Parnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices

Our firm blends advocacy oriented practice with effective practical solutions for all our clients in Londonderry, N. Woodstock, and throughout New Hampshire. The attorneys at Parnell, Michels & McKay provide effective representation and counseling to assist our clients facing legal questions. We simplify the process so our clients can understand and are able to participate as partners in the resolution.



Our practice includes personal injury law such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, dog bites, workers compensation, social security disability, and other injuries.



We also practice family law, including divorce, post-divorce, unwed custody and property division, and collaborative divorce, and have extensive experience in bankruptcy, probate, boundary disputes, estate planning, corporate formation and other real estate litigation.

  • What Does Your FICO Score Mean?

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    A FICO score is a measure created by the Fair Isaac Corporation that is used by credit agencies to indicate a borrower’s risk. In most cases, the higher the credit score, the lower the risk to the lender. This is how financial institutions decide whether to lend money or issue credit. A person likely has multiple different credit scores. Some scores are used for approving you for a credit card but a creditor who is trying to decide if they should give you credit to buy a car may use a different FICO score. Understanding Credit Scores Credit scores, specifically FICO scores, range between 300 to 850. To determine creditworthiness, lenders take a borrower’s FICO score into consideration to make their decision. Maintaining a high…

  • Choosing Your Business Structure

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    Of all the choices you make when starting a business, one of the most important is the type of legal structure you select for your company. Not only will this decision have an impact on how much you pay in taxes, but it will also affect the amount of paperwork your business is required to do, the personal liability you face, and your ability to raise money. It’s not a decision to be entered into lightly, either, or one that should be made without sound counsel from business experts. Business owners need to seek expert advice from a trusted business formation attorney when considering the pros and cons of various business entities. Types of Business Entities The type of business entity you choose will usually…

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    How Collaborative Divorce Can Help When Pets Are Part of the Family

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    Nowadays, 80 percent of owners view their pets as family members, according to a survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). More dogs and cats are adopted from shelters, friends, or relatives, or taken in as strays than are purchased from stores and breeders. Nearly all cat owners and more than half of dog owners describe their pets as mixed breeds or mutts. In short, pets have increasingly become a part of our families so it’s no surprise that they are now part of our divorces too. During a collaborative divorce meeting, your lawyer will guide you through an interview process to gather general information about many subjects from assets, like real estate holdings and retirement accounts, to concerns about the children, such as…

  • Protect Yourself and Your Business with a Partnership Agreement

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    Starting a business with a partner? It may be difficult to talk about problems during your honeymoon stage, but that’s exactly when you should. Your business formation attorney will work with you and your partner to draft a partnership agreement to help protect all those involved in the business relations. A written partnership agreement helps guide you when questions arise and can provide clarity when presented with the following questions: What is each partner’s investment? Is one partner investing cash and the other services?Do any of the partners own equipment that you’ll use in the business, and does that fact deserve consideration as part of the start-up investment?What are the responsibilities and duties of each partner? How is each involved in day-to-day operations?If a partner…

  • Can an Attorney Help When a Real Estate Deal Goes Bad?

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    When it comes to real estate, the law offices of Parnell, Michels & McKay understands the art of the deal and the art of a deal gone wrong. When facing the stress of real estate litigation, retaining an attorney with substantial knowledge about New Hampshire property laws and civil litigation can lighten the burden. Some of the most common real estate disputes involve: Sadly, it’s not uncommon for property deals to fall apart through the fault of no one involved–but if the buyer has actually breached the purchase agreement, the seller might have legal remedies. So, what happens when the sale of a property doesn’t work out? In some cases, you as a seller can take legal action if a buyer refuses to complete a…

  • Understanding Your Role in the Divorce Process

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    If you are getting a divorce for the first time, there is a strong likelihood that you are anxious or nervous about the whole process. You may also be worried about what the future will bring. After all, while you were married, you probably felt comfortable about the direction your life was heading and now, the future is wide open. If you are considering divorce, there a number of things you can do to prepare yourself before “starting” the divorce process: There are a lot of laws regarding divorce, asset division, debt division, child support, and alimony in New Hampshire. So, your first job will be to become knowledgeable in them. You can start by educating yourself online, but you have to be careful about…

  • Who Keeps the Engagement Ring When You Split?

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    Sadly, despite the best of intentions, not all engagements lead to marriage. It begs the question: If the engagement is broken off and the couple doesn’t get married, who gets to keep the bling? An engagement ring, or wedding ring, is often an item whose sentimental value far exceeds its actual monetary value. Sentimental value, however, can get thrown out the window during a divorce when both parties are trying to split their marital property. Still, the real value of a wedding or engagement ring can be significant enough for concern. A jewelry piece of any kind can be a high-value asset, but not many people look for a bargain when they’re purchasing a representation of their love and commitment. So how do rings factor…

  • I’m Getting Divorced and I Co-Own a Business with my Spouse

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    According to the National Federation of Independent Business, approximately one million businesses are co-owned and operated by married couples. So, what happens when the couple decides they want to pursue divorce? It is essential to maintain the business throughout divorce—especially if it is the sole source of income. If the two parties are unable to agree on an equitable distribution of the business assets, matters can become especially complicated. The easiest way to go about handling a business during divorce is for one partner to buy out the other; however, this cannot be completed unless a fair valuation of the company is determined. It is important to begin this process early and to settle as soon as possible. Dragging out the process will only lead…

  • Avoid These Common Mistakes Often Made in High Net Worth Divorces

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

    Like other marriages, high-net worth couples don’t just divorce without reason. Heartache is heartache no matter portfolio size; however, when there are significant assets, such as business interests, real estate, large retirement accounts, investments, and other assets on the line, emotional decisions can wreak havoc on high-net worth divorce settlements, and the spouses’ assets after the divorce. As New Hampshire divorce attorneys who represent couples in high-net-worth divorces, we thought we’d list some common mistakes made by couples with high-net worth during divorce. Fortunately, these mistakes can be avoided with quality legal counsel. Contact Law Offices of Parnell, Michels & McKay Our law practice covers every area of family law and includes all divorce and post-divorce issues, unwed parenting and property issues, domestic violence, adoption,…

  • Considering Bankruptcy During A Pandemic

    ByParnell, Michels & McKay Law Offices Hours

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