(617) 380-4920
386 Centre St. Ste 1, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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EFFICIENT & EFFECTIVE GUIDANCE THROUGH LIFE'S DIFFICULT MOMENTS
# PROBATE ATTORNEY SERVING BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult situations you can be forced to face. When you’ve suffered such a tragic loss, don’t navigate the legal system alone. While administering the estate of your loved one is necessary, bearing this burden by yourself is not. We’re here to make your life a little bit easier by helping you get through probate with as few frustrations as possible.
Our experience coupled with our unwavering commitment to our clients sets us apart from the rest and makes us the right firm to turn to when the need for estate administration arises. Schedule a consultation with our attorney today if you are located in Boston, Jamaica Plain, Brookline, Canton, or Lexington, Massachusetts.
## What is Probate?
When a loved one passes away, their property must be managed and distributed. The process of transferring this property and making sure that all debts owed are paid in full is called estate administration, or probate.
If your loved one had a will, the court will examine it during probate to first check that it is valid, then they will seek to ensure that the will is carried out properly. To make sure that the directions laid out in the will are followed by all parties involved, a personal representative is appointed to oversee the process.
Probate can be filled with complexities and may be difficult to navigate on your own. That’s where we come in.
## DON’T FACE PROBATE ALONE
## How Can We Help?
You’ve just lost a loved one. You deserve the time and space to heal and grieve, but the probate process can pull your attention away from what matters most during this tough time: your well-being. Working with an attorney is the best way to ensure that everything goes smoothly as you navigate probate.
Our goal at the Law Offices of Paul J. Sweeney is to take some of the weight off your shoulders by assisting you however we can. Our attorney has in-depth knowledge of the procedures and rules governing probate, making him an exceptional partner through this process. If you need assistance identifying and securing assets, obtaining property appraisals, filing documents, and more, we’re here to help. In addition, we can provide informed advice on financial issues that may arise as you administer your loved one’s estate.
## Empathetic Guidance & Trusted Advice
We understand that this may be one of the most difficult and painful moments of your life. We want to do everything in our power to ease the burden you’re carrying. Our attorney started the Law Offices of Paul J. Sweeney on the principles of compassion, empathy, and trust. When you come to us for legal advice, you’ll be met with a team that truly cares about you beyond your case. We want to meet your unique needs, and we’ll use our knowledge and experience to help you move forward.
Our team of professionals is a true force to be reckoned with. With unmatched experience and passion for what we do, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands when you work with us. We’ll get to know you and your story, then use our skills and knowledge to seek the solutions you need.
## Schedule a Consultation Today
When the time comes to administer the estate of a loved one, let us guide you through the process. Schedule a consultation with our attorney today in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. We serve individuals and families in Boston, as well as the surrounding areas of Brookline, Canton, and Lexington. If you’re ready to navigate probate, we’re ready to help.
#### PROBATE ATTORNEY SERVING BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
If you’ve lost a loved one, don’t face probate alone. Allow us to use our experience and knowledge to lead you through this difficult process. Schedule a consultation with our skilled probate attorney at the Law Offices of Paul J. Sweeney in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts today. We also serve the surrounding areas of Boston, Brookline, Canton, and Lexington.
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##### Law Offices of Paul J. Sweeney
[386 Centre St
Ste 1
Jamaica Plain,
MA
02130")
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* © 2025 Law Offices of Paul J. Sweeney
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
# CASE RESULTS
## **COMPLEX DIVORCE CASE**
Complex Divorce Cases are those that may bring in a new or unusual concept in Family Law for resolution. Our firm was hired to assist local counsel in a case that involved multiple family trusts. We established a position that at least two of the family trusts should be included in the marital estate.
#### A TRUST CASE WAS RULED ON IN THE APPEALS COURT WHICH SUPPORTED OUR POSITION AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL.
## **ALIMONY TERMINATION**
Alimony termination after co-habitation has recently been adopted by statute in Massachusetts. We represented the ex-husband who believed his ex-wife was co-habitating. We engaged a private detective to collect evidence of the co-habitation. The effective use of the detective created leverage to enforce the co-habitation provision in the agreement.
#### WE WERE ABLE TO TERMINATE ALIMONY WITH A FINAL PAYMENT OF A MODEST LUMP SUM TO THE EX-WIFE.
## **BOOK OF BUSINESS**
In divorce cases, the assets must be marshaled and divided in an equitable way. Sometimes the asset has a known value, such as a Kelley Blue Book value, but other times the value is less apparent. In one of our cases, a Stockbroker / Financial Advisor was paid large sums of money to bring his own clients to a new firm during the course of the marriage. This asset is called a book of business.
