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Legal matters
Patrick M. Culhane, P.C. founded his law office in 2001 in Braintree, MA and offers services spanning estate planning, bankruptcy and real estate. The attorney chose to pursue a legal career in midlife, which inspired him to start his own practice. “I went to law school at night. I was working; I had a family. I was close to 40 when I went to law school. Getting into a firm when you’re older is hard, so I started my own practice and built it through word of mouth,” the attorney said.
Today, Culhane shares office space with other lawyers in different specialties, which is convenient for his clients. “If I can't handle a client’s problem, I can refer them to other associates in the office.”
When asked what he likes best about being a lawyer, the attorney said, “I like helping people, guiding them, getting them through tough times. I've helped people in bankruptcy and have discharged millions of dollars in tax penalties and interests, even some tax debt, but a lot of penalties and interest. It's difficult to discharge tax debt, but I've helped people in that way. I have people coming back to me, helping them with power of attorney and that sort of thing to avoid the hassle of probate court at the worst times when they're dealing with the illness of a loved one. I have people coming back to me for years and years—and you help them, and then you're helping their kids down the line. So, I just appreciate my clients.”
Culhane spoke about his genuine concern for his clients' well-being, noting his personalized approach resonates with them. Over the years, many past clients have returned for various legal issues. “Recently, a past client I worked with in 2004 had gotten into trouble again. He had gone to some other lawyers and said he returned to me because he felt comfortable. He felt like I treated him like a person, not a number. It meant a lot to me and was gratifying to hear. I try to do my best for all my clients and be fair and reasonable in everything I do for them.”
The attorney recognizes that legal fees can be a financial burden and avoids running up the bill with unnecessary work. “I try to be fair to them. I'm not trying to have them spend money they don't need to spend.”
Bankruptcy cases comprise a large chunk of Culhane’s cases, and he offers free consultations. The attorney emphasized that filing for bankruptcy isn’t always the best option. “At the consultation, we go over their whole situation, and if bankruptcy is not right for them, I tell them it's not right. Some people think that they should file bankruptcy, and then we look at what they have for assets, and it's like you can't because it will all be taken away by the bankruptcy court and given to the creditors. I do what I can to help people, and I've turned people down who wanted to file for bankruptcy, and I told them it's not the right thing to do.”
Raised in Dorchester, Culhane couldn’t imagine living outside the Boston area. When asked what he likes best about it, he said, “I like the people, the coast and everything about it.”
For more information about the Law Office of Patrick M. Culhane, P.C., check out their BBB Business Profile. To learn more about BBB and read more stories like this, visit Behind the Business Stories with BBB in Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT.
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