About James D. Cairns III

Attorney Jim Cairns is an Erie area native who has been practicing law for over 24 years. He has helped men and women throughout the state end their marriages in the most convenient and cost-efficient manner possible. As a lawyer, he is committed to providing comprehensive legal services. After encountering numerous delays and unnecessary expenses during his own divorce, attorney Cairns recognized the need for an updated approach to the divorce process. He decided to concentrate on using technology to create a method that would more affordably serve his clients in the areas of divorce (simple, uncontested, no-fault). This involves:

• Preparation of divorce settlement agreements

• Deed changes

• Retaking of maiden or prior married names

This technology-driven method of completing a divorce soon formed Cairns Law Offices. His method now includes preparation of estate planning documents for divorced clients:

• Wills

• Trusts

• Powers of Attorney for Financial and Health Affairs

• Living Wills

Education & Background

Jim has been a Professor at Pennsylvania State University, lecturing in estate planning for divorced, single, and married clients. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law, and holds a Master's Degree in Administration from Mercyhurst College. Jim is also a Registered Investment Advisor and is the Director of Retirement Services at an Erie, PA financial firm where he consults divorced clients regarding proper financial planning. In addition, he holds Life, Accident, and Health Insurance Producer's licensure. Attorney Cairns is a frequent speaker at various legal and financial workshops.

He has a background in social work, counseling, and education, and has worked with the Gertrude A. Barber Center and Perseus House non-profit organizations.

Helping the Community

As a member of the community, he is dedicated to helping Pennsylvania's at-risk youth by working as a volunteer for Attorneys and Kids Together (AKT), the Erie County Bar Association's community project. This program is designed to support the educational needs of students who are living in homeless situations and most likely to drop out of school.

He is also a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and has taught in the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law "Street Law" program and various summer youth education projects.

Personal Life

He has recently returned from the country of Nicaragua where he developed and sponsored Nicaragua's 30th Anniversary of Literacy Celebration. Jim also holds a second-degree black belt in martial arts and is a volunteer teacher of Goshin Jutsu Karate.

Our Goal

It is our goal to provide Pennsylvanians with the best service for simple, no-fault, uncontested divorce. At Cairns Law Offices, $219 divorce includes all court costs, so you can complete your divorce and rebuild your life cheaply and affordably! We make it easy to file your divorce online. Start today!

Representative Clients

• Clients needing Affordable Divorce Representation.

• Clients needing Financial and Estate Planning.

Past Employment Positions

• Sosinc Communications, Sioux City, IA, Assistant General Counsel, Vice President of Customer Support, 2000 - 2002

• Centurion Telecommunications, Columbus, OH, Assistant General Counsel, 1998 - 2000

• Cairns & Cambell, Cleveland, OH , Managing Partner, 1995 - 1997

Classes / Seminars

• Estate Planning, Penn State University, 2009 - Present

• Business Law, Tri-State Business Institute, 2010 - Present

Pro Bono Activities

• AKT- Attorneys and Kids Together, 2006 - Present

• Developed & Sponsored Nicaragua's 30th Anniversary of Literacy Celebration, 2010 - Present

Ancillary Businesses

• Financial Planning for Divorced and Married Clients

• Retirement Planning for Divorced and Married Clients

Professional Associations & Memberships

• PA Bar Association

• Erie County Bar Association

 

Awards

Reviews for James D.

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5 stars
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4 stars
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Communication
4.9
Quality of Service
4.9
Responsiveness
4.9
Value for Money
4.9
Divorce
Posted by John
October 02, 2025
Hired Attorney

Working with the online divorce lawyers was pretty easy and painl. Everything was explained step by step . Everything came back in the time frame they gave me . I would definitely recommend. For the price you can’t beat it.

Response from James D.
October 02, 2025
Navigating paperwork can be overwhelming, so it's great to hear Cairns Law Offices helped make your divorce process straightforward and stress-free.
Divorce
Posted by Justin
September 26, 2025
Hired Attorney

Working with Cairns Law Offices was a simple process and they handled my case in a quick and efficient manner. The user end process was simple to navigate and the communication on what was required and any deadlines were clearly communicated. I appreciate them for taking what appears as an intimidating process and making it something that is comparatively stress free and comprised of simple instructions. They could not have been better to work with and, if anything, I held them back from it being completed even faster than it was! Regardless, I would recommend working with them to anyone going through this in their lives, as it will significantly reduce the stress that you are feeling and you can rest assured that it will be simple and done correctly. My ex-wife and I appreciate the entire team for their work on this and am thankful to have found them to navigate us through this process.

 
Response from James D.
September 26, 2025
Delighted we could make the divorce process straightforward for you. Cairns Law Offices aims to provide clear communication and guidance for all clients.
Divorce
Posted by Amy
September 19, 2025
Hired Attorney

Even though I did this all online, I never had to go into an office or actually meet anybody. I felt completely confident by all the communications that they sent me. They did everything on the timeline. They said they would. It was very cheap and economical. I would absolutely recommend this as a great option.

Response from James D.
September 19, 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that we were able to make what can be a difficult process as smooth and easy as possible for you. It means a lot to us that you would recommend our services, and we’re glad we could help
Divorce
Posted by Corvah
September 16, 2025
Hired Attorney

Working with this law office was a great experience. The entire team were very clear in providing instructions and next steps. The process went by smoothly and it was also cost effective. The service is also very convenient, I did not have to leave my home to fill out any of the forms. Timelines were met and my case was closed before the expected time.

