Best Divorce Lawyers in Boston
Andrew Guisbond
Divorce Lawyers
Andrew Guisbond is a family law and divorce attorney with more than 30 years of experience in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition to family law and divorce his areas of expertise include child custody, child support, alimony, paternity, domestic violence, premarital agreements, international custody, relocation, and removal cases. He has extensive experience litigating in the Probate & Family Courts of the Commonwealth and the Family Division of the Superior Court of the State of New Hampshire, and is a skilled negotiator with an excellent track record of achieving amicable settlements.
Education
- Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
- J.D. – 1978
- Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts
- B.A. – 1974
- Major: History
- Major: Economics
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1978
- New Hampshire, 1987
Classes & Seminars
- Faculty Adjunct, Northeastern University, 1990 to Present
Professional Associations
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Member
- New Hampshire Bar Association, Member
Marlene Shiner
Divorce Lawyers
Thoughtful and thorough, Marlene has honed her professional acumen and her client-centric style by succeeding in some of the most impressive educational and professional environments. Marlene is a licensed attorney in the United States and Canada and, in addition to her J.D., earned her J.S.D. (equivalent to a PhD in Law) from Cornell Law School. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the impact of divorce on parents and their children and on what to do with the family home upon divorce.
Marlene is uniquely qualified to deal with any type of divorce or family law scenario. She is credentialed in mediation by the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Mediation Program, by the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation for Lawyers, (the leading negotiation/mediation program in the world), and by the Institute of Divorce Mediation. She is a member of the Ontario and Massachusetts chapters of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and serves on the Family Law Council of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Lisa A. Ruggieri
Divorce Lawyers
For almost twenty years, Lisa has specialized in all areas of family law. Lisa Ruggieri is a well-known and respected family law attorney in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She is a highly skilled negotiator and has extensive experience in all aspects of domestic relations practice, including contested divorces, uncontested divorces, same sex divorces, custody and removal actions, co-parenting plans, paternity actions, Father’s rights, Child Support, Alimony, Property Division, Modifications, Contempt actions. She also has experience in alternative divorce dispute resolutions such as mediation, conciliation and arbitration.
Whether in negotiations or at trial, Lisa pays particular attention to accurate analysis and valuation of the myriad of assets and financial interests often at stake in a divorce, whether they are business interests, various investments, stock options, or pension and profit sharing plans, and considers the tax consequences both of dividing assets and establishing support obligations. Lisa has developed a network of professionals with whom she works closely who provide specialized assistance in these areas. When issues relating to children arise, Lisa recommends her clients work closely with parent coordinators, Guardian Ad Litems and/or other professionals to assist the parties in developing co-parenting plans that serve the best interests of the children.
Lisa’s zealous advocacy on behalf of her clients had led her to numerous awards and recognition from her fellow professionals. She is recognized as a “Superb” rated attorney by Avvo and Lead Council Rated. Attorney Ruggieri has contributed numerous articles on divorce and other family law topics as well as co-authored a book on Family Law Advocacy at the MCLE. Lisa also served as an officer and past President of the South Middlesex Bar Association. Lisa has argued in both the Appeals Court and The Supreme Judicial Court.
Teresa R. Reade
Divorce Lawyers
Teresa Reade works to help clients through the emotional and mental challenges that come along with the divorce process while educating them to choose their best path forward. She explains what is happening and what to expect to remove much of the discomforting uncertainty from the divorce process. Then she helps clients understand their options and the long-term effects of the choices they will be making. In particular, she enables parents to appreciate the options that could be most beneficial for their children in the long run.
Teresa focuses her practice exclusively on issues relating to family and divorce law, including custody and parenting plans, child support and alimony, complex and high asset property division, and prenuptial agreements. Although she works to resolve issues through cooperative means, her extensive litigation experience enables her to vigorously protect her clients in court when necessary. Teresa began her practice in civil litigation creating a foundation of both written and court advocacy skills that she continues to build upon with every case.
“People come to me in a bad situation,” she explains. “Their marriage is falling apart, their family is falling apart, they’re uncertain whether they’re going to be able to live in their house anymore or even tuck their kids in bed at night. I can’t solve all of their problems, but I can do a lot to help them find the best solutions and come to a stable and peaceful place in their lives.”
