Maria M. Rivera-Ortiz is a Senior Attorney with The Massachusetts Family Law Group.  In her distinguished role, Attorney Rivera-Ortiz not only manages all of the firm’s efforts in Worcester and Western Massachusetts, but she also serves as coach and mentor to each of the Associates in the firm.  Prior to joining MFLG, Attorney Rivera-Ortiz was an attorney in the Family Law Unit by the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts and also an Assistant District Attorney for Worcester County prosecuting domestic violence cases.  

Quite often, prospective clients come to Maria when questions arise about alimony and spousal support.  Attorney Rivera-Ortiz gives prospective clients the bottom line:  “Alimony gets treated differently from child support on your tax return.  Alimony is tax deductible to the person who pays it, and included in the taxable income of the person who receives it.  Child support, by contrast, is not taxable to the person who receives it and not tax deductible to the person who pays it.  That means that when you and your spouse have dramatically different incomes, there may be some tax advantages to using alimony, even if a judge in Worcester, Springfield or Northampton wouldn’t ordinarily award it.”

A good portion of Maria’s clients find her as they contemplate a change in attorneys.  She makes her position clear:  “If your divorce is not progressing the way you had hoped, or you’re frustrated with the lack of communication between you and your lawyer, you do have a right to make a change.  You do not want to choose your lawyer lightly, but you are not obligated to stay where your needs are not being met.”  As the word spreads about Maria’s stellar client service, she beams like a Christmas tree saying, “Getting my clients to the next stage of their life is Priority Number One to me!”

As a graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, Attorney Rivera-Ortiz is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.  She is an active member of the Worcester Bar Association.

Attorney Rivera-Ortiz offers an important advantage to her Spanish-speaking clients.  When you come to Maria’s office, you can speak directly with your lawyer in your native language, rather than through a translator.