Pre-trial divorce conferences in Massachusetts are much less intimidating than they sound. They provide you and your spouse with a chance to settle your case and afford you an invaluable glimpse into how the judge will rule if you go to trial. Pre-trial conferences...
Should I stop contributing to my 401(k) retirement account since we're getting divorced in Massachusetts?If this question has ever crossed your mind, don't feel like you're being sneaky. You're not alone - nearly every person who has a 401(k) account asks this...
The division of property is a major element of a Massachusetts divorce case. Real estate often times is the most significant piece of property to be dealt with during divorce proceedings. If real estate owned by the parties during the marriage is assigned to one of...
Record numbers of children in Massachusetts are being born out of wedlock, but few parents stop to understand the legal implications. Sociologists suggest the increased numbers of children being born out of wedlock is caused by an American attitude that marriage is...
In Massachusetts, the degree to which the conduct of a parent can affect acustody award depends on many factors, and goes beyond whether or not a parent has a criminal conviction. Certain serious felonies and domestic violence weigh heavily against awarding custody,...
Massachusetts family law attorneys need to draft parenting plans with the utmost care to make sure that uncertainty and ambiguity don't undermine the best intentions. A court-ordered parenting plan governs how parents will share the "care, custody and management of...
The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that a second job obtained after a divorce has entered cannot be used to calculate an alimony award. The Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act states that "income from a second job or overtime work shall be presumed immaterial to...
Alimony is defined in the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act as "the payment of support from a spouse, who has the ability to pay, to a spouse in need of support for a reasonable length of time, under a court order."Need "is not based on the minimum life necessities of...
The Service members Civil Relief Act provides for a mandatory stay of at least ninety days upon a proper request by a qualifying servicemember "the court may on its own motion and shall, upon application by the servicemember, stay the action for a period of not less...
The mediator's role is to move the parties beyond personality clashes and historic grievances. Only then can the mediator help you improve communication so any future dealings can take place without repeating the difficulties of the past.Mediation is a useful tool...