About Douglas R.
Douglas R. Peterson built a law career that spans more than four decades. He studied history at Williams College before heading to the University of Pennsylvania Law School for his J.D. Those schools shaped the analytical and historical perspective he brings to legal work.
Peterson began his legal practice as an associate at a major Springfield law office in 1973. He became a partner there in 1982 and left a few years later to open his own practice. Since 1985 he has operated as a solo practitioner under the name Douglas R. Peterson Lawyer at Law. Those years in larger firm settings and as a solo lawyer gave him a steady exposure to both transactional and litigation matters.
He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, before the United States Tax Court and in the Federal District Court for Massachusetts. That combination of admissions reflects a practice that touches both state-level estate and probate matters and federal tax litigation. Over time he has handled estate planning, probate administration, tax controversies and related courtroom work.
Professional associations have been part of his professional life. He holds memberships in the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Hampden County Bar Association. He is a member of the National Association of Estate Planners and the Better Business Bureau. In Hampden County he has been active on the Estate Planning Council and served a term as its president. Those roles have kept him engaged with peers and with local developments in estate planning practice.
Colleagues describe him as steady and practical in approach. He has represented individual clients and families as well as small businesses. His work often involves drafting wills and trusts, advising on guardianship and probate issues, and resolving tax disputes that affect estates. He has handled filings and hearings in federal tax forums when disagreements over valuation or tax liability arise.
Peterson’s career mixes courtroom experience and client counseling. He draws on decades of practice to guide clients through complex family and tax matters. He maintains an active solo practice in Massachusetts and continues to serve clients on estate planning, probate and tax matters.
