Divorce, Family Law, and Bankruptcy Attorneys in West Springfield, MA

Sclafani & Moriarty is a general practice law firm at 776 Westfield Street in West Springfield, Massachusetts, serving Hampden County and the surrounding Pioneer Valley for over a quarter of a century. Our attorneys handle divorce and family law, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and estate planning. Family law and bankruptcy make up the core of what we do, and we handle both under one roof. Initial consultations are free and take place in our office. Call 413-732-8356 to schedule one.

What Types of Cases Does Sclafani & Moriarty Handle?

Sclafani & Moriarty handles divorce, child custody, child support, and alimony matters in Hampden County Probate and Family Court, along with Chapter 7 bankruptcy, criminal defense, personal injury claims, real estate transactions, and wills and trusts. Family law and bankruptcy represent the majority of the firm’s caseload.

Divorce and family law. Attorney Tanya K. Moriarty handles contested and uncontested divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, paternity, and modifications of existing orders. Most of these cases are filed in Hampden County Probate and Family Court in Springfield.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Attorney Charles J. Sclafani Jr. represents individuals and families seeking to discharge credit card debt, medical bills, and other unsecured obligations, and files those cases in the Western Division of the federal bankruptcy court in Springfield.

Criminal defense. Attorney Sclafani defends clients facing operating under the influence, drug, assault, and other charges in the district courts across Hampden County.

Personal injury. We represent people injured in car accidents, falls, and other incidents caused by someone else’s negligence. These claims are handled on a contingency fee basis.

Wills and trusts. Attorney Gabriella Caminito-Meeker prepares wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and health care proxies.

Real estate. We handle residential closings, purchase and sale agreements, and title matters for buyers and sellers throughout Hampden County.

Extensive Knowledge of Divorce and Bankruptcy Law in Massachusetts

Divorce and bankruptcy interact in ways that can cost a client money when the two are handled separately. Filing order affects which debts are discharged, whether spouses can file jointly, and how a separation agreement divides liability. Sclafani & Moriarty handles both, so that decision gets made once, with the full picture in view.

Most firms do one or the other. When a client hires a divorce lawyer at one office and a bankruptcy lawyer at another, it can be confusing to determine which case should be filed first, and that question carries real consequences.

Filing a joint Chapter 7 before the divorce can eliminate shared unsecured debt and simplify what the Probate and Family Court has to divide. Filing afterward, separately, can mean two filing fees, two sets of attorney’s fees, and a divorce judgment that assigns a debt to a spouse who later discharges it. The automatic stay in bankruptcy can also pause portions of a divorce case, which helps in some situations and creates an obstacle in others.

There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. There is a right answer for a particular household’s income, debt, and timeline, and it should be worked out before either case is filed. Having in-depth knowledge of both areas of the law and how these laws are applied in the local courts provides our clients with unique insights that help them make the right decisions based on their specific circumstances.

Which Court Will Hear My Case?

Family law matters for West Springfield residents are heard in Hampden County Probate and Family Court at 50 State Street in Springfield. Chapter 7 bankruptcies are filed in the Western Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, also in Springfield. Criminal charges are heard in the district court covering the town where the incident occurred.

• Hampden County Probate and Family Court — divorce, custody, child support, alimony, paternity, guardianship, and abuse prevention orders. It sits in the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse at 50 State Street in Springfield. Court information and forms are available through Mass.gov.
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, Western Division — Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings for Hampden County residents, at 300 State Street in Springfield. Filing requirements and local rules are published by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.
• District courts — Criminal charges and harassment or abuse prevention hearings are heard in the district court for the town where the incident occurred. Springfield District Court covers Springfield, West Springfield, and Longmeadow; Westfield covers Agawam and Westfield; Palmer covers East Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham; Chicopee and Holyoke each serve their own city.
• Hampden County Superior Court — personal injury claims seeking damages above the district court threshold.

Knowing which building your case lands in matters less than knowing how that particular court runs. We appear in all of them.

