Best Boston Divorce Attorneys

Divorce lawyers in Boston represent spouses who are ending a marriage. They help divide homes, retirement accounts, and business interests. Parenting schedules, child support, and alimony are part of the job too. Many cases settle out of court, while others go before a Probate and Family Court judge. Bring recent tax returns and account statements to a first meeting.

Listed Boston Divorce Lawyers are ranked by one score, applied the same way to every firm. It draws on public signals, including:

  • Client satisfaction and overall online reputation
  • The volume and consistency of client feedback
  • How established the firm is
  • Peer recognition within the legal community and across the web

Ranked listings are ordered by our independent score. Featured listings are paid placements shown separately. See how we rank law firms.

Leading Boston Family Law Attorneys for High-Asset, Custody & Support Cases

Screenshot of the Wright Family Law Group Website

Wright Family Law Group is a Massachusetts divorce and family law firm. It has offices in Tewksbury, Danvers, and West Newton. Founder Ellen Anna Wright has practiced in Massachusetts since 2009 and in New Hampshire since 2016.

Attorney Wright became a certified family court mediator in 2013. Courts have also appointed her as a guardian ad litem and discovery master.

The team handles:

  • Contested and uncontested divorce
  • Alimony and child support
  • Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy

Clients can pay legal fees through Affirm financing. The firm's site also offers a Massachusetts alimony calculator.

Screenshot of the Annelise Araujo Law Website
260 Franklin St suite 520, Boston, MA 02110, USA

Immigration and family law often overlap, and Annelise Araujo Law in Boston handles both. A ruling in immigration court can affect a divorce or parenting case, and vice versa.

Founder Annelise Araujo is a native of Brazil. Many team members are immigrants or first-generation Americans. The attorneys have more than 30 years of immigration experience.

On the family side, the firm focuses on:

  • Prenuptial agreements
  • Divorce and custody matters
  • Special Immigrant Juvenile cases

The staff speaks Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English. The office is also an LGBTQA+ safe space.

Screenshot of the Ryder & Phelps Website
111 South Bedford St, Suite 108, Burlington, MA 01803, USA

Ryder & Phelps, P.C. is a Burlington family law practice serving Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, and Worcester counties. The firm also takes cases in New Hampshire.

Partners Kathleen Ryder and Jordan Phelps are MCLE-certified mediators. Judges appoint them as guardians ad litem and special masters statewide. Both have been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list.

High-asset divorce is a core part of the work. The team divides equity compensation, retirement assets, and other marital property. It also drafts pre- and postnuptial agreements and separation agreements.

Screenshot of the The Law Office of Wyckoff Nissenbaum Website

Wyckoff Nissenbaum runs a divorce and family law office in Somerville, just north of Boston. His practice covers high net worth divorce and international child custody disputes. He also handles QDROs, the orders that split retirement accounts.

Already in a case with another lawyer? The office reviews pending matters for a flat or hourly fee. You get a frank look at the strengths and weak spots of your current strategy.

Screenshot of the Turco Legal, P.C. Website

Turco Legal, P.C. is a family law boutique with more than 1,000 divorce and family law cases behind it. Its Worcester office sits steps from the Probate and Family Court. The firm also has offices in Boston, Andover, Newburyport, Newton, and Manchester, NH.

The attorneys work with forensic accountants and business valuation experts on complex financial cases. They also take military divorces and high-conflict parenting cases. A reduced-fee Justice for All program helps clients on tight budgets.

Screenshot of the Geller Benjamin, LLP Website
69 Canal St, Floor 3, Boston, MA 02114, USA

From offices in Boston, Canton, and Woburn, Geller Benjamin, LLP pairs divorce with immigration law. The firm also handles bankruptcy. Partner James Benjamin has practiced law since 2011. He handles divorce, modification, and child support cases.

Partner Jacob Geller appears before USCIS and the Boston Immigration Court, and he speaks Spanish. Clients get a Boston divorce lawyer and an immigration attorney under one roof.

Screenshot of the Popovitch Law Website
1666 Massachusetts Ave suite 12, Lexington, MA 02420, USA

Lauren Popovitch is a Greater Boston divorce lawyer. Her cases often involve stock options, RSUs, inheritance, and trusts. Her firm, Popovitch Law LLC, is based in Lexington and also serves MetroWest.

Attorney Popovitch is listed by Super Lawyers. Client reviews often point to her negotiation skills and careful trial preparation.

Screenshot of the Mavrides, Silva & Abbott Law Website
10 High St #1002, Boston, MA 02110, USA

Marcia Mavrides has worked as a Boston divorce attorney for more than four decades. Her firm, formerly Mavrides Law, now operates as Mavrides, Silva & Abbott Law. Jennifer Silva and Amy Abbott are the other named attorneys.

The team handles high-net-worth asset division and the tax impact of divorce. It is certified in collaborative law and offers à la carte second opinions. Offices are in Boston, Newton, and Wellesley.

Screenshot of the Socci & Nieves Family Law Group, LLP Website
859 Turnpike St #130, North Andover, MA 01845, USA

Socci & Nieves Family Law Group, LLP is a North Andover firm. It serves clients in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Attorneys Nicole Socci and Miguel Nieves practice divorce and family law exclusively. Together, they have more than 30 years of experience.

