Michael G. Xavier is a successful family law attorney with 18 years of experience working with families in distress caused by divorce, custody, child removal, modification, guardianship, will contests, and related issues.
Michael’s practice includes many cutting-edge legal issues including same-sex marriages, adoptions, and assisted reproductive technology. He works closely with his clients in same-sex marriages in areas such as child custody (especially in states where their marriage isn’t recognized) and tax implications for same-sex couples who are legally married and he helps to clarify the rights and interests of sperm donors, egg donors, and surrogates.
Michael’s goal is to help protect children and families and minimize conflict whenever and wherever possible. Although the traditional work of a domestic relations attorney often involves fractured family situations, Michael’s practice helps same-sex families establish and protect their legal rights while also helping to build cohesive, safe, and protected family structures.
Michael has made it a priority to stay up-to-the-minute on the complex and ever-changing laws by participating in a wide range of professional seminars, conferences, and training programs. As a result, his clients benefit from knowing that their attorney is on top of the latest laws, trends, decisions, claims, challenges, and precedents.
Not only does Michael continue to educate himself about these legal issues, he teaches other professionals about them as well. He was a faculty member of Suffolk University Law School’s Continuing Legal Education program titled, Same-Sex Marriage, Divorce and Parentage Issues. Michael spoke on the topics including, What is the Portability of Legal Rights for Same Sex Couples: Marriage, Divorce, Parentage, Adoption, and Helping Your Clients With Cultural Issues/Differences in the Courtroom.
When necessary, Michael can be a powerful opponent in the courtroom, having successfully tried a wide variety of white-collar criminal litigation and domestic relations cases, in all Massachusetts courts. Prior to his work as a private practice attorney, Michael was an assistant district attorney in the office of the Bristol County District Attorney, where he gained some early experience in litigation and criminal prosecution.
Fresh out of law school, Michael began growing his legal skills as a law clerk to the Superior Court Justices of Massachusetts, which gave him an excellent foundation upon which to build his own legal practice.
