Barbra handled my divorce settlement with great results. She is a very clear communicator who took the time to explain the process, pros and cons of various approaches, and how to keep things moving along efficiently. Barbra was always upfront about fees and from the very beginning offered advice ...about how to get the best results without excessive costs. She struck the right balance between being compassionate and staying focused on the legal and financial aspects of achieving a good settlement. When needed, she steered me away from pursuing trivial issues based on emotions, and I appreciated her candor and common sense. She was a great advocate and negotiator--cordial and professional when communicating with opposing counsel, but also tough when needed. After seeing her skillfully manage our first face-to-face meeting with my ex and his attorney, I was thrilled to have Barbra on my side. Barbra helped me get an excellent settlement agreement, under difficult circumstances, in less than one year. I was divorced at the pre-trial hearing because she worked very hard to get the agreement done by that date so that I could avoid the trouble and expense of going to trial. She made sure I understood and agreed to every aspect of the settlement negotiations during the intense week before the pre-trial hearing, and we got it done. The judge complimented her (and opposing counsel) for their fine work. I would highly recommend Barbra.

Barbra was referred to me by a friend. I had previously spoken with a couple of attorneys about taking on my divorce case. As I explained my situation to Barbra, she immediately began to discern the strengths and weaknesses of my case. She then guided me on a path to success. Her advice kept me from ...making costly and strategic mistakes. She worked with me interactively every step of the way. She structured my case taking my wants and considerations into account. She was well aware of what might and what might not hold up in court. She obtained a fair settlement for me. She taught and informed me about the process and the points of law along the way. As a male in the state of Massachusetts, I was thrilled to come away with an equal division of property and assets as well as a suitable custody arrangement. As the old joke goes, the price for a divorce is so high because it is worth it! Without a doubt, the services of Barbra Black in a divorce case are worth having at any cost. Having said that, she ALWAYS explained to me which paths and actions would be the most economical for me and she always attempted to steer me in that direction even if it meant less money in her pocket. Barbra’s rates were fair and her monthly bills were clear and accurate. There was zero ambiguity over her monthly charges. Expect to be billed for all of your time on the phone with her after initial consultation. And of course the time she spends preparing for and representing your case. But she will offload duties to other skillful legal assistants in her firm as appropriate to help you keep the cost down. And she will only do so if you approve (some times I did, other times I didn't out of preference). If you are in this to win, start by forming a winning team. It’s going to be a small team, so make sure your players are the best. I watched Barbra deal with my former spouse’s attorney with voracious tenacity when necessary, yet with cooperation and kindness when the other party was being reasonable. Simply, she did whatever needed to be done to assure me a fair settlement. She knows the law well and will get you the best possible settlement within the law. She's a tireless worker.

After many years of contemplating a divorce I finally decided to move forward. I met with one lawyer who made me feel like I lost before I even got started! I knew at that point I had to do some homework before pursuing this life altering challenge. Barbra was recommended to me so I gave it a sho...t as I had nothing to loose after meeting with the 1st lawyer. I scheduled an appointment to meet with her and I have to say Barbra was very accommodating working around my schedule. When I walked into her office and saw her I was a bit skeptical as she was such a petite woman and I wasn't sure if she was the timid type who would let other lawyers walk all over her! After spending about 15 minutes with Barbra I knew she was the type of lawyer I wanted to represent me. She made me feel like we had known each other for years. I gave her a brief synopsis of the outcome I was looking for when all was said and done. What impressed me the most was the fact that Barbra was honest right from the beginning. Everything was laid on the table, including her fees, and then she told me to take some time to think about what I wanted to do. Right then and there I knew she was the person I wanted as my representative. Not only was Barbra honest and sincere but she portrayed herself in a professional and confident way. That was the beginning of our journey. Barbra and I had numerous meetings to prepare for the case. She included me in ever aspect of the divorce consulting with me as to what I wanted vs what she wanted and I felt like this was definitely going to be a team Working together as one. She always offered different options in an effort to save me money if at all possible. The time came when we needed to stand before a judge for our pre-trial hearing. Once again, Barbra exhibited her professionalism while firmly getting her point across. While waiting our turn to be heard, I remember explicitly how Barbra said to me "I hate having to wait cause it is costing you money to just sit here." The outcome was better than I expected and it was all due to Barbra's kindness, caring and nurturing that gave me the confidence I needed to approach the situation head on without fearing what the outcome would be. The most important part of the teamwork was the trust and respect we had for one another which turned an unknown situation into a pleasant experience. I walked away feeling as though I had a friend by my side. Barbra has an excellent staff who were always pleasant to deal with and willing to help in anyway possible. I am so happy I trusted my instincts and chose Barbra as my attorney. I would not hesitate for one moment to recommend her to anyone in need and I thank Barbra from the bottom of my heart for being who she is not only as a lawyer but also as a friend.

Emphatically yes! Thank God for Barbra Black. She's what you want as an attorney: smart as an Ivy-leaguer, tough as alligator hide and fearless as Indiana Jones. I work with attorneys both professionally and, unfortunately, sometimes personally. She is the best of the lot. I had a divorce tha...t, to describe as miserable, would like be describing a full diaper as a bit smelly. I sued my first set of attorney's for malpractice (and won) and brought a similar suit against the guardian ad litem (and won). That should tell you how well it went before I met Barbra. I met Barbra when she was at Burns & Levinson. They (she) helped clean up the mess the first attorneys created and got me a reasonable settlement. When my ex-wife violated the agreement, I again retained Barbra (who had started her own practice by then) to enforce the agreement. She was unyielding and vociferous in the action, taking no guff, but also being practical, ethical and straightforward. She kept me posted as to fees and was reasonable. She even told me what work I could do myself so I could save some money. If I had retained her in the first place, I wouldn't have had the mess the first set of attorneys left me with. If you are getting divorced and not getting what you need from your existing attorney or considering divorce and expect a fight, retain Barbra. Other attorney's know her reputation and generally want to settle up quickly instead of facing her in court. She also knows the MA court system and its procedures, enjoying a solid reputation with Judges because of her knowledge of the law. Just be honest with her and she'll fight for you like Mike Tyson in the ring. Keep in mind Family Court is a court of equity, not justice. Make sure you have Barbra in your corner to make sure it is kept equitable. Again, I recommend her totally.

I retained Barbra Black as my divorce attorney in 2005. She handled my case in the most professional way and the outcome was favorable. Atty. Black was extremely knowledgable, proactive and informed. She explained my options to me clearly and reasonably. She focussed on the end result of the case and... kept my best interests in mind at all times. I was divorced at my pre-trial mostly because Barbara had prepared a settlement document which we were able to fine tune and agree upon before our hearing. In retrospect, due to her forthought, she saved me a great deal of money. The judge complimented Barbra at the trial for her performance. I highly recommend Barbara Black.