|
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
• What's New? Honors, Professional Activities, Firm News
• Reviews of the Quarter
• Case Summary of the Quarter: Joint Custody and Children’s Best Interest
• Mindfulness Matters: Set Up Back to School Success
And more...
| | UPDATES FROM CYNTHIA RUNGE | | |
2027 Best Lawyers Recognition
We are delighted to share that Cindy has been recognized by her peers in the 33rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for her outstanding work in the areas of Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Collaborative Law: Family Law.
2026 Super Lawyers
And we are also happy to share that Cindy has been recognized as both a Top 100: 2026 Massachusetts Super Lawyer and a Top 50: 2026 Women Massachusetts Super Lawyer.
| | Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting Presentation | | Cindy was honored to present on the topic of Limited Assistance Representation as part of the workshop “Strategic Representation: Limited Scope, Maximum Impact” at the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting in Providence June 12, 2026, noting “It was a privilege to join my Rhode Island colleagues in discussing how innovative representation models can expand access to justice while helping clients receive targeted, effective legal services.” | | American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ National Family Law Conference | | | | |
Cindy attended the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ National Family Law Conference in Las Vegas June 25–27, 2026. This was an opportunity to learn from top-tier CLE, refine strategy, and connect with with fellow family law attorneys from across the country.
Cindy reported, “This is a first for me: I’ve yet to attend a conference space which has its own Wedding Chapel! On the other hand, this is Vegas. The irony is that the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys is holding its national training here, across from the Wedding Chapel. Life is full of ironies. Most divorce attorneys I know who do this work do so out of a sincere desire to help clients get through a process that can only be described as one of the most emotionally painful/stressful experiences that a person can go through. I’m grateful to be here with like-minded professionals to learn and to bring back cutting edge family law information to my clients and colleagues.”
| | |
FIRM NEWS
Arbitration Service
Cindy was recently certified as an AAML Family Law Arbitrator. Stay tuned for news about when we will begin accepting Family Law Arbitration clients.
New York Office
We are excited to share that we have a new New York City address at 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY. Stay tuned for more information about the services we will be offering our New York clients.
Woburn Office Renovation Update
Our Woburn office renovations are coming together bit by bit! As our team continues to expand, so does our office space...
Making Summer Shine One Young Star at a Time
Peridot Family Law was a proud sponsor for the New England School of Performing Arts Summer 2026 Program. NESPA is a huge supporter of kids and we want to help them continue their work into the future and beyond!
| | | | Briefly trading the beautiful green walls of the Peridot Family Law office for the stunning scenery of the Emerald Isle, Cindy enjoyed a vacation in Ireland this summer. (And we hope she took her own advice from her past Mindfulness Matters article “Summer Vacation” to “Rethink your vacation so it’s REALLY a vacation” — rest and relaxation are important not just for clients but for their attorneys too!) | | |
CLE by the Sea
On July 16, 2026, our Associate Matthew D. Binkunski attended the 9th Annual CLE by the Sea: NE Conference for Solos & Small Firms, hosted in Salisbury, Massachusetts, where he sat in on three lectures addressing critical topics for our family law practice. Deciphering Taxes emphasized that tax returns rarely tell the whole story in divorce. The presentation focused on identifying add-backs, deferred income, cash-flow discrepancies, and pass-through business issues that may affect support or property division. Challenging Valuation Issues in Marital Dissolution Matters explored why closely held businesses are often among the most contested divorce assets. The presentation examined how valuation standards, discounts, ownership rights, financial records, and operating realities shape the analysis—and how counsel can test an expert’s assumptions. Spinning the Mediator offered practical guidance on productive family-law mediation and conciliation. The session emphasized preparing clients around settlement goals, working effectively with a neutral, using caucuses strategically, and addressing safety and power-imbalance concerns early. The panel consisted of members of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine BAR, which allowed for a diverse perspective on how different states handle and implement mediation and conciliation into their proceedings.
| | We are happy to have Senior Paralegal Peter Fitzgerald back in the office following his paternity leave. (And 🐾 Frankie too!) | | | | | |
Attorney Megan Rinke has welcomed a new dog, Kira, to her life! In addition to all the mental, physical and social health benefits of pet ownership that we shared in our Mindfulness Matters article “The Power of Pets”, Kira is proving to be a great addition to our office — and maybe now Frankie will finally have an office playmate?
