Attorney Ploetz brings an expansive vision to the OCFL team that benefits our divorce and custody clients where she is able to provide an unparalleled level of compassion and understanding within family law that many others are unable to deliver. Kristen has over a decade of legal experience, but also has the personal understanding and empathy that can often only come when you’ve walked in the shoes of a client who has gone through a divorce. She understands what it feels like to know that, if you cannot come to an agreement with your ex, your life and the future of everyone you care about could end up in the hands of someone who will never truly know you – a Family Court Judge. She wants her clients to have a hand in what their future will look like. This fusion of knowledge on both sides of the coin allows Attorney Kristen Ploetz to represent clients in a way that fully merges into OCFL’s vision. She will make sure that you are being informed and educated about each decision you need to make, but will also fight hard for what is right because she can truly understand where you are right now, and knows how to guide you through it.
A quote that Kristen lives by is “divorce is not failure.” It is an ending which often contains grief, yes, but she also knows through experience that on the other side of it there can be strength, happiness, and a path forward that is better aligned with the life you are meant to live. Attorney Ploetz wants to help get you there with strategies and solutions that work for YOU.
Kristen does not tolerate attempts at manipulation or parental alienation during the divorce process and recognizes it as a tactic with the sole purpose of trying to assert power in a dynamic where the parties should be trying to work together to move matters along with the least amount of friction possible. She is an active and compassionate listener who does not hesitate to ask, “would you rather be heard or understood?” when dialogue between parties or counsel gets heated. Attorney Ploetz has her clients’ best interests at heart and will work diligently to find creative solutions even when there might be an impasse between the parties. She does this because she knows the legal system is often very slow and courts cannot understand the intricacies of each case as well as a client’s counsel, which then often results in a frustrating and expensive process that ultimately takes valuable time and money away from families. To that end, Kristen is passionate about making sure her clients do not suffer the consequences of an inefficient family court system.
Attorney Kristen Ploetz graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Clark University before going on to earn her J.D., cum laude, from New England Law. While at law school, she had the distinction of serving as a Technical Editor for the New England Law Review, which helped her gain the prestigious position as a judicial clerk for The Honorable Alexander H. Sands, III, after she graduated. After, Kristen entered private practice in Boston. One to never be done with learning, Kristen received her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) from Lesley University. Attorney Ploetz is also a proud member of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.
Beyond the courthouse, Kristen hails from Quincy and loves spending time with her daughter and her partner. Her passion for creative writing allowed her to become an acclaimed published writer of both fiction and non-fiction. She has volunteered her time to help incarcerated individuals gain access to reading material through The Prison Book Program because she believes that knowledge is power. In addition, Kristen has conducted countless pro bono research for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and she has also supported clean food access by serving on the Board of Directors for Boston Area Gleaners. And, if that were not enough, Kristen has recently picked up the love of a new sport and can often be found playing tennis, especially on clay courts, and she thrives at the break point.
Kristen is based out of our Hanover office but regularly serves clients throughout Massachusetts.
