John D. Welch

Now in practice and with over 20 years of experience, John prides himself in offering a firm, stable and determined hand to clients in a time of tremendous need.  He understands his role as an advocate of his client and considers it one of his strengths to listen to and understand his client’s needs so that he can gauge the appropriate level of aggressiveness to his advocacy. 

John returned to the North Shore of Boston where he was born and raised and joined Neighborhood Legal Services in 1993. Through his work at Neighborhood Legal Services, he represented hundreds of clients in a variety of domestic relations matters. In addition, he has authored eleven self-help packets which can be found at the Essex Family and Probate Court and has contributed to the MCLE publication Family Law Advocacy for Law and Moderate Income Litigants. He has presented numerous seminars and classes to practitioners and clients in areas ranging from representing yourself in a divorce, jurisdictional issues in domestic relations matters, the intricacies of the "Custodial Presumption Bill," and how to represent divorce clients. 

He has lobbied the legislature to fund legal assistance to assist victims of abuse as well as for the passage of legislation to assist such victims. He has been actively involved with Help for Abused Women and their Children and has co-chairing their annual fund-raising swim each August in Marblehead, Massachusetts.  His dedication, commitment and caring for his clients has earned him community recognition as he is a two time recipient of the Help for Abused Women and their Children Community Award (1998 and 2001).  In addition he sat on the board of the Jeanne Geiger Crisis and has forged lasting and significant relationships with community organizations and service providers throughout Essex County and the North Shore.

As an experienced and trusted litigator and a respected member of the bar, John is a recipient of Court appointments as Guardian ad Litem, Guardian and Conservator, and Conciliator,

John and his partner Sharon D. Meyers are both excited to bring the insightful and practical skills of Lisa A. Baratta to their firm.

John D. Welch has committed his professional life to helping others. After earning his law degree from the University of Maine in Portland he and his wife lived in Fresno, California where he successfully passed the California Bar and practiced with Central California Legal Services. As a member of the firm, Attorney Welch was instrumental in ensuring that low income residents of that area were afforded high quality legal representation in matters ranging from housing to family law issues.