| | |
“At the end of a grueling and contested divorce, I had a moment to sit down and observe what my emotions were about having Peridot Family Law on my side. This is how I felt:
I felt grateful for what Cynthia has done to help me and the love of my life, my daughter, to get through the most difficult times. Despite all the chaos coming at us from the opposing party, which prolonged the divorce, it was a validating feeling for me to look back and realize that my first impression of Cynthia was true and accurate: she was deeply knowledgeable, truly experienced, and sincerely caring, and always had my best interest in her mind, all the time. Equally, the team that she put together reflected those qualities. I was grateful for Megan's clarity and her sharp legal instincts, attention to details, and even being mindful of my emotional wellbeing. I was also thankful to the wonderful office staff, Peter, Deb, Hunter, and Matt, whose contribution made the closure to this chapter of my life and the possible opening of a new one as healing as possible.” —Divorce Client
| | |
“Divorce is complex, as it involves a mix of legal, ethical, and emotional considerations. Cindy and Shannon expertly guided me through often painful and complex terrain by thoughtfully acknowledging and considering the emotional component of each decision while ultimately anchoring their recommendations to me on solid legal grounds and based on their substantial experience.
Their team was responsive and friendly, helpful and kind.
They provided me with the time I needed to reach conclusions on more difficult decisions, and also gave themselves the time to assess different options. This gave me confidence in their internal deliberations and our approach to what is ultimately a complex and emotionally charged negotiation. They were also responsive to my desire to make progress during the divorce with a trained mediator.
Finally, it was a pleasure to work with both Cindy and Shannon, who offered dignity and calm to a challenging, dynamic process. I would recommend Peridot Family Law to those seeking divorce or other family legal matters.” —Divorce Client
| | |
CASE SUMMARY OF THE QUARTER
Carolyn Gannon Kyrpych v. Yaroslav Kyrpych: 25-P-472
IS JOINT CUSTODY ALWAYS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD?
This is an appeal by Yaroslav Kyrpych (Father) from a judgement of modification which awarded Carolyn Gannon Kyrpych (Mother) sole legal and physical custody of the parties’ children and granted father supervised parenting time. The court affirmed the lower court’s decision.
Factual Background: The parties were married November 2014 and have two children together. After the parties separated, Father moved to Ukraine. The parties divorced April 2022 and their separation agreement stated (1) Mother had sole legal custody; (2) Mother’s residence was be the children’s primary residence; and (3) the parties were to transition to shared legal and physical custody once father returned to the United States and established residency.
Father returned to Massachusetts in August 2022, and Mother filed a complaint for modification seeking sole legal and physical custody of the children in October 2022. A Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) was appointed to assess and make recommendations regarding custody, domestic violence, and a parenting plan. The GAL suggested mother having sole legal custody and establishing a parenting plan that would increase Father’s parenting time slowly by starting with family therapy and escalating to supervised parenting time with Father.
After trial, Mother was awarded sole legal and physical custody of the children as the judge found that Father “having any form of custody would be detrimental to the children because he fails to appreciate how his conduct affects them and furthermore seeks to minimize his own responsibility when his conduct harms them”. Father was granted supervised parenting time and the “ability to review and access the children’s records and providers absent any decision-making authority”.
Discussion and Analysis: Father sought to appeal this modification, but the court affirmed the lower court’s decision. The court emphasized that to obtain a custody modification, one must establish that a material and substantial change in circumstance has occurred, and that a change to the current custody arrangement is in the child’s best interests. Father argued that it is in the best interest of children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents, but the court supported the judge’s decision to consider how the parties’ strained relationship and inability to communicate effects their ability to jointly parent.
Father also contended that sexual abuse allegations had shaped the custody outcome and that the judge misrepresented and often mischaracterized the evidence. The judge stated that the children’s allegations were not given weight due to their lack of credibility and the court agreed that the judge is afforded considerable freedom to identify which factors are given weight when assessing the welfare of children. When deciding that awarding custody to Father was not in the best interest of the children, the judge considered Father’s own behaviors and actions such as interfering with one child’s therapeutic relationship, exhibiting rigidity regarding the children’s health, failing to communicate within Mother’s stated boundaries, and not taking responsibility for conduct that harmed the children. The court held that the judge was in the best position to assess the witnesses’ credibility and to evaluate the evidence.
