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CLE Program

Western Mass Family Law Conference

Date:

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location:

Hotel Northampton
36 King St
Northampton, MA, 01060

Program Code:

FLF25

Program Options:

Attend On Site

Registration

MBA Member : $75.00
Non-Member : $175.00

The MBA offers, upon request, Certificates of Attendance to individuals who attend real-time webcasts. Certificates are not available for participation in recorded MBA On Demand programs.

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The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Family Law Section is excited to present the Western Massachusetts Family Law Conference, a premier in-person event for family law attorneys and judges. We are looking forward to a full day of learning and networking at the Hotel Northampton. Conference sessions include:

  • 8:00-9:00: Registration & Continental Breakfast
  • 9:00- 9:30: State of the Probate and Family Court: Chief Justice John D. Casey
  • 9:30-10:40: The Pathways to De-Facto Parentage: Statutory and Equity
    The Massachusetts Parentage Act (An Act to Ensure Legal Parentage Equality) is now in effect and provides various pathways to parentage for families. This program provides an analysis of the new law and its impact on parentage determinations, and it will address the key provisions of the act as well as the legal rights established for parents through de facto parentage.
    Hon. Diana Velez Harris, First Justice, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
    Hon. Bernadette Stark, Worcester Probate and Family Court
    Corey Carvalho, Judicial Case Manager, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
    Sarah Chatterton, Assistant Judicial Case Manager, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
  • 10:40-10:50: Break
  • 10:50-11:30: The “Assent” and Voice of the Child
    This panel will embark on an examination of statutes that specifically allow for a child’s assent (adoption, guardianship, removal) as well as when the child’s preference is considered for custody and parenting time, plus how the court addresses the voice of the child in family law matters.
    Hon. Lawrence Army, Hampden Probate and Family Court 
    Hon. Kathleen Sandman, First Justice, Franklin Probate and Family Court
    Attorney Claudette-Jean Girard
    Attorney Katherine Amato
  • 11:30-12:30: From Resist and Refuse to Reunification Therapy
    What happens when a child will not engage in parenting time? Can this be repaired? This panel will focus on remedies and language for proposed orders to assist you with your case presentation, and will provide an in-depth analysis of reunification therapy and the benefits of same.
    Hon. Dana Doyle, Berkshire Probate and Family Court
    Hon. David J. Dacyczyn, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
    Ashley Benson, Optimal Healing
    Attorney Jennifer Breen
  • 12:30-1:40: LUNCH
  • 1:40-2:20: Emerging Issues in Evidence and Preserving the Record for Appeal 
    Evidence updates relevant to family law and an informed discussion on the marital disqualification rule, as well as admission of contested documents, voluminous records and chalks. This panel will also teach you how to ensure that your hearing/trial record and the evidence allowed in (or kept out) at hearing is appeal ready, whether a two-attorney case or with a pro-se litigant. 
    Hon. Barbara Hyland, First Justice, Hampden Probate and Family Court
    Hon. Nicholas Parsenios, Hampden Probate and Family Court
    Attorney Ann Dargie
    Attorney Stephanie Fitzgerald
  • 2:20-2:30: Break
  • 2:30-3:40: Coercive Control and Family Law
    A detailed presentation on dynamics, tactics, and how to distinguish high-conflict divorce from litigation abuse with judicial insight on implications of DV/IPV in family law.
    Hon. Richard Simons, First Justice, Berkshire Probate and Family Court
    Lisa A. Fontes, PhD
    Attorney Kelly Koch
  • 3:40-4:30: Lobby Conference
    An informed discussion and question and answer session with members of the judiciary on the family law issues affecting your practice. 
    Hon. Barbara Hyland
    Hon. Claudine T. Wyner
    Hon. Nicholas Parsenios
    Hon. Kathleen Sandman
    Hon. David Dacyczyn
    Hon. Diana Velez-Harris
    Hon. Richard Simons
    Hon. Dana Doyle
    Hon. Alexandra Flanders

Registration is required by Friday, April 11 at 5 p.m.

Faculty:

Kathleen A. O'Malley, Esq., Conference Chair
Raipher, P.C., Springfield
Hon. John D. Casey, Chief Justice, Keynote Speaker
Probate & Family Court Department, Boston
Hon. Lawrence Army, Panelist
Hampden Probate and Family Court
Hon. David J. Dacyczyn, Panelist
Hampshire Probate and Family Court
Hon. Dana Doyle, Panelist
Berkshire Probate and Family Court
Hon. Alexandra Flanders, Panelist
Probate and Family Court
Hon. Barbara M. Hyland, Panelist
First Justice, Hampden Probate and Family Court
Hon. Nicholas Parsenios, Panelist
Hampden Probate and Family Court
Hon. Kathleen Sandman, Panelist
First Justice, Franklin Probate and Family Court
Hon. Richard Simons, Panelist
First Justice, Berkshire Probate and Family Court
Hon. Bernadette Stark, Panelist
Worcester Probate and Family Court
Hon. Diana Velez Harris, First Justice, Panelist
Hampshire Probate and Family Court, Northampton
Hon. Claudine T. Wyner, Panelist
Hampden Probate and Family Court, Springfield
Katherine M. Amato, Esq., Panelist
Robinson Donovan PC, Springfield
Ashley Benson, Panelist
Owner, Psychotherapist & Consultant, Optimal Healing
Jennifer M. Breen, Esq., Panelist
Donovan O'Connor & Dodig, LLP, North Adams
Corey Carvalho, Esq.,, Panelist
Judicial Case Manager, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
Sarah Chatterton, Esq., Panelist
Assistant Judicial Case Manager, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
Ann Dargie, Esq., Panelist
Family Law of Western Massachusetts, East Longmeadow
Stephanie Fitzgerald, Esq., Panelist
Fitzgerald Family Law PC, East Longmeadow
Lisa A. Fontes, PhD., Panelist
Expert: Coercive Control
Claudette-Jean Girard, Esq., Panelist
Claudette-Jean Girard, Attorney at Law, Springfield
Kelly A. Koch, Esq., Panelist
Raipher, P.C., Springfield

Sponsoring Sections:

Family Law Section

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