A Western Mass Family and Education Lawyer Who Has "Been There" One of my twin boys, Benjamin, was born severely disabled, a life-altering experience for me. I had to navigate the system from the ground up, including enforcing his right to an appropriate education and obtaining the educational and support services he deserved and needed. I have made it my mission to provide that same level of dedication and much-needed assistance, care and advocacy for all my clients with special needs. Contact me today to arrange a free consultation.

Every family is unique. When it comes to legal issues that affect families, every problem and every solution is unique, too. When you need to resolve an important legal issue in family law or special education, you need a lawyer who understands these issues not only professionally but personally as well

As a family and education law attorney in western Massachusetts, I provide helpful, personalized assistance to every single client. I have been through many of the same experiences as my clients, as I have married, divorced, raised a blended family and fought for the rights of my disabled son.

Contact me at my law office in Monson to arrange a free initial consultation.

Special Education Law

Your child has the right to a free and appropriate public education. As both a qualified advocate and a legal representative, I can represent you and your child from the Team Meeting through to Hearing at the Board of Special Education Appeals. I am a dedicated special education advocate zealously representing my clients' and their children's rights to education.

Divorce and Family Law

My family law practice covers a wide range of legal issues important to individuals, parents and families in western Massachusetts:

• Divorce: I represent people throughout their divorces, handling all of the issues that come up, including division of marital property and debt, alimony, initial child support, custody and visitation orders, and others.
• Divorce and special needs children: When dealing with a divorce that involves a special needs child, it is important that the child's disability is understood and taken into consideration when drafting child support orders, custody and parenting arrangements, extra-curricular activities and educational and medical decision-making. I help parents make agreements that ensure the well-being of the child is preserved. I also assist my clients in obtaining community resources relative to the child's disability.
• Child custody and visitation: I help clients develop individualized solutions to child custody and visitation that work for their families. As a mother raising step-children, I'm very familiar with the child custody and visitation concerns you may have and live with everyday. These are not easy decisions and I understand that and will work with you to bring your matter to resolution.
• Parenting time and special needs children: It is often that creative solutions must be considered so to optimize your child's relationship with you and the other parent. I review all of the child's educational records and plans and, with your permission, speak to the child's specialists to obtain and advocate for the best parenting plan for your child and you. I work to keep the focus on the child and the child's needs.
• Child support: I will explain your rights and options and represent your interests during the initial determination of child support or when you need to seek a change in the amount. I can also help with child support enforcement or as you work to resolve back child support.
• Adoption: intra-family adoptions and step-parent adoptions
• Paternity actions
• Guardianships

For a free initial thirty minute consultation, contact me. I offer appointments at either my law office in Monson, Massachusetts or my satellite office in Springfield, Massachusetts, or at a location convenient to you.

Claudette-Jean Girard

55 State Street, Suite 204
Springfield, MA 01103
Fax: 413-733-2210

P.O. Box 278
Monson, MA 01057-0278
Phone: (413) 315-5518 | Toll Free: (877) 622-6089

Monson, Massachusetts attorney Claudette-Jean Girard represents clients throughout western Massachusetts in every community in the five western Massachusetts counties. Her clients come from communities such as Monson, Agawam, Amherst, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Greenfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Springfield, Sturbridge, Westfield.

Hampden County | Berkshire County | Hampshire County | Franklin County

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