Mary Beth L. Sweeney is a partner with the law firm of Atwood & Cherny and has been with the firm since 1998. Her practice includes all aspects of domestic relations and probate litigation in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A significant portion of her practice involves custody matters and children's issues, including the impact of a child with special needs on a divorce case. Ms. Sweeney has expertise in custody, removal, visitation and Hague Convention matters (where a parent abducts a child to another country). Ms. Sweeney was one of the trial attorneys responsible for the first highlighted "virtual visitation" case in Massachusetts, as it pertained to a creative method of contact for a non-custodial parent in a removal matter. A component of her practice also includes representing family members in Estate Litigation matters in both the Probate and Superior Courts of the Commonwealth.

Ms. Sweeney is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Boston Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association and American Bar Association. She also served as a past member of the Steering Committee for the Boston Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and has served as a past delegate for the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Association for Justice. Ms. Sweeney has lectured for the American Association for Justice on topics including Stock Options in Family Law Cases at their conventions. She is also a member of the Probate and Family Court Inns of Court, and has presented for them on evidentiary issues in family law cases. Ms. Sweeney has also served by appointment and agreement as a Guardian ad Litem in family law cases. She is a trained mediator and Collaborative law attorney. Ms. Sweeney has also been listed in the magazine “Massachusetts Rising Stars - Super Lawyers” for the last several years.

Ms. Sweeney has published on the topic of Stock Options for the American Association for Justice in their 2001 Montreal Convention Manual ("The ABC's of Stock Options"). She has appeared on the Emily Rooney show on the issue of Virtual Parenting and its impact in divorce removal matters. She is also responsible for updating the Motion Practice Section of the MCLE Family Law Manual.

Ms. Sweeney is a 1991 graduate of Suffolk University (B.A., cum laude, 1991). While at Suffolk University, Ms. Sweeney attended an accelerated program as an Archer Fellow. She was inducted into Pi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society in Social Science), Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society) and Delta Alpha Pi (the college's honor society). She received her law degree from the Suffolk University Law School (J.D., 1998). Ms. Sweeney is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and the Federal District Court.

"During a divorce or probate litigation case we meet wonderful people going through the worst times in their lives. It is our job to move them through the process as quickly and cleanly as possible while preserving their dignity and ensuring their positions are heard and their needs are met."