Massachusetts doesn't set a specific age at which a child can be left home alone. In Massachusetts, such issues are decided on a case-by-case basis. Generally, children must live with their parents or guardians until they can function in society independently....
Month: November 2021
FAQ’s About Name Changes For Your Massachusetts Children
Deciding a child’s name. Massachusetts parents can name their child any name that they choose. The city or town clerk where the child was born records the child’s name as instructed by the parents. The parents may give the child any first name and any last name that...
Paternity in Massachusetts – What is it and Why is it Important?
Paternity in Massachusetts means legal fatherhood. Paternity is automatically established if the parents are married when the child is born. The husband is the child’s legal father. If the parents aren't married when the child is born, paternity needs to be...
What Can a Massachusetts Landlord Charge You For
When you move in, the most your Massachusetts landlord can charge you is: The first month's rent, The last month's rent, A security deposit up to the amount of the first month's rent, and The cost of buying and installing a new lock. Whenever you pay the landlord any...
Emancipation and the Legal Rights of Minors in Massachusetts
Emancipation ends a Massachusetts parents' rights to control his or her minor child or to participate in any decision-making about the child. If a child is emancipated, the parents no longer have the right to determine where the child lives or goes to school, or how...
How to Access Your Massachusetts Child’s School Records
All Massachusetts children need to feel safe and be safe at school. This is especially true for children who have suffered from the effects of domestic violence. Lawfully restricted access to school records can keep abusive parents from undermining the child's...
IRS Tax Tip: Teachers Can Deduct Out of Pocket Covid-19 Protective Items
Fall is here and another school year is in full swing. Many teachers are already dipping into their own pockets to buy classroom supplies that will help set their students up for success. Doing this all year long can add up fast. Fortunately, eligible educators may be...
What Happens if you Receive an Overpayment of PUA Benefits in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is required by the CARES Act to identify and recover CARES Act benefits that were overpaid. An overpayment, or improper payment, occurs if you are paid unemployment benefit payments and DUA later determines...
Useful Discovery Tools For Massachusetts Family Law Cases
Discovery is a way for you and the other side to exchange information in civil cases and in Massachusetts family law cases. Typically this process occurs after a complaint and answer have been filed and one party asks another party to produce documents or respond in...
EEOC Updates COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Guidelines for Religious Exemptions
An increase in Massachusetts workplace mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies has yielded an increase in employees’ requests for special exemptions. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued updated guidance on how employers should...