areas of practice

Attorney DiLibero concentrates his Massachusetts family law practice to the following areas:
Family Law
Divorce Law
Litigation
Mediation
Collaborative Law
Probate Law

FAMILY LAW
Family Law, often referred to as Domestic Relations, addresses all of the legal relationships which arise in both traditional and non-traditional families. These issues may include:

Divorce
Custody
Parenting Plans
Child Support
Alimony
Pre-Nuptial Agreements
Adoption or De Facto Parenting
Paternity
Grandparent Visitation
Contempt

PROBATE LAW
Probate Law covers a wide range of issues, many of which overlap with Family Law Issues. Those issues include:

Guardianship of Minor Children
Guardianship of incapacitated Adults
Conservatorship
Estate Administration
Estate Disputes, including Will Contests and Trust disputes
Health Care Proxies

No matter what the issue, your selection of a qualified and experienced attorney is essential to your success. Your attorney needs to tailor his approach to your individual problem. Some cases need to be litigated. Others can be resolved through either a Collaborative Law approach, or the use of a mediator. The correct approach to your problem is critical to cost-effective resolution.

LITIGATION
Family Law cases and most Probate Law matters are brought in the Probate and Family Court where they are heard in open court by a single judge sitting without a jury.

A family law case typically begins with the filing of a Complaint with the Court. After the Defendant has been served with legal process, the attorneys may often engage in "discovery" or the determination of facts relevant to the controversy. Books, records or documents may be sought from either side or third parties. Parties may seek to take "depositions" or examine a person under oath in the presence of a stenographer. Often times it may be necessary to retain an "expert witness" to value real estate or a business owned by one of the parties. If the parties are ultimately able to resolve their dispute, the attorneys will prepare a detailed Agreement which will be submitted to the Court for approval. If a full agreement cannot be reached, then the matter proceeds to trial.

Litigation is generally the slowest and least economical approach, but may be necessitated by the conduct of the opposing party who refuses to negotiate in good faith or refuses to disclose relevant financial information.


MEDIATION
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process which enables the parties, with the assistance of a neutral person (“Mediator”), to discuss and ultimately negotiate the settlement terms of their controversy. The role of the Mediator is to foster settlement discussions between the parties. Both parties must be committed to provide full and fair factual and financial disclosure to the other in order for the mediation process to work.

Not only is mediation generally more cost effective than litigation, it also is less emotionally charged. As a result, the parties are often times able to resolve their dispute, and still maintain good will between themselves. This last benefit is particularly critical in marital situations with young children. Parents who can continue to be respectful toward each other after their divorce are better equipped to face the challenges of raising happy and healthy children.

To learn more about mediation, go to www.mcfm.org.


COLLABORATIVE LAW
Collaborative Law is a relatively new, but fast-growing approach to resolving disputes without resort to litigation. It is particularly appropriate in family law cases. The essential element of a collaborative approach is an agreement signed by both parties and their respective attorneys to refrain from litigation, to make full and fair disclosure to the other side of all material facts, and to provide relevant documentation upon request. If the parties are unable to come to a settlement, the attorneys are required to withdraw from further representation of his or her client. It is this last provisions that is the hallmark of a collaborative approach, and emphasizes the necessity of a negotiated resolution.

Massachusetts attorneys who have attended a required collaborative law training program are eligible to become members of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council. For more detailed information regarding Collaborative Law and to locate a collaborative attorney, go to www.massclc.org.

Attorney Robert J. DiLibero
Greater Boston, Massachusetts Probate & Family Law Attorney

Boston, MA | Dedham, MA
Phone: 617.723.8010

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