Ms. Cukier concentrates her practice in all aspects of probate litigation, fiduciary litigation, planning & litigation for blended families, same-sex couples, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health law, elder law and domestic relations.
Prior to joining Burns & Levinson in 2002, Ms. Cukier served as Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Mental Health and as Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Mental Retardation. She prosecutes and investigates disabled persons abuse cases, and elder abuse cases, and represents Guardians, Trustees and Executors in petitions for fiduciary license to sell real estate, and estate plan petitions. Ms. Cukier also currently serves as an Executive Committee member of Burns & Levinson.
Get To Know Us...
Boston Spirit Magazine, Seasonal People Issue, May/June 2010
Rebuilding and Renewal - In Business and the Community: An Interview with Scott Moskol
Boston Spirit Magazine, January/February 2010
The Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Forms
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE), 2009
Co-editors: Phyllis E. Federico, Peter F. Zupcofska, et al. Other Burns & Levinson contributing authors: Brian Bixby, Lisa Cukier & Jeffrey Soilson.
Introducing Deborah Peckham: From Archaeology to E-Commerce (... and “still gay”)
Boston Spirit Magazine, November / December 2009
Recent Changes to MA Laws Affecting Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Durable Powers of Attorney
Private Client Update, October 2009
Marrying Expectations with Reality: 5 Year Retrospective on Gay Marriage
Boston Spirit Magazine, September/October 2009
Post-Divorce Estate Plan Updates
Boston Spirit Magazine, July/August 2009
Lisa Cukier and Robin Lynch Nardone (with Summer Associate Ryan Joyce) co-authored this article.
Get To Know Us...
Boston Spirit Magazine, Seasonal People issue, May/June 2009
So You Want To Be A Dad: Is Surrogacy The Way For You?
Boston Spirit Magazine, March/April 2009
Who Financially Supports Your Children After Your Relationship or Marriage Ends
Boston Spirit Magazine, January/February 2009
Guardianship: The Deprivation of Decision-Making Rights
Boston Spirit Magazine, November/December 2008
The Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Manual
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE), 2008
Co-editors: Phyllis E. Federico, Peter F. Zupcofska, et al.
Other Burns & Levinson contributing authors: Brian Bixby, Barbra Black, Lisa Cukier, Dianne Frade, Marshal Grant, Robert O'Regan, Jeffrey Soilson, Susan Stenger & Nancy Van Tine
Get To Know Us...
Boston Spirit Magazine, March/April 2008
The Complete Lawyer
Massachusetts Bar Association, Vol. 4 No. 2
An Interview With Lisa M. Cukier
Whose Hands Hold Your Parents' Wallets? —Financial Exploitation—
Boston Spirit Magazine, January/February 2008
Marriage counseling by a lawyer? You must be kidding!
Boston Spirit Magazine, November/December 2007
Don't Just Patronize Gay-owned Companies - Start Your Own!
Boston Spirit Magazine, September/October 2007
Retirement Benefits and Medical Benefits for Gay Employees and Employers: DOMA as a Two-Edged Sword
Boston Spirit Magazine, April/May 2007
Estate and Taxation Issues for Same-Sex Couples (Married and Unmarried) in Massachusetts
Boston Spirit Magazine, October 2006
Fiduciary Litigation in the Probate Court
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE), 2006
Peter Zupcofska co-edited this book with The Honorable Nancy M. Gould, and also served as a contributing author. Lisa Cukier and Brian Bixby co-authored Chapters 11 and 12 on Bringing and Defending Will Contests.
Protect Your Most Important Asset - Your Children
Boston Spirit Magazine, August 2006
Have You Fully Prepared Your Estate Plans?
Boston Spirit Magazine, June 2006
What is the Big Question?
Boston Spirit Magazine, April 2006
Look Twice Before You Leap: Prenuptials
Focus, Spring 2005
Marriage and Estate Planning Under Goodridge v. DPH
Boston Bar Journal, Nov/Dec 2004
Same-Sex Marriage: Goodridge v. DPH
Focus, Winter 2004
Capacity to Sign Wills and Advance Directives
Focus, Fall 2002
DNA Orders: Is Prior Judicial Authorization Necessary?