A dedicated advocate on behalf of children, Teresa serves as a Guardian Ad Litem to investigate and make recommendations with regard to parenting and custody issues. Teresa also represents children’s interests in the court through the Attorneys Representing Children program. Her service to clients, in-depth knowledge of the law, and success in and out of the courtroom led peers to nominate her to the Super Lawyers list.
In addition to serving the legal community through numerous professional organizations, she also volunteers her time to serve families in transition as a Board Member of Citizens Inn, Inc. She has also served the community through her efforts on the Board of Directors of the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce (past president) since 2017.
Teresa grew up in Wyoming, earned her B.A. degree in the Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming, and then moved to California to earn her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law. After practicing in California for a number of years, she relocated to Massachusetts in 2009.
DAVID K. WILKINSON
Divorce Lawyers
David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington, one of the highest ranked undergraduate business schools in the United States, where he was awarded membership to the National Dean’s List. Mr. Wilkinson received his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law School, where he received the highest grade in both Contracts II and Arbitration Law, and graduated in the top one-third of his class.
David practices family law exclusively for the firm, handling all facets of the practice area, from straightforward negotiation and preparation of pleadings to complex litigation. David has previously represented small and large asset clients in all types family law matters.
While the Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP philosophy adheres to a settlement-as-a-first-option, litigation-as-a-final-option mentality, several recent cases handled by David evidence the broad range of his competence in both regards. An extensive list of example cases that David has handled can be accessed here:
- Sample child custody cases
- Sample child support and alimony cases
- Sample divorce cases
- Sample domestic abuse cases
- Sample family law cases
- Sample post-judgment cases
Irena W. Inman
Divorce Lawyers
Attorney Irena W. Inman. Owner of Callahan, Barraco, Inman & Bonzagni, PC
Family law attorney Irena Inman represents men and women in a variety of domestic relations issues, including separation and divorce, child custody and support, spousal support, modifications, contempt of court, restraining orders and allegations of physical abuse and substance abuse.
She represents clients throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in virtually every courtroom. Clients appreciate her compassion and passionate advocacy on their behalf, as well as her commitment to promoting the best interests of the children in each case. She is known for being able to resolve tough custody and parenting issues by developing creative solutions to maximize the children’s time with each parent.
Attorney Inman also is masterful at handling the intricacies of cases involving high-net-worth individuals and division of high-asset marital cases. She is adept at untangling complicated financial issues, whether flushing out hidden assets or sorting through pensions, stock options, investments and business interests.
One of the reasons Attorney Inman enjoys handling divorce and family law cases is because it requires a mix of legal knowledge and creativity. She prides herself on staying abreast on changes in case law, in addition to spending time in local courts to see how the judges handle different cases and issues. She uses this information when working with clients to develop successful strategies and as a result Attorney Inman has earned her reputation as a top-notch divorce and family lawyer who’s a force to be reckoned with.
Irena Inman graduated from Wellesley College and Suffolk University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar and the Federal Bar for the District of Massachusetts. She and her husband own an American Staffordshire Terrier-mix rescue dog named Sadie.
Attorney Inman volunteers in her free time as an Attorney Representing Children in custody matters, pro-bono before the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. In addition, she has served on the Family Law Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association, chairing the Education and Lawyer Well-Being Subcommittees.
Richard C. Bardi
Divorce Lawyers
Richard C. Bardi has a diverse trial practice focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense and family law. He is AV-rated through Martindale-Hubbell’s peer-review rating service, the highest rating available to an individual lawyer, and was recognized in Massachusetts Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers from 2006-2011 and 2013-2022. He has also been included in The Best Lawyers in America’s Consumer Guide.
Mr. Bardi has been involved in numerous high-visibility civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts across the U.S. He is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and New York. His office represents clients in family law matters, victims of personal injury, criminal defendants, businesses involved in litigation and law enforcement personnel accused of misconduct. He is the vice president of New England Law | Boston’s Alumni Association, the former president and board of directors member of the Justinian Law Society, and a member of the Knights of Columbus and Elks.
