PLYMOUTH PROBATE & FAMILY COURT
Divorce, paternity, custody, and other family law matters in Plymouth County are handled out of our Plymouth and Norwood Offices. To learn more about how we can help you, call (800) 299-DIVORCE or contact us online to set-up an appointment.
The Plymouth County Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over all family and domestic relations matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, parenting plans, termination of parental rights, and abuse prevention orders of those residents living in Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Whitman, and surrounding areas.
Learn About the Judge Assigned to Your Case
The family court judges assigned to the Plymouth Division of the Probate and Family Court Department are most often First Justice Catherine P. Sabaitis, Judge James V. Menno, Judge Lisa A. Roberts, and Judge Stephen C. Steinberg.
Based on which judge is assigned your case, your matter will be heard at one of the following courthouses:
- Brockton: 215 Main Street, Brockton 02303
- Plymouth: 52 Obery Street, Plymouth 02360
It is important to note that, no matter which court of which judge you are before, all papers and pleadings must be filed in Plymouth; Brockton is deemed a separate satellite session of the court.
Thinking About Representing Yourself? The Plymouth or Brockton Courtrooms Are Not the Place to Experiment.
If you are getting divorced, or dealing with a custody or visitation matter in Plymouth County, you should hire a local lawyer - one who is familiar with both the Plymouth and the Brockton courts - not to mention one who has appeared before any of the judges listed above. Think about it: a local domestic relations attorney on the South Shore that truly concentrates in the local family court arena will have more first-hand knowledge about each of the judges than a lawyer from a different place.
Some clients call our attorneys claiming how they are considering divorce because they often dream about a life without his or her spouse, or because they have come to realize that the bad in their marriage outweighs the good. They then ask whether the court requires that both spouses have a lawyer and whether a party can represent himself or herself. Our answer is simple: It is not required, however it is generally a bad idea for a person to represent himself or herself in a divorce. As the old adage goes, a person who represents themselves has a fool for a lawyer. Since everything you have worked so hard for is on the line, it is foolish to go through the divorce process without a family law attorney.
The Plymouth and Brockton courthouses are overburdened with massive caseloads, chronic staff shortages, and grave security issues. With over half of marriages ending in divorce, the over-congested courts cannot adequately address each individual problem.
Accordingly, no matter which judge is assigned to your case, and whether your case is being heard in Brockton or Plymouth, basic disputes and motion sessions are heard first in the probation department.
Following your session with a probation officer, if you cannot immediately settle all the disputed issues between you and your spouse, at least the two of you will know which points remain contested, which ones are either uncontested, and whether the two of you want to take your chances and go before a judge. Even a slight improvement in the number of disagreements between you and your spouse should be viewed as a good sign - after all, for each point the two of you can resolve between you is one less point that risks the bloodbath of a court hearing, family confidences made public, relatives forced to choose sides, and even loss of longtime friendships.
Massachusetts Divorce Law Is Applied Locally
The basic law and rules are the same everywhere in Massachusetts, but each county handles cases a little differently, and has its own customs, policies and procedures. For that reason, it is very important that you get good information from an experienced divorce attorney who practices day-in and day-out in Plymouth County.
The main South Shore office of The Massachusetts Family Law Group is in Plymouth - just off Exit 5 from Route 3 - and we have satellite offices in Brockton, Marshfield, and Middleborough.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call (800) 299-DIVORCE or contact us online. We meet with clients 7 days a week, and each of our attorneys carries a Blackberry which avails us to answer your questions by phone or e-mail anytime - not just during office hours.
