Attorney John DeVito has been practicing law for over 39 years. Although his primary specialty is Criminal Law, he is experienced in many other areas. As Past President of the Bar Association of Norfolk County, and as a highly-respected member of the local bar, he has achieved superior results in many of the cases he has handled. Although the attorneys maintain separate practices, he and Attorney Visconti often work together on cases where their clients' problems overlap into other areas.

John has recently retired from the practice of law, and will be sorely missed. We wish him the best.

Barbara is, to many people, the “face” of our office. She brings over 25 years of experience to DeVito & Visconti, and has served as secretary, receptionist, paralegal, and office manager. She holds a Paralegal Certificate from Curry College, and assists clients in helping us to prepare their cases. Her professionalism is a major asset to our clients and our firm.

We are lucky to have Janet Bonsey helping out at our firm. She brings over 45 years of experience to us, and is skilled in numerous areas of law as a paralegal and a secretary.

Estate Planning is the planning of ones affairs for end-of-life issues, including preparation of legal documents to prepare for transitions and eventualities in one's life, and to arrange one's affairs so as to ensure that your estate passes to your loved ones. We have been assisting people in drafting their Wills, planning their Estates, and probating the estates of loved ones for over 40 years.

With the recent passing of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC), the probate of estates has become much less formal, and much simpler. The relative lack of Court scrutiny, however, means that there may well be more issues arising between heirs and administrators (or "Personal Representatives" under the new Code) of those estates. Heirs need to consult with counsel to ascertain their rights.

Also, the recent gains in longevity also means that there is greater possibility for the exertion of undue influence by a relative, friend, or neighbor on an elderly person whose aging faculties make them more vulnerable. Legitimate heirs need to be able to protect themselves and their elders in these situations. This is an area requiring great caution and sensitivity. In addition to issues of competency and guardianship, issues arising today include Trust issues, Trust Litigation, other forms of Fiduciary Litigation, as well as the standard Will Contest, Elder Abuse claims, and other litigation arising from people fighting to control or gain access to the estates of others. Parties need the advice of an attorney versed in Elder Law, Estates, Probate, and Fiduciary Litigation. We have been handling these cases for decades, and stand ready to assist and advise you.

Domestic Relations, or Family Law, consists of the areas of Marriage, Divorce, Paternity, and Adoption. It emcompasses Divorce, property division, child custody and visitation, alimony, child support, prenuptial agreements, modifications of judgments, contempt, and determination of paternity.

Many changes are constantly occurring in these areas, as is witnessed by the recent passing of the new Massachusetts Alimony Statute, and the recent revision of the Child Support Guidelines.

The law in this - and every other area - is very fact-specific, and you should not make life decisions based on old advice. With the recent changes in the law leaving many "gray areas", advocacy plays a bigger role than ever in cases where the appellate courts have not yet decided.

The stakes in Family Law engender deep emotions. Also, with our transient society, issues abound as to which state's laws apply in a given situation. The advice of an impartial attorney as to your rights, and actions, is essential to navigating yourself through this legal and emotional minefield.

Divorce Mediation is, to many legal and social practitioners, the future of resolving Family Law issues. Many feel that the adversary system of justice is not appropriate or optimal for resolving disputes in this area, where one does not necessarily "win" in disputes over custody or visitation. Divorce Mediation allows the parties to be heard in the safe presence of each other and a trained divorce mediator, and to reach an accommodation which they both can live with. In issues of custody and visitation, this ensures that a mutual accommodation occurs which is more likely to be in the best interests of the children. Divorce Mediation is empowering: Instead of agreeing to what the attorneys advise will only be ordered by the judge anyway, the parties can tailor their settlement to their own unique needs. Divorce Mediation costs much less than litigation - in money, time, and stress - leaving the parties more resources to support their children and themselves.

Attorney Anthony Visconti is a trained and certified Divorce Mediator who has helped couples in the past who were disappointed with the adversary system. Mediation is an option that is more humane and rewarding for all concerned than the old adversarial litigation method. Judges prefer parties who can work things out on their own, which is especially important if the parties need to continue parenting their children in the years following the divorce.

During his distinguished career, Attorney Visconti has successfully handled litigation in a multiple of areas, including federal copyright law, criminal jury trials, personal injury verdicts, probate litigation in the State and Federal Courts, bankruptcy litigation, and, of course, domestic relations. He is a veteran of hundreds of trials, and has often obtained superior results. While his lifetime legal experience is quite diverse, he is now limiting his practice to domestic relations and probate law and litigation.