Lee D. Goldstein
Divorce Lawyers
Throughout his legal career, Lee has divided his time between teaching, practice and theory. As a committed political person, he has attempted to blur the boundaries between progressive activist, teacher, scholar, and lawyer. In 1971, as a clinical teacher and a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow at the Northwestern University Legal Assistance Project in Chicago, he represented tenants, alternative institutions, prisoners, gangs, community groups, and members of the Black Panther Party. Upon moving to Boston in 1972, Lee became a staff attorney at Project Place Legal Services, where he represented poor people as well as advising progressive community organizations, with particular concentration in the areas of mental health, housing law, and patients’ rights. While at Project Place, he published his book, Communes, Law and Common Sense, in 1974.
In the mid-1970’s, Lee was the Regional Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild and was the Chairperson of the Massachusetts Chapter for two terms. In 1977, he was a member of the first delegation of Western lawyers who were invited to study the Chinese legal system. He subsequently wrote and lectured extensively about socialist and legal theory. Lee was selected by the NLG, Massachusetts Chapter, as its “Lawyer of the Year” in 1998.
Since 1975, Lee has practiced law as part of a community law office in Central Square, Cambridge, representing tenants, workers, community and political groups. He has worked with his current law partner, Jeff Feuer, who shares his political outlook, since 1995. Lee’s current clients reflect the diversity of the progressive movement in the greater Boston area – The Foundation for Civic Leadership, Resist, Better Future Action, Jobs with Justice, Foundation for the Study of Therapeutic Encounter, and Defense Against Thought Control. Lee’s current business clients include Inspired Vision, LLC., Prisma and The Occupational Rehabilitation Group.
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Boston can provide numerous advantages when facing the challenges of a divorce case. Here are some reasons why you might consider seeking the services of a top divorce lawyer in Boston:
Knowledge of Massachusetts Divorce Laws: Divorce laws vary from state to state. A top divorce lawyer in Boston will possess an in-depth understanding of Massachusetts’ specific laws and regulations, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with local legal requirements.
Expertise in Boston Court Proceedings: A skilled Boston divorce lawyer will be well-versed in the procedures and processes followed by Massachusetts courts. This familiarity can help expedite your case and prevent unnecessary delays.
Asset and Property Division: If you have complex financial situations or substantial assets to divide, an experienced lawyer can help safeguard your interests during property division negotiations, aiming for an equitable distribution.
Child Custody and Support: Child custody and support arrangements can be emotionally charged and legally intricate. An adept divorce lawyer can guide you through the legal aspects and advocate for the best interests of your children.
Alimony and Spousal Support: Determining alimony (spousal support) can be contentious. A skilled attorney can help negotiate a fair arrangement based on factors such as each spouse’s financial circumstances, needs, and contributions during the marriage.
Negotiation Skills: Top divorce lawyers possess strong negotiation skills. They can work towards settlements that are mutually agreeable, potentially saving you time, money, and emotional stress compared to a litigated divorce.
Strategic Planning: An experienced lawyer can develop a strategic approach to your case, taking into account the unique dynamics of your marriage and family situation.
Courtroom Experience: If your case goes to court, having a proficient lawyer by your side can make a significant difference. They can present your case persuasively and advocate effectively on your behalf before a judge.
Emotional Support: Divorce can be emotionally challenging. A reputable lawyer not only provides legal guidance but also offers emotional support throughout the process.
Avoiding Mistakes: Legal procedures and paperwork can be overwhelming. A skilled lawyer can ensure that all documents are completed accurately and submitted on time, reducing the risk of complications or delays.
Alternative Dispute Resolution: An experienced Boston divorce lawyer might explore alternatives to court litigation, such as mediation or collaborative divorce, which can lead to more amicable resolutions.
Protection of Rights: Your lawyer will serve as your advocate, safeguarding your rights and ensuring that you aren’t taken advantage of during negotiations or legal proceedings.
When selecting a divorce lawyer in Boston, it’s essential to research and consult with multiple attorneys to find someone who is experienced, knowledgeable about Massachusetts family law, and compatible with your specific needs. A well-qualified attorney can significantly simplify the divorce process and help you navigate the legal intricacies of divorce in Massachusetts.