In the legal community, the Law Office of Merril S. Chin stands out as a small, well-respected family and divorce law firm providing personalized and sage legal assistance. We handle matters of all sizes, such as those involving minimal assets or those that solely involve custody issues. We are also highly experienced in managing cases involving high net worth estates and we are highly skilled at both trying cases and negotiating settlements.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide assertive, sensible and compassionate representation that supports our clients’ goals, and achieves cost effective, timely and fair resolution of their matters. To this end we serve as trusted advisors and educators. Even as we act as your voice in negotiations and in Court, we are under your direction and will pursue the choices you make.

Our Approach

Each family law matter requires a different approach and involves a different solution. However, they all require attentive, sensible, and compassionate legal representation.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Our clients come to us facing significant personal and legal issues. By resolving their legal issues and supporting them while they undertake their personal issues, we often hear from clients that we assisted them in getting to “a better place.” Other frequent comments include:

• You were responsive to my needs.
• You offered creative solutions.
• You were caring and compassionate.
• You validated my concerns while helping me make my own decisions.

The Attorney

MERRIL S. CHIN

Merril S. Chin is a native of the North Shore of Massachusetts. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Boston University in 1989, where she graduated magna cum laude and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1993. She was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1993, and to the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in 1994.

Merril was an assistant district attorney in Essex County from 1993 to 1998 and was an associate with the firm of Metaxas, Norman & Pidgeon from 1999 to 2001, where she specialized in family law. In 2002 Attorney Chin opened The Law Office of Merril S. Chin, where she continues to practice family law.

Merril has taught several college-level courses, including Business Law at Emmanuel College in 1998, Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law and Criminal Law at Bunker Hill Community College from 1998 to 2000, and the law portion of the CPA exam with Conviser Duffy and Person Wollinsky CPA Review from 1999 to 2001. In addition, she regularly volunteers as Lawyer for the Day and is appointed by the Court as a conciliator, attorney for the child (ARC program) and guardian ad litem. Merril is a certified mediator and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Family Law Section, the Essex County Bar Association, the Newburyport Bar Association and the Lawrence Bar Association. Merril has successfully handled thousands of family law matters.

Merril is well acquainted with and respected by judges in many counties in the Commonwealth. Her background as a prosecutor affords her excellent knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure, as well as the ability to think quickly and creatively problem solve. In addition to operating a successful law practice, Attorney Chin is the proud parent of two grown children and in her spare time, she enjoys biking, traveling, and reading.  Attorney Chin represents her clients aggressively while maintaining compassion and taking a reasonable and realistic approach.

COURTNEY RYDER – ASSOCIATE

Courtney is a native of Enfield, Connecticut, but has been living in the Boston area for more than seven years.  She joined The Law Office of Merril S. Chin in 2020.  Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University in 2016 with a major in International Relations and her law degree from New England Law | Boston in 2019.

While at New England Law Courtney completed extensive coursework in immigration and earned a Certificate in Immigration Law.  She completed a clinical internship with Savitz Law Offices, as well as the Law Office of Samia Chandraker. She also earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Landlord/ Tenant Law in the Fall of 2018. Prior to joining The Law Office of Merril S. Chin, Courtney was employed at Epstein-Santoyo Law as well as Corbaci Law, P.C. Courtney is excited to utilize the skills she learned practicing immigration law to the field of family law.