Both are recognized by Super Lawyers. The firm takes complex high-asset divorce and paternity cases. It also offers limited assistance representation and coaching.

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Screenshot of the Nussbaum Family Law LLC Website
15 Highland St, Sharon, MA 02067, USA

Settlement comes first at Nussbaum Family Law, a Sharon practice led by Beth Nussbaum. She works as a mediator and negotiates prenups. She also helps LGBTQ+ families secure second-parent adoptions. A free phone consultation is available.

Screenshot of the Anthony C. Adamopoulos Website
458 Boston St Suite 2-6, Topsfield, MA 01983, USA

Anthony C. Adamopoulos is a Topsfield divorce attorney with more than 25 years of experience resolving divorces. He helps clients choose between traditional litigation, collaborative divorce, and arbitration. Other lawyers also hire him as a neutral to break settlement deadlocks.

Screenshot of the Legal Solutions Law Group PC Website
990 Washington St #201, Dedham, MA 02026, USA

Clients of Legal Solutions Law Group PC in Dedham can call or text the office 24/7. Attorney Amy Saunders focuses on Massachusetts divorce and offers a free consultation.

Screenshot of the Andrew P. Cornell, Attorney at Law Website
126 Prospect St # 8, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Andrew P. Cornell is a Cambridge family law attorney who has practiced in Massachusetts since 1994. He handles complex custody cases and divides marital assets like real estate and business interests. He is also an adjunct professor at New England School of Law.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Boston?

Most charge by the hour. Clients usually pay an upfront retainer, and the attorney bills time against it. Some firms offer flat fees for uncontested cases. Others offer limited assistance representation, where you hire a lawyer for only part of the case.

How long does a divorce take in Massachusetts?

It depends on the filing type. In an uncontested 1A divorce, the judgment nisi enters 30 days after the judge approves your agreement. The divorce becomes final 90 days after that. A contested 1B case cannot reach a hearing until six months after filing, and a trial can take far longer.

What are the residency rules for filing in Massachusetts?

It depends on where the marriage broke down. If the cause arose in Massachusetts, the filing spouse must live here. If it arose in another state, the filing spouse usually needs to live there for a full year first.

How is property divided in a Massachusetts divorce?

Massachusetts uses equitable distribution. Fair does not always mean 50/50. Judges weigh factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and contributions as a homemaker. They can also reach property owned before the marriage, plus gifts and inheritances.

How long does alimony last in Massachusetts?

It depends on the length of the marriage. The Alimony Reform Act sets time limits for general term support. A marriage of five years or less allows up to half its length in months. The cap rises to 60%, 70%, and 80% for longer marriages. After 20 years, a judge may order payments indefinitely. It usually ends when the paying spouse reaches full retirement age.

Where are Boston divorce cases filed?

Boston cases go to the Suffolk Probate and Family Court. It sits at 24 New Chardon Street, near Government Center. If you live in Cambridge, Newton, or Quincy, your case goes to the Middlesex or Norfolk County court instead.

Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

Not legally, but a review helps. The separation agreement controls your finances and parenting plan for years. A family lawyer can spot gaps in retirement splits, tax issues, or college costs before a judge signs off.

Types of Divorce and Family Law Cases in Boston

Uncontested Divorce. Spouses file a joint petition with a signed separation agreement. It is usually the fastest and least expensive path.

Contested Divorce. One spouse files alone, and the parties disagree on key issues. These cases move through discovery, pretrial conferences, and sometimes trial.

High-Asset Divorce. Stock options, closely held businesses, and real estate need careful valuation. Attorneys often bring in forensic accountants and business appraisers.

Parenting Time and Decision-Making. Massachusetts separates legal custody, which covers major decisions, from physical custody, which covers where a child lives. Judges decide both based on the child's best interests.

Child Support. The Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines set a presumptive amount based on both parents' incomes. Support can continue past 18 for a child in college, up to age 23.

Modifications. A material change in circumstances can justify changing a support order or parenting plan. Common triggers include job loss, a move, or a child's changing needs.

Separate Support. Massachusetts has no formal legal separation. Instead, a spouse can ask the court for separate support while staying married.

How to Choose a Divorce Attorney in Boston

Look for Probate and Family Court focus. Lawyers who appear in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk courts often know local judges and procedures. That matters when timing and tone shape a case.

Match their strengths to your case. A divorce with a family business or equity compensation needs financial depth. A parenting dispute needs someone comfortable working with Guardians Ad Litem.

Ask how they resolve cases. Some attorneys push for settlement. Others are known as strong trial lawyers. Pick the approach that fits your goals and your spouse.

Get the fee terms in writing. Ask about the retainer, hourly rates for partners and associates, and billing for paralegal time. Clear terms prevent surprises halfway through.

What Affects Divorce Outcomes in Massachusetts?

No two settlements look the same. The length of the marriage drives spousal support limits and shapes property division. Income gaps, health, and each spouse's earning capacity also matter. Prenuptial agreements can override some default rules if a court finds them fair. A Boston divorce attorney can review your facts and outline a realistic range.

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