Aggressive in court. Compassionate at the kitchen table.
We specialize in divorce and child custody disputes, with both aggressive representation and sensitivity to your needs during a trying time. Our boutique approach means no matter how busy we are, we always have time for you.
Plain-speaking advice, from first consultation to the last order.
We will listen carefully to your needs and concerns and treat you with courtesy and respect. We work with you to ensure that your rights and the rights of your children are protected.
We represent clients in a full range of family law matters: divorce (child custody, parenting plans, child support, alimony and marital property division), post-divorce issues (modifications and contempt actions), adoptions and guardianships. Attorney Brown is also a trained mediator. We have experience in all types of divorces including short-term and long-term marriage, same-sex marriage, midlife, mature and “grey” divorces.
While we encourage clients to reach agreement whenever possible, we also help them stand up for their rights. If an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached, we have the resources and experience to bring your case to Court.
What we handle
For the most part, all the property and assets you and your spouse accrued during your marriage are subject to division. Inheritances and gifts are also subject to division. Marital assets include pensions, 401ks, 403bs, IRAs, bank accounts, business assets, stocks, stock options (vested and unvested), RSUs, trusts, homes, other real property, motor vehicles, household goods and other property.
Massachusetts requires an equitable division, which does not mean 50/50. Once your divorce is final it is next to impossible to go back to court to modify the division of property, so it is critical that you know the value of all your marital assets, including those a spouse may try to hide.
We are skilled in discreetly handling high asset / high net worth divorces, working closely with financial experts to value businesses, discover hidden assets and value complex holdings like stock options and RSUs. Whether your case is complex or simple, Attorney Brown will protect your rights and interests under Massachusetts law.
No other issue is more emotional in a divorce than child custody. While all parents want the best for their children, not everyone can agree on which parent can provide the best living situation for them. Our goal is to help parents reach a reasonable custody arrangement based on our client’s wishes and “the best interests of the child.”
That is not always possible. When parents cannot agree, court intervention and/or a Guardian ad litem (GAL) may be required. Our years of experience help us determine the best course of action for your particular circumstances.
Child support is the weekly or monthly amount the non-custodial parent pays the custodial parent to provide for the children’s financial needs, and may be mandated until the child turns 23. The amount is based on both parents’ gross income, the number and ages of the children, and expenses such as day care and health insurance. The formula is strictly applied only to families with a total annual income of approximately $400,000 or less, and other factors may allow payments to deviate from it.
New Child Support Guidelines went into effect in October 2021. The 2021 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines include substantial increases for families with multiple children and may affect your current orders, particularly with extraordinary health insurance or daycare costs. The court can consider income from all sources, including bonuses, commissions, stock options, RSUs, rental property, trusts and annuities.
Alimony is based on the length of the marriage, the parties’ incomes, earning capacities and needs, and conduct during the marriage. Either party can be awarded alimony, and it may be awarded in a marriage of any length, as general term or rehabilitative alimony. The 2011 Alimony Reform Act set durational limits: except in the rarest of cases alimony will not be awarded for life, and it ends when the payer reaches retirement age or the recipient begins living with a romantic partner.
As of January 1, 2019, alimony is no longer taxable on your Federal return; it remains taxable on your Massachusetts return. Call us at (781) 829-6870. Appointments are also available in our Cape Cod office.
Once your divorce is final, issues may arise that require further legal action, usually the enforcement or change of court orders or separation agreements.
Modifications. When circumstances change, such as a significant rise or fall in a parent’s income, child support, custody, visitation or alimony may need to change. Some changes require a modification; others can be agreed between the parties. If you become unemployed, you cannot simply stop paying child support or alimony. You normally need to seek a modification to avoid contempt charges.
Contempt. When either party fails to abide by a court order, they could become the subject of a contempt proceeding, most often involving child support or alimony. If the court finds your ex-spouse in contempt it can order payment, garnish wages, or in some circumstances order jail time. Whether you are seeking a contempt order or are the subject of one, we can help.
A prenuptial (“prenup”) is an agreement made by two people before their marriage. It defines what each party brings to the marriage and what rights each will have in the other’s assets should the marriage end in divorce. Prenups can be very detailed, covering alimony and assets acquired after marriage, or cover only a few items such as a house or a trust fund. To be enforceable in Massachusetts, both parties must have their own lawyer review it before signing.
