Business Details
13 Years
experience
Boston Family Law Experts Since 2013
At Kates & Barlow, we specialize exclusively in Family Law, providing comprehensive legal representation for clients navigating complex personal and financial matters. Our team of attorneys brings over a century of combined experience in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation, with particular expertise in high-conflict custody cases, financial disputes, and complex asset valuation. We employ a collaborative team approach to ensure clients receive strategic guidance tailored to their unique circumstances, prioritizing transparent communication and cost-effective solutions.Our attorneys maintain active involvement in professional organizations and have earned recognition through peer-reviewed rankings and certifications in financial litigation. We are committed to community engagement while maintaining rigorous professional standards that have earned us a Tier 1 national ranking since our founding.
Services
Child Custody Representation
Divorce Financial Issues
Prenuptial Agreements
Post-Divorce Modifications
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Details
- Year established: 2013
Highlights and features
- Our attorneys have over 100 combined years of family law experience
- We maintain a Tier 1 national ranking in family law practice
- Multiple attorneys hold Certified Financial Litigator designations
- We employ a collaborative team approach for comprehensive case strategy
- Our firm has earned recognition from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for excellence
Associations and certifications
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
- Best Lawyers in America
Services
Child Custody Representation
We provide comprehensive representation for child custody matters including legal custody determinations, visitation rights, and modification of existing arrangements. Our attorneys handle complex cases involving abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and special needs children while prioritizing the child's best interests. We work with clients to establish parenting plans that address both immediate and long-term needs through negotiation or litigation.
Divorce Financial Issues
Our team specializes in resolving complex financial aspects of divorce including asset valuation, business assessment, and support arrangements. We collaborate with forensic accountants and valuation experts to ensure accurate determination of marital assets and income. We provide strategic guidance on property division, alimony calculations, and tax implications while maintaining focus on achieving cost-effective resolutions for high net worth clients.
Prenuptial Agreements
We draft and review premarital, postmarital, and cohabitation agreements tailored to clients' specific circumstances. Our attorneys ensure proper documentation of asset protection provisions, spousal support terms, and property division guidelines. We provide counsel on agreement enforceability and represent clients in related litigation when necessary, maintaining strict attention to detail in all contractual provisions.
Post-Divorce Modifications
We assist clients with modifying existing divorce judgments related to child support, alimony, and custody arrangements. Our attorneys handle enforcement actions and defense against modification requests while considering evolving family circumstances. We provide strategic counsel on demonstrating material changes in circumstances required for successful modification petitions in Massachusetts courts.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Our firm offers mediation and arbitration services as alternatives to traditional litigation. We represent clients in both binding and non-binding dispute resolution formats, focusing on collaborative problem-solving approaches. Our attorneys leverage negotiation expertise to achieve favorable settlements while maintaining readiness for trial if alternative methods prove unsuccessful in meeting client objectives.
People
Peter M. Barlow
Founding Partner, Attorney
With over 30 years of family law experience, Peter Barlow is a certified financial litigator and founding member of the Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Court. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2006.
Amanda L. Vanderhorst
Managing Partner, Attorney
A 2026 Best Lawyers honoree, Amanda Vanderhorst specializes in complex family law matters and holds the Certified Financial Litigator designation. She has been named a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Go to Lawyer.
Brian P. Heneghan
Managing Partner, Attorney
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014, Brian Heneghan brings extensive trial experience to high-conflict family law cases while maintaining active involvement in legal education initiatives.
Kevin M. Corr
Partner, Attorney
As a partner with decades of family law experience, Kevin Corr focuses on complex financial divorce cases and child custody matters with particular attention to business valuation issues.
Mackenzie N. Kravitz
Attorney
Mackenzie Kravitz represents clients in divorce proceedings and custody disputes, leveraging her experience in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution formats for effective case resolution.
Questions
What areas of family law do you specialize in?
We handle all aspects of family law including divorce, child custody, prenuptial agreements, post-divorce modifications, and alternative dispute resolution throughout Massachusetts.
How do you handle complex financial divorce cases?
Our attorneys work with forensic accountants and valuation experts to accurately assess business interests, investments, and income streams for equitable property division and support calculations.
Can you help with child custody modifications?
Yes, we assist with modifying custody arrangements when there's a material change in circumstances, ensuring new parenting plans meet children's evolving needs and legal requirements.
Do you offer alternative dispute resolution options?
We provide mediation and arbitration services as alternatives to litigation, focusing on collaborative solutions while maintaining trial readiness if needed.
How are attorney fees structured?
We offer transparent fee structures with retainer requirements, and provide cost-benefit analysis throughout representation to maintain cost-effective legal services.
What makes your firm different from others?
Our combination of century-plus collective experience, financial litigation expertise, and personalized team approach distinguishes us in handling complex family law matters.