 
Response from James D.
September 16, 2025
Thank you for your kind words and high recommendation! We're so glad to hear you had an exceptional experience with us. We truly appreciate your trust in Cairns Law Office.
Divorce
Posted by Audrey
August 22, 2025
Hired Attorney

This was easy, simple, and completed very quickly. I opted for the quick rush service and from the day I paid, which was a Sunday July 13rh, my divorce was granted on August 14! Absolutely amazing. I used the online notary and anytime I emailed a question, I always received a very timely and helpful response. This was as stress very as humanly possible! I would recommend this law firm to anyone seeking a non-contested divorce. Thank you!

 
Response from James D.
August 22, 2025
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are glad to hear you had a good experience with our service.
Divorce
Posted by Lisa Joy
August 07, 2025
Hired Attorney

Great experience from start to finish. Clear and detailed instructions at every step along the process. I reached out several times via email and got very timely responses. Each person I interacted with was pleasant and communicative Highly recommended

Response from James D.
August 07, 2025
Hearing that Cairns Law Offices made the legal process seamless and responsive to your questions is valuable insight for those facing similar experiences.
Divorce
Posted by Malini
August 07, 2025
Hired Attorney

Fast, responsive and affordable. So grateful to Cairns Law Offices. I did extensive research before deciding and I do not regret my choice. The lawyers are knowledgeable and take the time to answer questions with no additional charge.

Response from James D.
August 07, 2025
Hearing that Cairns Law Offices made a challenging divorce process straightforward and transparent reassures us that our approach truly benefits clients facing difficult transitions.
Divorce
Posted by Nicole
August 06, 2025
Hired Attorney

Working with Cairns Law was quick and painless for my uncontested divorce - it was a great experience, and I will recommend them in the future to anyone who needs a divorce attorney. The communication and explanations for everything was clear and conscice.

Response from James D.
August 06, 2025
Hearing that Cairns Law Offices made your divorce seamless means a lot to us. We strive to provide professional, affordable legal support during life's transitions.
Divorce
Posted by Kaitlin
July 31, 2025
Hired Attorney

They were great to work with. Very quick with my divorce. I highly recommend them if anyone is going through a simple, uncontested divorce. They actually finished our case faster than we expected, which was great!

Response from James D.
July 31, 2025
Your positive experience with Cairns Law Offices means a lot to us, especially your trust in our reliability and efficient legal support.
Divorce
Posted by anonymous
July 31, 2025
Hired Attorney

Before hiring Cairns, I tried doing the paperwork myself and it made zero sense to me. After I paid for their service, they sent all the papers I needed with detailed instructions. Every time there was a new step, they sent exact instructions. The whole process was a breeze and took no time at all.

Response from James D.
July 31, 2025
Thank you for highlighting the straightforward process and value you experienced with Cairns Law Offices. We appreciate your feedback.

Services

Areas of Law

  • Family Law 3
    • Divorce
    • Child Custody
    • Military Divorce
  • Other 5
    • Debt Division
    • Preparing Settlement Agreements
    • Property Division
    • Uncontested Divorce
    • No Fault Divorces

Practice Details

  • Languages
    English
    Spanish
  • Payment Information
    Payment & Cost Features
    Free initial consultation
    Fixed fees available
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
    Discover
    MasterCard
    Other - Paypal
    Visa
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Member
    Firm Name
    Cairns Law Offices
  • Pro Bono Services

    AKT- Attorneys and Kids Together, 2006 - Present Developed & Sponsored Nicaragua's 30 Anniversary of Literacy Celebration, 2010 - Present

  • Additional Links

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1995, Ohio
    2002, Pennsylvania
    Memberships
    Pennsylvania Bar Association
    Ohio Bar Associations
    Erie County Bar Association.
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
    Class of 1995
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Indiana University
    Class of 1988
    B.A.
    Criminology, Dean's List

    Mercyhurst College
    Class of 1992
    M.S.
    Administration, Dean's List

Contact James D. Cairns III

Member at Cairns Law Offices
4.9
2896 reviews

3433 West Lake RoadErie, PA 16505U.S.A.

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Fax: (412) 872-2225

744 South Street, Suite 33Philadelphia, PA 19147U.S.A.

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Fax: (412) 872-2225

3945 Forbes Avenue, Suite 185Pittsburgh, PA 15213U.S.A.

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Fax: (412) 872-2225
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Other Office Locations

Philadelphia, PA

744 South Street, Suite 33Philadelphia, PA 19147U.S.A.

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Pittsburgh, PA

3945 Forbes Avenue, Suite 185Pittsburgh, PA 15213U.S.A.

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Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, James D. Cairns, III is admitted to practice in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  • Does this attorney maintain a professional presence on any social networks?
    Yes, James D. Cairns, III has a professional profile on facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
  • Does this attorney speak any other languages?
    James D. Cairns, III speaks Spanish.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Client Review rated?
    Yes, James D. Cairns, III has a 4.9 Client Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Does this attorney offer any legal services for a flat fee?
    Yes, James D. Cairns, III offers fixed fees for certain legal services.