Postnuptial agreements are similar but are signed after the parties are married. Both parties must have their lawyers review them before signing for the agreement to be valid.
A peaceful way through a divorce.
Divorce mediation lets divorcing couples, with the help of a neutral mediator, work together to set the terms of their divorce. The process is 100% voluntary and should be used only if both parties want to mediate and feel they can advocate for their own position.
The main advantages are cost savings and the chance to keep a more amicable relationship with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. The mediator, an attorney with special training, drafts all documents to be filed with the Probate Court. Each party should still retain a family law attorney to review them, because the mediator cannot advise whether an agreement is best for you.
All initial consultations are without charge. Call 781.829.6870.
When someone else’s negligence changes your life.
Our firm represents individuals in state and federal courts in all categories of personal injury: automobile, trucking, motorcycle, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, and any matter where a serious injury has occurred.
Automobile & Trucking Accidents
Crashes with cars, tractor trailers and semi trucks can cause severe and permanent injuries. The law lets an injured person recover damages from the responsible party, including medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses, other economic losses and pain and suffering. A spouse may also recover for loss of consortium.
Motorcycle & Bicycle Accidents
Riders are exposed and vulnerable, and many accidents result from drivers who fail to watch for them. If you were hurt because a driver was inattentive, didn’t check a blind spot or ignored traffic laws, you may be entitled to damages.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one died because of another person’s negligence or recklessness, your family may be able to recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. All initial consultations are without charge: 781.829.6870.
We work with trusted carriers
The people behind your case
Attorney Brown and her professional staff will be there to provide the answers you need, when you need them.
Susannah L. Brown, Esq.
Founding AttorneyPracticing law since 1993. A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford and Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, admitted in both Georgia and Massachusetts. Her background is in civil and criminal trial work; her practice focuses primarily on family law and divorce, and she is a Certified Mediator. She lives in Marshfield with her husband and children, sits on the Board of Directors of the Plymouth County Bar Association, and is a proud member of the South Shore Women’s Business Network.
Gina A. Leahy, Esq.
AttorneyPracticing law since 1990. A cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School and a Colby College graduate, Gina is a native of Westwood, an Editorial Board member of the Suffolk University Law Review, and was law clerk to the Honorable Marianne B. Bowler in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She is admitted in Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Her practice focuses on family law and domestic relations, plus personal injury and insurance defense. She previously practiced in Boston and lives in Cohasset with her family.
Madison Shoulla
ParalegalA paralegal since 2020, Madison supports the attorneys with legal research, preparing pleadings and filing with the courts, and handles many administrative aspects of the office, including client billing. She graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2019 with a major in Political Science and plans to attend law school.
Pay your retainer or invoice by credit card.
- Go to FaztPay.com and enter our 10-digit telephone number, 781-829-6870. Go to FaztPay.com
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- FaztPay charges a convenience fee of 3.5% of the payment amount plus $2.00, added automatically to your payment by VPS.
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Refund policy: Any unused portion of your retainer may be refunded pending Court approval of a Motion to Withdraw, if applicable.
If it’s a family law matter, call Attorney Brown.
She is the person you need to help navigate the complex world of Massachusetts divorce law, an aggressive litigator and a compassionate advocate for your rights and needs.
781.829.6870 [email protected]Fax 781-826-6970 · Call for current office hours
Building One, Suite A
Pembroke, MA 02359
Centrally located on Route 139, just off Route 3.
9 Old Main Street
West Dennis, MA 02670
Serving the South Shore and Southeastern Massachusetts, including Plymouth, Barnstable, Norfolk, Bristol and Suffolk Counties: Plymouth, Kingston, Marshfield, Duxbury, Norwell, Scituate, Pembroke, Hingham, Hanover, Cohasset, Quincy, Weymouth, Barnstable, Rockland, Hanson, Whitman, Hull, Middleboro, Halifax, Lakeville, Carver, Bridgewater, Dedham, Westwood, Sharon, Canton, Braintree, Milton, Needham, Norwood, Wellesley, Brookline, Randolph, Stoughton and Avon.