Comprehensive Legal Counsel for All of Your Family Law Matters

Legal issues involving your family and your assets may be some of the most difficult and sensitive challenges that you encounter in your lifetime. The law firm of Linda Sternberg, Esquire, was established 35 years ago to guide Massachusetts families through the various challenges of family law.

If you need compassionate and comprehensive legal advice or assistance with any of the legal issues below, we are available to help. Call the office of Linda Sternberg, Esquire, in Watertown at 617-454-4705 to schedule your consultation, or reach out online to get started.

Divorce and Legal Separation

Filing for divorce can be a complicated process, and the outcome will change the dynamics and plans you had for your family. Whether your primary concern is child custody, parenting time, financial support or the division of assets, as your lawyers, we will explain the law and develop a strategy to help you achieve your goals.

Child Custody and Parenting Plans

Child custody disputes can be traumatic for parents and children. Although it is usually better for your family if you can negotiate a child custody arrangement with your spouse or child’s other parent, when necessary, we skillfully litigate child custody matters in court, particularly if there are issues of domestic violence or abuse. We can also offer assistance to parents who may need to relocate during or after their divorce or separation.

Child Support and Alimony

In Massachusetts, the state strives to ensure that all family members are financially protected after divorce. To this end, courts will order child support payments and may award alimony. As your attorneys, we will help you seek the financial support you need for your and your child’s future. If you will be subject to a support order, we can help you negotiate a reasonable agreement; if you are subject to a support order and need to modify it because your circumstances have changed, we can help with that too.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative law is an alternative to litigating your divorce or other family law dispute in Massachusetts. The collaborative practice model allows you and the other party to work together along with your respective attorneys to reach a resolution that meets everyone’s goals. We are here to ensure your rights are protected and to guide you in making the best decisions for you and your family.

Adoption and Guardianship

Whether you wish to adopt a child into your family or need to establish legal guardianship to obtain substitute decision-making authority over a loved one (such as a minor, or a disabled, elderly, or mentally ill adult), the law can be complicated to navigate alone. We can guide you through the legal process as you focus on your family.

Asset and Property Division

Massachusetts courts treat divorce as the dissolution of a financial partnership. For your future financial security, it is very important for your lawyer to discover what assets you and your spouse have, where they originated, and what your current and future financial needs are. We can help you make important decisions regarding your finances during a divorce and can work through the many complexities that come with dividing high-value assets.

Paternity

If you are the parent of a child born out of wedlock, we can help you to establish parental rights, including a determination of paternity, custody, visitation and parenting plan rights. We can also help you obtain a fair child support and medical insurance coverage agreement or order for your child.

Post-Judgment Actions

In family law, not all issues are resolved once a final divorce, paternity, or custody judgment is entered by a judge. The laws in Massachusetts permit parties to seek modifications in a variety of circumstances and to file contempt actions to enforce compliance with orders and agreements. We provide quality and professional legal services for our clients in all matters and procedures related to post-judgment actions.

Limited Assistance Representation

Limited representation (also called “unbundling” or “limited scope representation”) allows us to represent you for a component of your legal proceeding. Although not all cases are appropriate for limited assistance representation, it is more economical in certain circumstances. Rather than paying for months or even years of legal representation, you can seek legal advice for select issues or events, if appropriate for your case.

Wills and Simple Estates

Estate planning should be a comprehensive process that takes into consideration all your assets and everyone who is important to you. In addition to a will, we can help you draft a power of attorney to nominate someone to make financial decisions if you are incapacitated, and a health care proxy to nominate an agent to make health care decisions for you when you cannot make them.