#### WHEN A SPOUSE IS A STOCKBROKER / FINANCIAL ADVISOR, DURING THE DIVORCE, THE BOOK OF BUSINESS CAN BE A VALUABLE ASSET AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
## **BUSINESS VALUATION**
Business valuations are important when the family owns a business. We represented the wife, who was the defendant in her divorce proceeding. The husband and wife were in a long term marriage (defined as over 20 years), the children were emancipated, and the husband was proposing an unrealistically low value for his interest in the company.
#### WE WERE ABLE TO PROVE AT TRIAL, USING A RESPECTED BUSINESS VALUATION EXPERT, THE MORE REALISTIC VALUE TO BE DIVIDED AND SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING A SUBSTANTIAL ALIMONY AWARD FOR THE WIFE.
## HIGH-CONFLICT DIVORCE
High Conflict Divorces can arise under many circumstances and are the most detrimental to the parent-child relationship due to parental alienation. These are the most difficult cases that we see. In a recent case where there was parental alienation, we counseled our client to take steps toward rebuilding the relationship with the children on the child’s terms, not those of the bad acting parent. We discuss these strategies with therapists in the field of parental alienation to ensure that the best measures are being taken. When one parent is unable to see a child at the hands of another parent, everyone suffers. Working with our client and opposing counsel to bring this issue to the forefront of the divorce case is always our goal.
#### WE COUNSELED OUR CLIENT TO TAKE STEPS TOWARD REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN ON THE CHILD’S TERMS.
## **UNREPORTED INCOME**
Unreported income (under the table cash payments) are difficult to address. We represented a wife whose husband claimed to be disabled. We proved that the husband was currently working, despite receiving disability payments through the wife’s testimony, comparison of the husband’s deposits into his bank account, and receipts of large cash purchases, which the wife had saved.
#### WE WERE ABLE TO PROVE AT TRIAL THAT THE HUSBAND WAS CURRENTLY WORKING, DESPITE RECEIVING DISABILITY PAYMENTS.
## **RESTRAINING ORDER**
209A Restraining Orders are heard at the District Court, but may be heard in the Family & Probate court as well. We represented a client who obtained a restraining order at the District Court, against her spouse. The client suffered verbal and emotional abuse for years, but the statute itself is aimed at physical abuse. Working with the original affidavit filed by the client without our input, Attorney Sweeney was able to convince the District Court judge in an hour long evidentiary hearing that our client met the standard – a reasonable fear of imminent harm. The result was more profound than a restraining order wherein the children were protected, the children blossomed in the months following the removal of the abuse. If you are in an abusive relationship, we recommend the Massachusetts court resources or DoveMA.org.
#### THE RESTRAINING ORDER WAS EXTENDED AND THE COURT’S DECISION WAS UPHELD ON APPEAL.
## **ADDICTION IN DIVORCE**
Addiction is an issue in many divorce cases. Recently, Opioid addiction has been an issue in several of our cases. It is imperative that that the addict and the family receive appropriate treatment. When a child suffers an addiction it is imperative that the parents work together along with appropriate medical professionals to implement a recovery plan.
#### OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE OPPOSING SIDE TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLANS FOR THE ADDICT, HELPING BOTH THE ADDICT IN RECOVERY, AND THE FAMILY AFFECTED BY THE ADDICTION.
## **ALIMONY LAW**
The alimony law changed in Massachusetts in 2012. Where judges used to apply a formula to calculate alimony, the formula has now been inserted directly into the statute. In a recent modification of child support, our firm successfully counter-claimed for alimony under the new durational limits.
#### THE CLIENT RECEIVED ALIMONY IN A LUMP SUM.
## **ALIMONY ORDER & STOCK OWNERSHIP**
Highly compensated corporate officers often have stock ownership plans that must comply with various Federal Statutes. In one case we represented the spouse, who was President and C.E.O. of a large retail corporation. The partners were in a long term marriage. Our client had $14 million in stock inaccessible to him until retirement. We found an exception within the plan which allowed a spouse to receive a share of the stock in a divorce proceeding so long as there was an appropriate order from the divorce court. With the non-CEO spouse receiving $7 million in assets at the beginning of the case she was responsible for the payment of her own fees and income was attributable to her from the dividends the stock produced, thus reducing her need and lowering our client’s alimony order.
#### WE CONVINCED THE COURT TO AWARD HALF OF THE STOCK TO THE NON-CEO SPOUSE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE CASE (TEMPORARY ORDER STAGE).