Christopher Tolley

Meeting Your Business And Personal Legal Needs
Your needs are our needs. Your goals are our goals. We strive to provide our clients the best representation we can, employing rigorous legal analysis and considerable experience to develop client relationships where we consistently deliver success. From common to complex legal issues we seek solutions that are creative, inventive, even counter-intuitive – but always practical.

Our areas of practice include:

Debt Collection Regulation - Federal and Massachusetts
Construction Supplier Litigation
Real estate transactions – buying, selling, mortgages title issues, title insurance
Commercial and Consumer Collections
Commercial And Consumer Mortgage Foreclosures
Personal injury
Chapter 7 and 13 for Individuals and Small Businesses
Bankruptcy and creditors’ rights litigation

Focus and Determination
We are diligent and proactive, thorough and meticulous. We expends the time and resources necessary to fully address our clients’ needs. As a small office, we give our clients’ matters personal attention.

Collaboration and Litigation
We have the experience and judgment to employ negotiation, collaboration and strategic concession as needed, as well as the flexibility to abandon either friendly or hostile approaches to meet evolving needs.

Keeping You Informed
You are our partner and employer. Your understanding of what we are doing and why is critical to our success. We keep you informed so you can advise us on whether we are performing according to your goals, needs and wants. We are always here to answer questions.

Part of a Team
The Phillips & Angley culture of mutual support and collaboration means I and my clients can call on the additional wealth of experience and acumen of my colleagues.

Please call me at 617-367-8787 or email at ctolley@phillips-angley.com to learn more.

Phillips & Angley
1 Washington St. Suite 7A
Boston, MA 02108

YOUR GOALS ARE OUR GOALS. YOUR NEEDS ARE OUR NEEDS.

Suffolk University Law School

J.D. (1986)

Bowdoin College

B.A. (1981)

Board of Governors, Mill Corner COndominium Association

Current

Town of Acton Planning Board, Former Chairman, Former Member

Current

American Bar Association

Current

Real Estate Bar Association

Current

Massachusetts State Bar  # 548180

Member

1986 - Current

Massachusetts

Since 1986

1st Circuit

• Free Consultation
  Initial consultation and discussion of your legal matter is free.
• Contingent Fees
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  I work almost exclusively on an hourly basis. For certain matters I accept flat fees. I accept contingent fees only after consultation and investigation.

Q. Unclaimed Deposit to Bind Still in Escrow after Three Years

September 23, 2024

A: It is unclear from your note what the circumstances were at the time the buyer backed out so it is difficult to tell whether the sentence you quoted unequivocally gives you a right to the deposit. Practically, brokers are reluctant to release deposits of this kind without all parties' agreement because the party who does not receive the deposit may claim they wrongfully releasing the deposit. If the deposit is less than $7,500, you could file a small claims case against the buyer and broker who is holding the deposit assuming you have an address for the buyer. You could argue the sentence you cited entitles you to the deposit. Lastly, how much is the deposit $1,000?) and is it worth your time and energy to pursue it three years after you have sold your house? ... Read More

Q. Looking for any & all legal arguments that the executor of an estate has standing to contest legality of a foreclosure

June 25, 2024

A: I would think an executor does have standing to contest a foreclosure but what is the basis of the objection? Did the bank fail to advertise, fail to advertise adequately, fail to hold a public auction, fail to comply with statutes relating to foreclosure, fail to conduct the foreclosure sale properly, fail to obtain the highest price, etc., and how was the executor harmed by the bank's acts or omissions? I suggest you take all your paperwork on the foreclosure and your course of dealing with the bank to an attorney and review the entire transaction.

Q. Does a commercial lease agreement & term truly end if the landlord does not extend the lease term of a tenant?

May 6, 2024

A: 1) If the lease does not give the tenant some mechanism for extending the lease term such as an additional term, option to renew, etc., once the lease expires, the tenant no longer has a right to occupy the premises. The landlord is not permitted to perform a 'self help' eviction however and if the tenant will not vacate the premises the landlord is required to resort to a court action to have the tenant removed and follow all requirements of the lease and applicable law in doing so.

2) The tenant can unlawfully remain in the premises after the lease term ends.

3) See response to #2 above. The landlord is permitted to accept payments from the tenant and pursue eviction at the same time so long as the landlord accepts any payments for use and occupancy only and not as an extension of the lease or the creation of a new tenancy. ... Read More