Massachusetts Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

When your family is facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or a decision about your estate, you want attorneys who already know your community. Porcello Law Offices has practiced family law, estate planning, probate, and civil litigation in Essex County since 1976, and the firm is now led by second-generation attorneys Jean Porcello-Giusto and Anthony Porcello.

That continuity, and more than 87 years of combined attorney experience, is what we bring to every Massachusetts family who calls us.

We meet with clients in person at our Salem and Gloucester offices, and we offer phone and video consultations for clients who live elsewhere in Essex County or who cannot easily come to us.

Schedule a free case evaluation: call 978-338-7854 (Salem) or 978-224-5262 (Gloucester), or request a consultation online. We will listen to your situation and explain your options before you decide anything.

Legal Services We Handle Across Essex County

From our Salem and Gloucester offices, we represent Essex County individuals, families, and business owners in:

Divorce: contested, uncontested, gray, and high-net-worth divorce representation.
Child Custody & Support: protecting your parental rights and your children’s stability.
Alimony: pursuing a fair spousal support arrangement.
Property Division: dividing the marital estate, including complex and business assets.
Paternity: establishing parentage and the rights that come with it.
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements: protecting your interests before or during marriage.
Estate Planning: wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for your family’s future.
Civil Litigation: business, contract, and probate disputes that call for a trial-ready team.

Communities We Serve in Essex County

Porcello Law Offices concentrates its practice in Essex County, Massachusetts, organized here by the communities our clients call home:

Greater Salem and the Lower North Shore

Our Salem office is the hub for these communities:

Salem
Beverly
Danvers
Peabody
Marblehead
Swampscott
Topsfield

Cape Ann

Our Gloucester office is the hub for these communities:

Gloucester
Rockport
Manchester

Merrimack Valley

These communities are generally heard at the Lawrence session of the Essex Probate and Family Court rather than in Salem:

Amesbury
Andover
North Andover
Haverhill
Methuen
Newburyport
Salisbury
Georgetown

Ipswich, Hamilton, and the Northern Essex Communities

Closer to both offices, we also regularly serve:

Ipswich
Hamilton
Wenham
Boxford
Lynnfield

Don’t see your community listed? Call us to confirm coverage. Beyond Essex County, we offer phone and video consultations, and we help clients whose divorce or child support matter crosses state lines.

Where You Are, Where Your Case Is Heard

Both of our offices are located in Essex County, but which courthouse hears your case depends on where you live, not which office you call.

Office Location	Address	Communities Served	Courthouse & Venue
Salem Office	271 Lafayette Street Salem, MA 01970	Greater Salem, the Lower North Shore, and the Ipswich/Hamilton/Northern Essex communities	Essex Probate & Family Court (Salem Session) 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970
Gloucester Office	324 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930	Cape Ann and the surrounding North Shore communities	Essex Probate & Family Court (Salem Session) 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970

re generally heard at the Lawrence session^[1] of the Essex Probate and Family Court, 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence, MA 01840, rather than the Salem courthouse. Every other Essex County matter is heard in Salem. Wherever your case is filed, we travel to both sessions as your case requires, and we offer phone and video consultations for clients who cannot easily reach either office.

Why Essex County Families Trust Porcello Law Offices

The first call is about listening, not selling. Before we talk strategy, we want to understand what is actually happening in your family. Tell us the short version, and we will ask the questions that help us understand where things stand and what matters most to you.

We build a strategy around your family, not a template. No two divorces, custody disputes, or estates look the same. We tailor our approach to your priorities, whether that means negotiating a settlement, mediating a dispute, or preparing for court.

We’ve stood in the courthouses you’ll stand in. Attorney Jean Porcello-Giusto has practiced family law in Salem for more than 32 years, argued before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and leads the Salem Bar Association. We know these courts because we have spent decades in them.

We’re staffed for the cases that aren’t simple. Business ownership, high-net-worth assets, or a professional practice can complicate a divorce. Our attorneys, including a certified conciliator, handle these matters alongside more straightforward family law issues.

Honest advice. No guaranteed outcomes. We will tell you what Massachusetts law allows and what a court may consider, not what you want to hear. Preparing you honestly is how we protect your interests, whatever path your case takes.

Ready to talk? Call 978-338-7854 (Salem) or 978-224-5262 (Gloucester), or request a no-pressure consultation online.

What to Expect When You Call

Our consultation process is straightforward and built around three things you need before any decisions get made:

We listen first. Tell us what is happening. The short version is fine, and we will ask the questions that matter.
We explain what Massachusetts law says. In plain English. No lecture, no scare tactics, no pressure.
We map the next step. You will leave the consultation with a clear sense of what comes next, whether that is filing, responding, gathering records, or pausing to think it through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Which courthouse will my case be heard in?	Most Essex County family law matters are heard at the Essex Probate and Family Court in Salem. If you or the other party live in Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, or Lawrence, your case is typically assigned to the court’s Lawrence session instead.
Do I have to come into the Salem or Gloucester office?	No. While we meet with many clients in person, we also offer phone and video consultations for clients who live farther from either office or who simply prefer to meet remotely.
I live in the Merrimack Valley. Is that too far from your offices?	No. We regularly represent clients in Amesbury, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, Newburyport, Salisbury, and Georgetown, and we appear at the Lawrence session for matters assigned there.
What happens during a free case evaluation?	We discuss what is happening in your situation, answer your initial questions, and explain the options available to you under Massachusetts law. There is no obligation to hire us afterward.
I’m not sure whether this is a family law, estate planning, or civil litigation issue.	That’s a common starting point. Call either office and describe what’s going on. We will help you understand which area of law applies and connect you with the right attorney.
Can you help if my case involves someone who lives outside Massachusetts?	In many cases, yes. We handle out-of-state divorce matters and child support modifications involving a party who has moved outside Massachusetts. The right approach depends on the facts of your case, so a consultation is the best next step.

Talk to an Essex County Family Law Attorney

We know Essex County’s courts and the path through this kind of case. Whether you call Salem or Gloucester, we will walk you through what comes next before you commit to anything.

Call 978-338-7854 (Salem) or 978-224-5262 (Gloucester), or schedule a consultation online. Existing clients can reach us directly at 978-745-5553.

Sources

Essex Probate and Family Court location and session information | Mass.gov