This matter demonstrates that although the law favors meaningful relationships with both parents where appropriate, custody decisions must be made in line with the child’s best interests. Persistent parental conflict, inability to co-parent, interference with a child’s treatment, and a parent’s lack of insight into the effects of their conduct may support sole custody and supervised parenting time.
| | |
MINDFULNESS MATTERS
BACK TO SCHOOL: STARTING THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT
by Cynthia Runge
| | |
The beginning of a new school year can be a time of both excitement and anxiety for parents and children alike, with possibilities offered by a fresh start on the one hand and the challenges of new routines and expectations on the other. Unfortunately for divorced parents the challenges can be magnified when a new school year leads to conflicts over children’s visitation schedules, extracurricular activities, etc. If you are experiencing such conflicts as you plan for the new school year, before turning to a court-based solution such as filing for a modification or a contempt complaint, consider whether these alternative options, which are often less expensive and stressful, may work for you:
1) Parenting coordinator
Both parties can work with a parenting coordinator, a neutral professional defined by the State of Massachusetts as a court-appointed, third-party provider of parenting coordination services. This can be a licensed attorney, psychiatrist, psychologist, independent clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor who has completed proscribed training and met other requirements set by the state.
Resources:
If you decide to go this route, a helpful resource for finding a parenting coordinator is the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts’ Directory of Parenting Coordinators: https://directory.maafcc.org/parent-coordinator
To learn more about Massachusetts’ parenting coordination laws, you can read “Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Standing Order 1-17: Parenting coordination” here: https://www.mass.gov/probate-and-family-court-rules/probate-and-family-court-standing-order-1-17-parenting-coordination
2) Mediation
Mediation is a process where parties in a dispute work together with the help of a neutral third party to reach a mutually agreeable resolution instead of resolving their dispute through the court. Mediation often provides quicker results: reducing legal costs, resolving disputes in weeks rather than months, and preserving important family relationships that litigation often destroys. This approach gives you control over outcomes while protecting your children from courtroom conflict.
Mediation can be instrumental in establishing parenting plans that prioritize children’s well-being over parental conflicts. Through the mediation process, parents design schedules that fit the family’s dynamics while addressing issues such as educational decisions, holiday arrangements, and vacation planning. This process helps craft balanced and workable plans, reducing stress and uncertainty for the children involved.
Resources:
The Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation (MCFM) web site has a searchable directory of their members: https://mcfm.org/find-mediator
3) Therapist
A therapist is a third option for support and may be helpful in tandem with either of the first two approaches. A therapist can help with the emotional aspect of things, such as learning to identify patterns and triggers for frustration and learning how to handle anxiety; improving communication and boundaries; developing an effective approach to planning; and helping you to strengthen your child-centered approach including techniques for communicating about the situation productively with your child.
Resources:
Psychology Today offers an online tool for finding a therapist by location and specialty: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/
Other options: While it can be more cost effective and less stressful to use alternative resources as opposed to the litigation route, if you find that these options don’t work for your situation then a complaint for modification or contempt may be the only way forward. In that case reach out to Peridot Family Law to discuss your case.
In addition, we will soon be adding Family Law Arbitration services to our range of practice areas, as another potentially cost-effective way to help people resolve their family law conflicts. In Massachusetts, arbitration can offer divorced parents a more structured way to resolve financial issues. Rather than returning to court as each new conflict arises, in arbitration a neutral third party hears the relevant facts and issues a binding decision on the issues submitted. This can reduce repeat disputes by clarifying practical “rules” for next steps. If you have questions about Arbitration of family law matters, please reach out to us.
If you or someone you support would benefit from our compassionate, holistic approach to family law solutions, please reach out to us:
| | |
Peridot Family Law is a full-service family law firm based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Our goal is to help our clients transition through their family law matter in the best possible way. We do this by listening to our clients' goals and objectives. We meet our clients where they are in the process and offer practical, reasonable solutions to produce a positive outcome for their situation.
Cynthia Runge, Founder and Sole Member.
Admitted to the bar in Massachusetts and New York.
| | Follow Peridot Family Law on LinkedIn. | | | | |
