PHILIP J. BYERS

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Practice Areas

Family Law: Contested Divorce; Uncontested Divorce; Child/Spousal Support; Cohabitation Agreements;

Paternity; Contempts; Restraining Orders; Grandparents Visitation Rights; Post Divorce Modification;

Removal/Relocation out of the Commonwealth; Appeals; Single Justice Petitions

Probate Law: Guardianship; Conservatorship; Adoption; Contested Estates

Mediation: Divorce; Child/Spousal Support; Parenting Plans; Modifications; Unmarried Couples; Family Business;

Pre & Postnuptial Agreements; Same-Sex Couples

Education

• Suffolk University Law School, J.D., 1974
• Colby College, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Government, 1971
• Family Law Mediator

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts Bar Association, 1975
• Essex Bar Association,  
• U.S. District Court - District of Massachusetts, 1975
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1983

Organizations

• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, since 1990 and past Manager of Board of Managers for the Massachusetts Chapter
• Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation

Accomplishments

• Amicus Curiae Committee Member for the National American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2013-Present- Successfully involved with federal challenges in various states: case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing same-sex marriage
• Liaison Officer for National Alimony Trends for the National Committee of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2013-Present)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Massachusetts Chapter (1990-Present)
• Past Manager of Board of Managers for Massachusetts Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
• Former Member of Education Committee and Chairperson of Amicus Curiae Committee, of Massachusetts Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Member of the Essex County Conciliation Program, for the Essex County Probate and Family Court (1997-Present)
• Past Member of the Essex County Probate and Family Court Bench-Bar Committee
• Co-author of Amicus Curiae Briefs on behalf of the Massachusetts Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers regarding the Blixt and Champagne decisions by the Supreme Judicial Court (Blixt v. Blixt, SJC-08643 RE: Grandparent Visitation) & (Champagne v. Champagne, SJC-07917 RE: Permanent Restraining Orders)
• Contributing author of text entitled “Unmarried Couples” for Suffolk University Law School, Advanced Legal Studies Department (2003)
• Former Lecturer and Panelist for Suffolk University Law School, Advanced Legal Studies Department

Notable Appeallate Decisions

• Ulin v. Polansky (2013), 2012-P-0061, RE: Attribution of income (Reversal of Probate Court Decision, in part)  
• Maroon v. El-Kareh (2012), 2012-J-0431, RE: Contested probate matter
• Maroon v. El-Kareh (2012), 2012-J-0292, RE: Contested probate matter
• Steinert v. Steinert (2007), 2007-P-1661, RE: Trial judge recused trial counsel and this issue was taken to the Massachusetts Appeals Court (Reversed)
• Wakefield v. Hegarty (2006), 2006-P-1123, RE: Removal of child from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to foreign jurisdiction involving unmarried couple (Affirmed)
• Hatfield v. Hatfield (2005), 2005-P0687, RE: Prenuptial agreement was challenged (Reversed and Remanded)
• Valenza v. Valenza (2005), 2005-J-0113, RE: Probate court judge denied father visitation (Reversed)
• Bambrick  v. Coffey (2004), 2004-J -0515, RE: Probate court judge granted review of visitation for father without complaint being

Filed (Reversed)

Welcome Attorney Byers Practice Areas Mediation Resources Reviews

Family Law & Mediation Attorney serving the Andover,

Salem, Cambridge, & Worcester Massachusetts areas