In the case, Morales v. Morales, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, clarified the standard by which child support may be modified. The Court stated that child support modification does not require a finding of a material change of circumstances. Rather, if...
Month: August 2015
Health Insurance and Employee Health Insurance Benefits For Massachuetts Parents
During your Massachusetts divorce it makes sense to understand your employee health insurance benefits, and those of your spouse or former spouse. Interestingly, we find that some people are unfamiliar with their employee benefits. This post discusses the basics about...
Car Loans and Divorce in Massachusetts
Divorcing couples have plenty of important issues to resolve, including child support, custody issues, and division of property and perhaps a jointly owned home. Settling who owes what on a car loan and what to do with the car might not seem like a big deal, given the...
Safeguarding Inheritance During Divorce in Massachusetts
Have you inherited a home or heirloom from your family and wondering how to protect what is yours in the event you and your spouse decide to divorce in Massachusetts? What is considered separate versus marital property when determining property division in a divorce...
Effects of Divorce on Property Ownership in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, married couples typically take real property as tenants by the entirety. This form of tenancy offers protection from creditors that a simple joint tenancy with rights of survivorship does not. The creditors of one spouse cannot attach or attempt to...
Access to Student Records by Non-Custodial Parents in Massachusetts
Regardless of a parent's legal custodial status, each parent has the right to have access to all educational records of their children pursuant to G.L. ch. 208, § 31 and G.L. ch. 71, § 34H unless the school or district has been given documentation that:1. the parent...
Can Divorcing Parties “Share” an Attorney in Massachusetts
Can one lawyer represent both sides in a Family Court matter? In Massachusetts, as in most states, the answer is a clear and resounding "No!" The attorney cannot effectively represent two parties with completely different goals in the same case, as the advice that the...
Tips for Enforcing Parenting Time in Massachusetts
Too many times, parents continue to fight with each other even after they have been to Court. One of the main problems faced by non-custodial parents is that of being denied their Court ordered parenting time with their children. Here are some good tips for parents...
Can You Deviate From the Child Support Guidelines in Massachusetts?
If you've done some research, you probably know that child support in Massachusetts is calculated by using a set of guidelines prepared by state officials. These guidelines rely on a formula to balance income and expenses and then apportion the costs of raising the...
Keeping Your Children Safe: Know When to Request Supervised Visitation
Parents who are going through separation or divorce will need to devise a plan that specifies where their children will reside, who will care for them, how often they will spend time with each parent, and under what conditions they will be permitted to visit with each...