successfully resolved our clients’ disputes regarding the division of assets, alimony and child support, child custody, and modification and contempt, through alternative dispute resolution.

We regularly represent clients in domestic abuse matters. When necessary and appropriate, we seek court intervention for the issuance of both Abuse Prevention Orders and Domestic Relations Protective Orders. We often work with mental health professionals to assist clients who are in abusive relationships and in need of varied services. Additionally, we have successfully defended clients against false and potentially devastating claims of abuse.

Attorneys
practicing in
Divorce

+Barbara L.
Drury

Barbara L. Drury

+Steven E.
Gurdin

Steven E. Gurdin

+Stephen A.
Mackenzie

Stephen A. Mackenzie

+Carlos A.
Maycotte

Carlos A. Maycotte

+Madeline
Pelagalli

Madeline Pelagalli

+Kelly A.
Schwartz

Kelly A. Schwartz

+Caterina S.
Wurman

Caterina S. Wurman

Divorce And Family Law Case Results

– Division of Assets

In a recent case, one of our lawyers negotiated a highly complex financial settlement on the eve of trial that resulted in a favorable division of our client’s stock options in a publicly traded corporation.

After a trial in another case involving substantial marital assets, the court ruled in favor of our client regarding the interpretation and unenforceability of certain provisions in a prenuptial agreement.

– Child Custody and Support

Our attorneys have been successful securing — and defending against — both contempt and modification actions. After a recent trial for contempt, our client was awarded a sizeable judgment for unpaid child support and was also awarded counsel fees and interest.

In another recent case, one of our attorneys recently succeed in defeating a party’s request to remove two minor children from southeastern Massachusetts to central New Hampshire.

At a recent trial, our client gained custody of a minor child and other vital relief after the court ruled that his former wife’s charges of child abuse were false.

One of our lawyers succeeded in proving our client’s claim to be the father of a child, and the probate court ordered an appropriate parenting plan fully recognizing our client’s parental rights. We regularly represent unmarried persons in paternity actions to establish paternity and parental rights.

– Prenuptial Agreements

At a recent trial, we successfully challenged the legality of certain provisions of a prenuptial agreement and our client won a highly favorable judgment of divorce.

– Alternative Dispute Resolution

In a recent mediation, we obtained a favorable property settlement that preserved inherited and gifted property that our client received during her marriage.