Who Are the Attorneys at Sclafani & Moriarty?

Sclafani & Moriarty has three attorneys. Charles J. Sclafani Jr. handles criminal defense and bankruptcy. Tanya K. Moriarty handles divorce and family law, real estate, and personal injury. Gabriella Caminito-Meeker handles wills and trusts. The firm has served clients in Western Massachusetts for over 25 years.

Charles J. Sclafani Jr. concentrates on criminal defense and consumer bankruptcy. He appears regularly in the district courts throughout Hampden County and files Chapter 7 cases in the Western Division.

Tanya K. Moriarty focuses her practice on divorce and family law, and also handles residential real estate and personal injury matters. She has practiced law in Massachusetts for more than two decades.

Gabriella Caminito-Meeker prepares wills, trusts, and the related documents that keep an estate out of a longer probate process than it needs.

Clients work directly with their attorney. We have worked with hundreds of clients over the years, and we still treat every person as an individual, not a case file.

What Does It Cost to Talk to Us?

The initial consultation at Sclafani & Moriarty is free and takes place in our West Springfield office. Payment plans are available for family law, bankruptcy, criminal, and estate planning matters. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation.

Legal fees are the reason a lot of people put off calling a lawyer, so here is how ours work.

The first meeting costs nothing. Bring whatever paperwork you have — a summons, a stack of collection notices, a proposed separation agreement — and we will walk you through your options and what handling the matter would cost.

For divorce, bankruptcy, criminal, and estate planning matters, we quote a fee up front and can arrange a payment schedule. For personal injury claims, our fee comes out of the recovery, and if there is no recovery, there is no fee. Court filing fees and case costs are separate from attorney’s fees, and we explain those before you commit to anything.

Which Communities Does the Firm Serve?

Sclafani & Moriarty represents clients across Hampden County and Western Massachusetts, including West Springfield, Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Agawam, Westfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Family and bankruptcy cases from these communities are heard in the Springfield courthouses on State Street.

Hampden County towns share the same Probate and Family Court and the same bankruptcy division, so the process runs the same way whether you live in Agawam or Wilbraham. What changes is which district court hears a criminal matter and how far you travel for a hearing.

We also take matters for clients in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Call the office to confirm we can handle a case in your county.

Contact Sclafani & Moriarty

If you are facing a divorce, falling behind on debt, charged with a crime, or hurt in an accident, the sooner you speak with a lawyer, the more options you are likely to have.

Sclafani & Moriarty
776 Westfield Street
West Springfield, MA 01089
413-732-8356

Attorneys Charles J. Sclafani Jr., Tanya K. Moriarty, and Gabriella Caminito-Meeker offer free initial consultations in our West Springfield office, and payment plans are available. Call 413-732-8356 or use the contact form on this site to schedule a time that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you handle both the divorce and the bankruptcy?

Yes. Attorney Moriarty handles the family law side and Attorney Sclafani handles the bankruptcy, and they coordinate on timing. Deciding which case is filed first is one of the more consequential choices a household facing both will make, and it should be settled before either petition goes in.

Is the first consultation really free?

Yes. The initial consultation is free and takes place in our West Springfield office. There is no obligation to hire us afterward, and we will tell you directly if we think your situation does not call for a lawyer.

Do you offer payment plans?

We do, for family law, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and estate planning matters. We quote the fee at the initial consultation and can arrange a payment schedule from there. Personal injury cases run on a contingency fee, so there is nothing to pay up front.

Which court will my case be filed in?

Family law cases for Hampden County residents are filed in the Probate and Family Court at 50 State Street in Springfield. Chapter 7 bankruptcies go to the Western Division of the federal bankruptcy court, also in Springfield. Criminal charges are heard in the district court for the town where the incident occurred.

This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws and statutes are revised and updated periodically, and the information here may not reflect the most current version of the law. You are strongly advised to speak with an attorney about the specifics of your situation.