Save Money By Resolving Matters Cooperatively Whenever Possible

Debra L. Smith’s Services

Attorney Debra L. Smith is a lawyer, mediator and Justice of  the Peace in Watertown Massachusetts.   Attorney Smith has an active civil law practice.  Ms. Smith handles divorce, adoption, prenuptial agreements, paternity, care and protection,  landlord/tenant cases and other areas of law.  She also handles modification of divorce on issues including alimony, child support, custody and other post-divorce matters. She acts as a Guardian ad Litem in the Probate and Family Court on family law cases in Massachusetts.

We learned from the pandemic that meetings virtually, saved client’s time and money and preserved health.   Attorney Smith and her staff are continuing to meet client’s virtually by Zoom or talk by phone.  In the event documents need to be signed and notarized, we welcome clients into our office.

To reach Attorney Debbie Smith,
please send an e-mail to  Lawdebsmith@gmail.com or
call 617-924-6728.  Thank you. 

How Attorney Smith Tries to Save Clients Money

Ms. Smith tries at the beginning of a new case to work matters out to an agreement, whenever possible.  Believing that filing suit first and talking later cost clients more money, she often sends a letter or e-mail to the opposing party or their attorney, after being hired for a new case. asking the other party to try to work a matter out amicably with their attorney and her and her client.   Her favorite processes to try to resolve matters are using the collaborative law process or mediation, which are less expensive than having a trial on a case.  She is not accepting high conflict family law litigation cases. Family law cases are charged hourly.

Mediation cases are billed hourly and paid at the end of each session.

Ms. Smith has a team which includes a paralegal who works under her supervision and is charged at a lower hourly rate.

Professional Memberships

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts,

Massachusetts Bar Association,

Massachusetts Council on Family  Mediation, Inc.,

Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, Inc.,

Massachusetts Association of Guardians ad Litem,

Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Association, Inc. and

The Women’s Bar Association.

Disclaimer and Policy

All statements made on this web site are for informational purposes only. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a legal opinion by Debra L. Smith.  Fee Agreements are required in all cases where Ms. Smith is retained for representation in legal matters.

Photographs
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Some of Ms. Smith’s photographs were on display at the Watertown Free Public Library in the T. Ross Kelly Family Gallery on the second floor at the Watertown Free Public Library at 123 Main Street in Watertown, Massachusetts:

In September 2012 and December 2012 (as part of the holiday show) in exhibits called “Remember Getting Away…”
In April, 2011, in an exhibit called “Color and Light, a Treat for the Eyes” and in April 2010 and July 2010, in an exhibit called “Positive Emotions.”
In December 2007 and December 2008, Ms. Smith’s photographs were exhibited in shows called “Art of the Seasons.”  at the Watertown Free Public Library and in February 2010, at the Arlington Center for the Arts at the Tufts Street Community Gallery.

Ms. Smith has taken wonderful photographs of participants at the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc.’s Annual Institutes. Please visit www.mcfm.org  to view the pictures.

Pictures were taken at the Academy of Professional Family Mediators,  Association of Divorce Financial Planners and Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation Conference on November 8 and 9, 2019.

Please visit www.debsmithphotography.com to view other photographs.

All photographs contained on this web site were taken by Debra L. Smith and are the property of Debra L. Smith.  The photographs are protected by United States copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. The photographs may not be reproduced or altered without the written permission of Debra L. Smith.

mba eco challenge

Ms. Smith was the Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Eco Challenge Task Force from the spring of 2018 to August 2020.  She was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Eco Challenge Task Force from 2007 to 2010 and was also one of the Signature Signers of the Massachusetts Bar Association Eco Challenge.   This Eco Challenge Task Force wrote Green Guidelines for Lawyers, which are located at www.massbar.org/ecochallenge. The list of Pledge Partners  and Landscaping Management which is listed on the Massachusetts Bar Association website at https://www.massbar.org/docs/default-source/mba-reports/ecochallenge2009.pdf?sfvrsn=6.

(c) Copyright 2024. Debra L. Smith. All Rights Reserved.