The New Bedford Family Lawyers of Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP proudly serve all of Bristol County! Offering family law services to their clients in New Bedford and the surrounding areas. The team focuses on cases like:
Divorce
Our attorneys understand what a major emotional process it is to go through a divorce. Our team at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP are dedicated to our clients and use our years of experience and legal knowledge to handle each case, whether they are contested or uncontested divorce cases. Click to read more about New Bedford Divorces.
Child Custody
The care of a child is an important decision, and the team at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP can help through both legal and physical custody cases in New Bedford. Click to read more about our Child Custody case services.
Child Support
Negotiating the distribution of financial support for children can be based on many different factors. Our Child Support lawyers can walk you through the whole process and fight for just compensation for your children.
Alimony
Permanent or temporary alimony, also known as spousal support, is a required element of divorce in New Bedford or Bristol County. Our experienced team can work to get a fair amount for you.
Division of Marital Property
Splitting up finances and property between two spouses can get complicated. You need an experienced division of assets attorney in New Bedford to fight for you.
Paternity
Cases that regarding the paternal child custody rights of a father, usually requiring DNA tests, can help a father gain legal guardianship. We can help with your case.
Post-Divorce Modification
After the divorce case has been completed, our team of lawyers can help you file for post-divorce modifications of custody, alimony and much more.
Where are the Family Law Courthouses near New Bedford?
In Bristol County, MA, there are three Family Law & Probate courts that serve the entire county. These courthouses are located in Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford.
Taunton – Bristol County Probate & Family Court Registry Building
The Taunton courthouse is located in Bristol County, Massachusetts and is the main branch for the county where all divorce actions are filed. The address for this courthouse is:
40 Broadway #240
Taunton, MA 02780
Get Directions
This courthouse location is a short drive from most cities and towns in Bristol County. If you live in one of the following cities or towns you must file your divorce, separate support, paternity or domestic abuse complaint in Taunton, however your case may be heard in Fall River or New Bedford.
Cities this courthouse serves:
- Attleboro
- Fall River
- New Bedford
- Taunton
Towns that are served:
Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton,
Easton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mansfield,
North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham,
Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea,
Westport
Fall River – The Probate & Family Courthouse
The Fall River courthouse is located in the heart of Fall River, MA. Dating back to 1889 the building is a historic granite monument. There are two satellite branches located in New Bedford and Fall River where cases are assigned for hearings. The address for this courthouse is:
289 Rock St # 303
Fall River, MA 02720
Get Directions
For more information about the Fall River Family Law courthouse, click here.
New Bedford – Probate & Family Law Courthouse
In Bristol County, Massachusetts, divorce filings must be made at the main branch in Taunton, MA. Like the Fall River courthouse, the New Bedford court is a satellite branch. The New Bedford satellite branch is located at the following address:
505 Pleasant Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Get Directions
Cities that are served:
Towns that are served with this courthouse:
Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton
Easton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mansfield
North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham
Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea
Westport
The courthouse for Family Law and Probate in New Bedford is located centrally right in downtown, just off Union Street. Our office is located right near the courthouse. For a free, private consultation regarding your divorce, separate support, paternity, domestic abuse or other family law matter please call or email our office today. Our extremely experienced lawyers are standing by to answer your questions and explain your office to you in simple language.
All divorce, paternity, and support actions are filed at the main Bristol County Family Law & Probate courthouse, which is in Taunton. Depending on the city or town that the plaintiff or defendant reside, the case may be heard by a judge sitting in either Fall River or New Bedford, rather than Taunton. Click on the individual courthouses above to see a list of towns and cities that are part of the local Bristol County courthouse assignments.
Divorce and other family law matters, including child custody proceedings, paternity, child support and separate support cases are decided by local judges. As a result, it is imperative that your attorney have familiarity of the law and the judicial officer that is assigned to your case. Usually, even though a judge may be new or see the same attorneys over and over again, the judge is still obligated to take a neutral, objective approach. That is why it is crucial to have an experienced, litigation-seasoned attorney to represent you in court. Judges are much more apt to rely on the arguments of an extremely experienced attorney that is well-respected in the family law community.
