Estate plans, executors, and family law, handled with discretion.
Wenham is a small town, and its families value privacy. Whether you're writing a will, updating a plan after a life change, or facing a family law matter you'd rather not discuss at the post office, we handle it with care and discretion.
We respond to all inquiries within one business day. Urgent matters same day.
Much of our Wenham work is families planning well: parents, grandparents, and adult children getting the paperwork right before it's urgent.
A complete Massachusetts estate plan is more than a will. It's a healthcare proxy so someone you trust can make medical decisions if you can't, a durable power of attorney for finances, and often a trust that keeps your estate out of probate and your affairs private, something Wenham families particularly appreciate.
Plans also age. A will written when your children were small reads very differently once they're grown, married, or raising kids of their own. We review and update plans after the big life events: marriages, divorces, new grandchildren, a home sold or bought, a diagnosis.
Choosing the right executor and the right trustee matters more than most people realize: it determines whether your plan unfolds smoothly or becomes a burden on the person you loved most. We help you choose well and prepare them for the role.
And when family law needs arise, divorce, custody, guardianship, the same standards apply: clear advice, steady process, and your family's privacy respected throughout.
458 Boston Street (Route 1)
2nd Floor, Suite 6
Topsfield, MA 01983
About 10 minutes from Wenham. On-site parking. Daytime, evening, and virtual appointments.
Essex Probate & Family Court
36 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-1020
Hears all divorce, custody, guardianship, and probate matters for Wenham residents. About 20 minutes from Wenham. A second session sits at the Fenton Judicial Center, 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence. Many routine matters are now handled virtually, and we manage all filings for you.
Start with answers, not appointments. These guides and tools were written by our attorney for the questions Wenham clients ask first.
Wenham is in Essex County, so divorce, custody, guardianship, and probate matters are heard by the Essex Probate and Family Court. Most filings go to the Salem courthouse at 36 Federal Street; the court also sits in Lawrence at the Fenton Judicial Center. You don't need to work any of this out yourself: we prepare and file everything on your behalf.
Every three to five years, and immediately after major life events: a marriage or divorce, a birth, a death, a significant change in assets, or a move to or from Massachusetts. Most plans we review for new clients are out of date in at least one important way.
Largely, yes. A will that goes through probate becomes a public court record; assets that pass through a properly funded trust generally do not. For families who value privacy, that difference alone often justifies the trust.
Tell us a little about your situation and we'll reach out within one business day. No obligation, no pressure. Just a conversation with someone who can help.