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, April 15, 1996
"Wills, Trusts & Probate Litigation" for Newton Community Education, 10.13.2010
Location: Newton, MA
Role: Faculty Member
Topic: Estate Planning and Estate Litigation
"Wills, Trusts & Probate Litigation" for Newton Community Education, 10.6.2010
Location: Newton, MA
Role: Faculty Member
Topic: Estate Planning and Estate Litigation
"Divorce: Trouble with the IRS" for MCLE, 7.15.2010
Location: MCLE Conference Center, Boston MA
Role: Faculty Member
Topic: Tax Issues in Same-Sex Marriages
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, 10.22.2009
Location: Boston Estate Planning Council
Role: Presenter
Wills, Trusts, and Probate Law, 10.14.2009
Location: Newton Adult Education, Newton MA
Role: Speaker
Lisa Cukier and Clifford Cohen will speak at the Newton Adult Education Center on "Wills, Trusts, and Probate Law" on October 14 and October 21, 2009.
Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, 7.7.2009
Location: Andover MA, MCLE Seminar
Role: Speaker
Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, 6.30.2009
Location: Andover MA, MCLE Seminar
Role: Speaker
Estate Planning for Subsequent Marriages and Same-Sex Marriages, 6.25.2009
Location: Boston MA, MCLE Seminar
Role: Speaker
Custody and Parentage of Children Born from Assisted Reproductive Technologies, 10.23.2008
Role: Faculty Member
Lisa Cukier is a faculty member at this event for the Suffolk Law Advanced Legal Studies program on October 23, 2008.
Wills, Trusts & Probate, 10.22.2008
Location: Newton Center
Role: Trainer
Lisa Cukier and Clifford Cohen will teach the course, "Wills, Trusts & Probate" for the Newton Center for Adult Education on October 22 and October 29, 2008.
The Ripple Effects of Goodridge, 6.11.2008
Location: Social Law Library, John Adams Courthouse, 4th Floor, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108
Role: Presenter
Topic: Legal implications and practical consequences of the case
Hosted by the Flaschner Judicial Institute and the Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association
Moving Up in a Down Year, 3.27.2008
Location: Arclinea at 10 St. James Ave., Boston
Role: Presenter
Topic: GLBT Marriage & Divorce and Estate Planning & Litigation Strategies
The Road to Equity Partnership for Women Lawyers, 12.5.2007
Role: Panelist
This webinar was sponsored by Thompson/West Legal Works.
Newton Community Adult Education, 11.13.2007
Role: Presenter
Topic: Serving as Executor
Flaschner Judicial Institute Panel for Judges, 10.24.2007
Location: Social Law Library, Boston, MA
Role: Speaker
Topic: The Ripple Effects of Goodridge
In cooperation with the Massachusetts Bar Association Post-Goodridge Task Force
Probate Law and Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, 9.27.2007
Location: Boston, MA
Role: Presenter
In conjunction with Bay State Financial.
Newton Community Adult Education, 7.17.2007
Role: Presenter
Topic: Estate Planning and Probate Law
Ms. Cukier and Mr. Cohen frequently teach on this subject at NCAE. Other dates include July 24, 2007, October 23, 2007 and October 30, 2007.
MCLE Continuing Education, 6.28.2007
Role: Chair
Topic: Planning for Subsequent Marriages
MCLE Program, 3.28.2007
Role: Presenter
Topic: Fiduciary Litigation in the Probate Court
MCLE Program, 1.12.2007
Role: Presenter
Topic: Estate Planning Conference
Estate Planning Petitions, 12.18.2006
Lisa M. Cukier presented a seminar for probate litigation attorneys on Estate Planning Petitions, sponsored by the BBA Fiduciary Litigation Section, on Monday, December 18, 2006.
Elder Abuse and Disabled Person Abuse, 12.12.2006
Lisa M. Cukier presented at a seminar for probate law practitioners on Elder Abuse and Disabled Person Abuse, sponsored by the MBA Probate Litigation Section, on December 12, 2006.
Fiduciary Litigation, 11.16.2006
Lisa Cukier and Peter Zupcofska spoke at an MCLE seminar regarding Fiduciary Litigation on November 16, 2006.
Surety Bonds in Child Custody Matters, 10.26.2006
Lisa Cukier hosted a brown bag lunch seminar on behalf of the Family Law Section of the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association regarding surety bonds in child custody matters involving removal of children from the Massachusetts Jurisdiction on October 26, 2006.
Guardianship and Conservatorship, 10.18.2006
Lisa Cukier spoke at the Massachusetts Bar Association seminar, Settlements involving individuals under Guardianship and Conservatorship on October 18, 2006.
Medical Treatment Decision-making for Loved Ones, 10.11.2006
Lisa M. Cukier taught a course, Medical Treatment Decision-making for Loved Ones on October 11, 2006 for the Newton Community Adult Education Program.
