October 2016 Archives

Even while divorce rates in Massachusetts are declining overall, the divorce rate is actually on the rise among people over 50 years of age. The phenomenon is so common it has its own name - and the "gray divorce" rate actually doubled between 1990 and 2010. 

Even if Massachusetts parents have joint physical custody, child support can still be ordered because the purpose of child support is to ensure the children are adequately provided for. The belief is that the children have a right to benefit from the income of both their parents in the same way that the children would have if their parents stayed together.

As opioid use in Massachusetts sky-rockets, the Family Courts are seeing an increase in guardianship of minor proceedings. Usually families prefer to keep the child with a family member rather than in the foster care system when the parent is involved with opioid use.