TALIA SIMONDS

TALIA SIMONDS

Talia Simonds concentrates her practice in all areas of Family Law, including divorce, child custody and support, alimony, modification and contempt actions, paternity, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Talia is also a certified Category F Guardian ad Litem, Category V Parenting Coordinator, and divorce mediator.  Talia was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2008, but has experience working in the legal profession since the mid-1990’s, much of which has been in the area of Family Law.


Talia’s philosophy in representing clients is to provide aggressive representation for her clients in a caring and compassionate manner, knowing that issues pertaining to Family Law are often emotional and stressful for her clients.


Prior to opening Simonds Family Law & Mediation, PLLC, Talia worked at several Boston area family law firms, where she gained valuable experience as both a litigator and mediator. 


Talia also previously worked at the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division, pursuant to a federal grant and pilot program seeking to streamline the child support modification process. Talia was only one of three attorneys hired statewide by the Department of Revenue and the Probate and Family Court to oversee this grant and pilot program. Ultimately, the Probate and Family Court approved this pilot program to be instituted statewide pursuant to Standing Order 3-11.


In addition to Talia’s experience at the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division, Talia also served as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Peter P. Charnetsky of the Broome County Family Court and the Integrated Domestic Violence Session of the New York State Supreme Court. Through Talia’s judicial internship, she was able to obtain the rare insight into a family court’s judge’s thought process in the handling of family court cases and assist Judge Charnetsky in drafting his orders and decisions.


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Bar Admissions:

Massachusetts, 2008



Professional Certifications:

  • Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Limited Assistance Representation Program (LAR)
  • Probate and Family Court Attorneys Representing Children (ARC) Program (Certified in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Essex Counties)
  • Parenting Coordinator, Category V Fee Generating Appointment
  • Divorce Mediator
  • CPCS Guardianship Panel
  • Guardian ad Litem, Category F Fee Generating Appointment
  • Certified Financial Litigator, American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators


Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Massachusetts Association of Guardians ad Litem (MAGAL) (Current Board Member 2019-Present)
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Massachusetts Chapter Board Member 2023-Present)
  • North Shore Women Lawyers Association (Past Board Member)
  • Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (Current Board Member)
  • Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Court
  • American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
  • American Bar Association (including Section of Family Law)
  • Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation
  • Essex County Bar Association 
  • Massachusetts Bar Association (Family Law Section Council Member 2023-Present)


Pro Bono Work

  • Probate and Family Court Attorneys Representing Children (ARC) Program (Certified in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Essex Counties)
  • Lawyer of the Day (Suffolk Probate and Family Court)


Prior Speaking Engagements

  • COVID-19 and its Impact on Family Law, Syracuse University, November 2020
  • Strategies for Integrating Litigation and ADR in Family Law Cases, Greater Newburyport Bar Association, January 19, 2023
  • Mandatory Guardian ad Litem recertification training, MCLE/ Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court, October 6, 2022
  • Mandatory new Guardian ad Litem training, MCLE/Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court, November 3, 2022


Education:

New England School of Law, J.D., 2007

Syracuse University (College of Arts & Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs), B.A., cum laude, in Political Science and Philosophy (dual major), 2003

Honors:

Phi Beta Kappa

Chancellor’s Scholar

National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Golden Key International Honors Society

Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honors Society)


Other Interests and Activities:

In her free time, Talia likes to volunteer with the Syracuse University Admissions Office speaking with prospective students as an Alumni Representative about her experiences at Syracuse University and answering any questions students may have.  In her spare time, Talia is an avid Francophile and loves to watch French television, listen to French music, and read books in French.



Languages Spoken:

English

French

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