Patricia S. Fernandez
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in North Andover, MA
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Patricia S. Fernandez, founder of Fernandez, Socci & Nieves, has 35 years of experience handling complex family law matters including divorce, alimony, property division and more. Throughout the years, Ms. Fernandez has represented numerous clients in North Andover, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas such as Andover, Middleton, Danvers and Newburyport, helping them to craft creative solutions as they go through difficult times in their lives. The firm also handles matters in Middlesex county and New Hampshire.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Ms. Fernandez has concentrated her practice on domestic relations since 1986. She has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts since 1986 and in New Hampshire since 2016.
Throughout her career, Ms. Fernandez has taken on a wide range of roles. She is a certified arbitrator through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been appointed as a guardian ad item, trustee, conciliator, receiver and discovery master in various family law cases. She is a Certified Financial Litigator through the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators.
In addition to her law practice, Ms. Fernandez participates in a multitude of professional organizations. She has held leadership positions with the Massachusetts Family and Probate American Inn of Court, the Massachusetts Bar Association Family Law Council, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Lawrence Bar Association. She is also a member of the the Essex County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Ms. Fernandez volunteers as a conciliator for the Essex County Bar Association Conciliation Program and as a trustee for the Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund, Inc. She served as a hearing committee member for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers from 2010 to 2015, an organization that deals with issues related to professional misconduct.
- 100%Family Law
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Dissolution, Divorce, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Same Sex Family Law
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2021
Certificates and Credentials
Additional Sources of Information About Patricia S. Fernandez
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About Patricia S. Fernandez
First Admitted: 1986
Professional Webpage: https://www.fsnfamilylaw.com/patricia-fernandez.html
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- “The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act”, Volume 1, Number 2, Section Review of the Massachusetts Bar Association, March, 1999
- "The Status of Grandparents' Visitation Rights in Massachusetts", September/October, 1996 edition of Boston Bar Journal
- "Representing Children in Grandparent-Parent Disputes," in Grandparent Visitation Disputes: A Legal Resource Manual, published by the American Bar Association, 1989
- "Grandparent Access: A Model Statute," 6 Yale Law and Policy Review 109, 1988
Pro bono/Community Service
- Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund, Trustee
- Conciliator, Essex County Bar Association, 1996
Special Licenses/Certifications
- Certified as an arbitrator through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Certified Financial Litigator through the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators, 2015
Bar/Professional Activity
- Massachusetts Bar Association Family Law Council, Reporter, 2000 – 2001
- Lawrence Bar Association, Executive Committee Member, 2009 – 2011
- Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, Member, 1995 – 1998
- Lawrence Bar Association, Member, 2008 – present
- Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court, Secretary, 2000 – 2001
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer, Treasurer, 2011-2012
- New Hampshire, 2016
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 2001 – present
- Essex County Bar Association, Member, 2001 – present
- Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court, Vice President, 2001 – 2002
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer, Secretary, 2009-2011
- Massachusetts, 1986
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Member, 1994 – present
- Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court, Member, 1998 – present
- Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court, Board of Directors, 2002 – 2007
Educational Background
- Wellesley College, B.A., Durant Scholar (equivalent to magna cum laude), 1983
Honors/Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, 2006
- Phi Beta Kappa
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Last Updated: 5/5/2021