Wills, Trusts & Probate, 10.4.2006
Lisa M. Cukier and Clifford Cohen taught a "Wills, Trusts & Probate" course for the Newton Community Adult Education Program on October 4, 2006 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, 9.28.2006
Lisa Cukier chaired and spoke at a Massachusetts Bar Association seminar, Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements on September 28, 2006. Peter Zupcofska was a panelist at this seminar.
Representing Teenage Clients in Divorce and Post-Divorce Proceedings, 9.14.2006
Lisa M. Cukier chaired and presented a seminar for MBA in Boston regarding "representing teenage clients in divorce and post-divorce proceedings" on September 14, 2006.
GAL Category D Matters: Actions Involving Probate of Wills, Accounts and Settlements, 7.27.2006
Brian Bixby and Lisa Cukier were faculty members at the seminar "GAL Category D Matters: Actions Involving Probate of Wills, Accounts and Settlements" on July 27, 2006. This is a course that attorneys must take periodically if they want to get or remain on a list for appointment as Guardians ad Litem in the Probate Court.
Guardian ad Litem, 6.28.2006
Lisa M. Cukier presented a seminar for MCLE on Guardian ad Litem appointments in the Probate & Family Courts on June 28, 2006.
Community Service, 6.9.2006
Lisa M. Cukier conducted a reading and spoke about the importance of community service for the Boston public schools in Dorchester, MA on June 9, 2006.
Estate Planning and Elder Law, 6.7.2006
Lisa Cukier presented on estate planning and elder law at the Newton Senior Center in Newton, MA on June 7, 2006.
"Family by Contract", 4.26.2006
Lisa M. Cukier will be chairing and speaking at a Mass Bar Association seminar entitled "Family by Contract" in Springfield, MA on April 26, 2006.
GLEE Conference, 4.9.2006
Location: Bayside Exposition Center
Lisa M. Cukier will be speaking to the general public at the Bayside Exposition Center GLEE Conference regarding probate, estates and family law for lesbians and gay men on April 9, 2006.
"Representing Teenagers in Family Law Cases", 3.30.2006
Lisa M. Cukier moderated an educational seminar for the Probate & Family Inn of Court entitled, "Representing Teenagers in Family Law Cases" on March 30, 2006.
"Family By Contract", 1.19.2006
Lisa Cukier chaired and spoke at the MBA Conference Center in Boston on January 19, 2006. The seminar "Family by Contract" explored and analyzed the drafting and litigation of cases involving contracts pertaining to family relationships, rights and obligations.
Representing Clients in a Guardianship, 1.12.2006
Location: Burns & Levinson LLP
Lisa M. Cukier and the Volunteer Lawyers Project conducted a training for attorneys who were interested in representing clients seeking guardianship of an adult. The training covered guardianship of the mentally retarded, mentally ill and those with phyical incapacities. The training was held on January 12, 2006, between 4:00 and 6:00 PM at Burns & Levinson LLP.
Panelist: "Building Financial Freedom", 11.10.2005
Location: Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA
Lisa M. Cukier was a panelist at a free seminar entitled “Building Financial Freedom," featuring specialists in the mortgage, tax, financial, legal and real estate industries. The panel discussion will provide a multi-disciplinary approach to building financial freedom and legal security for members of the GLBT community.
Speaker: Legal, Medical & Ethical Issues Concerning End of Life Decision-Making Conference "Self Determination", 11.4.2005
Lisa Cukier, Faculty Member at Suffolk University Law School, spoke at the Legal, Medical & Ethical Issues Concerning End of Life Decision-Making Conference, "Self Determination," on November 4, 2005.
Faculty Member: "Family By Contract: Update on Family Law Issues" (MBA), 9.27.2005
Lisa Cukier, Faculty Member at Massachusetts Bar Institute, spoke at the MBA on September 27, 2005, on the topic, "Family By Contract: Update on Family Law Issues."
Faculty Member: MCLE Seminar "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy" (2), 7.25.2005
Lisa Cukier, Faculty Member, spoke at an Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Seminar, "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy," on July 25, 2005.
Faculty Member: "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy" (MCLE) (Cukier), 7.21.2005
Lisa Cukier, Faculty Member, spoke at an Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Seminar, "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy," on July 21, 2005.
Trainer: Senior Partners for the Justice Organization and for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, 5.18.2005
Lisa Cukier trained lawyers to take guardianship cases on a pro bono basis for the Senior Partners for the Justice Organization and for the Volunteer Lawyers Project on May 18, 2005.