Our law firm services all three courthouses in Bristol County. We also serve all courts in Plymouth County, MA. For more information about divorce, child custody, paternity, or support call our offices today. We offer a free consultation and our attorneys are available to speak with you today at no cost to you.
Since we have set up shop in the city, we’ve taken quite an interest in seeing all that there is to offer here in New Bedford. See below for some information regarding the city of New Bedford.
New Bedford Local Highlights
With a population of around 100,000 people, this coastal city is littered with well maintained parks and pristine beaches. Sporting the “world’s most famous whaling era seaport”, New Bedford – appropriately known as “the Whaling City” is also home to the United States number one fishing port, with $369 million worth of seafood crossing it’s docks in 2011.
The historic district contains cobblestone-esque streets. The ‘cobbles’ are in fact Belgian Blocks or setts and are a delightful homage to a bygone era.
Here is a link to all the buildings in the National Register of Historic Places that can be found in New Bedford.
Beaches
New Bedford residents can enjoy going to this beach for the entire summer season, and it will only cost them $5. If you are a non-city resident you have to pay per day, and that will cost a tourist $15. Residents can also pay per day at the rate of $1 per visit.
East Beach
In the south end of the city, the beach overlooks New Bedford’s outer harbor and the Butler’s Flats lighthouse. Boat traffic passes within view on its way to and from the inner harbor.
West Beach
Located at the southern end of the city on the west side of the peninsula. The beach features a bathhouse that overlooks Clarks Cove and the town of Dartmouth coastline. Hazelwood Park is directly across the road for picnicking and recreational activities.
Museums
The New Bedford Whaling Museum
The centerpiece of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is the nation’s largest museum devoted to the subject of whaling and the history of interaction between humans and whales.
The New Bedford Art Museum
Located in New Bedford’s historic downtown, The New Bedford Art Museum offers exhibitions of artwork, both local and international in origin.
The New Bedford Fire Museum
Housed in a red-brick building, The New Bedford Fire Museum was one of the oldest continuously operating fire stations in the state when it was closed in 1979. Originally, it was known as Fire Station No. 4 and opened in 1867. The museum has a collection of old firefighting equipment as well as old fire engines. Visitors can try on old uniforms and slide down the pole. Old city fire records dating to 1890 are available for research and review.
The New Bedford Museum of Glass
The New Bedford Museum of Glass reflects the city’s history as home of the Mount Washington and Pairpoint glass companies. The museum’s collection ranges from ancient to contemporary glass with a large focus on the glass of New England. The museum is located in one of the historic Wamsutta Mills textile factory buildings.
The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
A 28-room mansion that was built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. The house was restored by the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) in the early 1980s and converted into the museum it is today. Tours of the house and grounds are available; the facilities can also be rented for private events. The Rotch-Jones-Duff House also has a summer concert series.
Historical Highlights
In 1841, Herman Melville shipped out aboard the whale ship, Acushnet. His experiences inspired him to write “Moby-Dick”.
After the turn of the century New Bedford became one of the largest producers of cotton yarns and textiles in the country, and led all centers in quality and quantity output of fine goods. Around 1920, at the height of prosperity, there were twenty-eight cotton establishments, operating seventy mills and employing 41,380 workers.
In the days of anti-slavery agitation, New Bedford showed sympathy for fugitive slaves and was noted as one of the major stations of the Underground Railroad.
In the mid-ninetieth century, the whaling industry made New Bedford the richest city per capita in the world.
For more about the goings on, in and around New Bedford, check out newbedfordguide.com
New Bedford Divorce Lawyers – Free Consultations!
If you are going through a divorce, our experienced team of professionals at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP can help you achieve a just settlement or verdict. Contact us in New Bedford for a free consultation about your case. Call today! (508) 316-9720
Our New Bedford office is located at the following address:
412 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
We have offices conveniently located in Needham, Boston, Hingham and New Bedford.