Panelist: "Building Financial Freedom", 3.31.2005
Lisa Cukier was a panelist on the topic, "Building Financial Freedom,"at the Club Cafe on March 31, 2005.
Speaker: "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate Planning After Goodridge" (Estate Planning Counsel in Hyannis), 3.8.2005
Lisa Cukier was a speaker to the Estate Planning Counsel in Hyannis on "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate Planning After Goodridge" on March 8, 2005.
Program Chair and Presenter: "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate Planning" (MCLE), 2.10.2005
Lisa Cukier was a Program Chair and Presenter at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program "Same-Sex Marriage and Estate Planning" on February 10, 2005.
Program Chair and Presenter: "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy" (MCLE), 2.2.2005
Lisa Cukier was a Program Chair and Presenter at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program "Elder Law Litigation and Advocacy" on February 2, 2005.
Program Chair and Presenter: "Turf Wars in Guardianship and Probate Litigation" (MBA), 1.25.2005
Lisa Cukier was a Program Chair and Presenter at the Massachusetts Bar Association seminar, "Turf Wars in Guardianship and Probate Litigation" at the MCLE Conference Center on January 25, 2005.
Guest Speaker: "Nuances in Guardianship Law" (BBA), 11.9.2004
Lisa Cukier was a guest speaker at the Boston Bar Association's Program, "Nuances in Guardianship Law," on November 9, 2004.
Speaker: Probate & Family Court 2004 Judicial Conference, 10.1.2004
Lisa Cukier spoke on the newly promulgated Probate & Family Court Standing Order 1-04 at the Probate & Family Court 2004 Judicial Conference on October 1, 2004.
Presenter: Human Rights Officers Workshop, 8.19.2004
Lisa Cukier presented to Human Rights Officers who monitor DMR and DMH's treatment of individuals in its care, topics included guardianship, loss of liberty, and the dignity and right to make (sometimes unwise) choices and to take risks. The workshop was in Boston on August 19, 2004.
Speaker: "Legal issues surrounding marriage for gay and lesbian couples", 6.2.2004
Lisa Cukier was a speaker at the Boston Probate and Estate Planning Forum in Boston on June 2, 2004. She spoke on the topic, "Legal issues surrounding marriage for gay and lesbian couples."
Presenter: "Ramifications of Same-Sex Marriage and how it will impact their work in the probate and family court", 5.7.2004
Lisa Cukier was a presenter on the topic, "Ramifications of Same-Sex Marriage and how it will impact their work in the probate and family court," at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court on May 7, 2004.
Guest Speaker: "The Legal and Cultural Impact of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health", 5.7.2004
Lisa Cukier was a guest speaker at the Massachusetts Probate Probation Association's Spring meeting 2004 on May 7, 2004. Lisa spoke about "The Legal and Cultural Impact of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health."
Speaker: "Probate & Family Court Time Standards", 4.14.2004
Lisa Cukier spoke on the topic, "Probate & Family Court Time Standards" to attorneys and judges of Western Massachusetts on April 14, 2004.
Presenter: "Disable Persons Abuse cases and Elder Abuse cases" (Inn of Court), 3.2.2004
Lisa Cukier was a presenter at the Inn of Court regarding Disable Persons Abuse cases and Elder Abuse cases on March 2, 2004.
Program Chair: "Turf Wars in Guardianship and Probate Matters" (MBA), 2.5.2004
Lisa Cukier was the Program Chair for the Massachusetts Bar Association seminar, "Turf Wars in Guardianship and Probate Matters," on February 5, 2004.
Program Chair, "Marriage of Same-Sex Couples: Unraveling the Legal Issues" (MCLE), 1.15.2004
Lisa Cukier was a Program Chair, at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminar, "Marriage of Same-Sex Couples: Unraveling the Legal Issues" on January 15, 2004.
Speaker: "Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship", 11.21.2003
Lisa Cukier spoke to a group of Program Directors who are vendors of the North Suffolk Mental Health Association on the topic, "Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship." The seminar was held on November 21, 2003.
Speaker: "Turf wars in Guardianship and Probate Matters" (MCLE) (2), 10.7.2003
Lisa Cukier was a speaker at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminar, "Turf wars in Guardianship and Probate Matters" in Boston on October 7, 2003.
Program Chair: "Strategies and Tactics in Guardianship and Conservatorship" (MCLE), 2.4.2003
Lisa Cukier was the Program Chair, "Strategies and Tactics in Guardianship and Conservatorship," for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Boston on February 4 as well as May 7, 2003.