You may be entitled to reasonable accommodations that will enable you to enjoy equal employment opportunities. In general, a reasonable accommodation is a modification to the way things are typically done or to the physical work environment that would enable a...
Month: November 2021
Obligations for Snow Removal on Sidewalks for Disability Access in Massachusetts
Your Massachusetts municipality may have an ordinance or bylaw requiring you to clear the sidewalks that abut your home or business. The Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS) maintains a “Sidewalk Snow Removal Map” which indicates whose...
Start Your New Massachusetts Lease on the Right Foot
The fall is the peak of moving season in Massachusetts. Whether you are a college student moving into your first apartment or a seasoned renter relocating, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Being a responsible tenant starts...
What is the “Length of a Massachusetts Marriage”
In the case, Valaskatgis v. Valaskatgis, the Massachusetts court was called upon to determine whether assets acquired after the service of process in a divorce, but before the divorce was granted, were marital assets that should be divided in the divorce. The court...
Massachusetts Parents May Spank Their Children Under Certain Circumstances
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled for the first time that “reasonable force” used by parent in the discipline of their children is permissible. The justices say the force used must be “reasonably related to the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the...
Are You Being Disrespected in Your Massachusetts Marriage?
A Massachusetts marriage can weather almost any storm by working together as a combined force against life’s challenges. But, if there are challenges within the relationship, such as disrespectful relationship behavior, not only is your relationship at risk, but so...
Tax Credits Become Bargaining Points in a Massachusetts Divorce
Divorcing Massachusetts parents often have plenty to navigate. And the latest stimulus package has dumped even more onto the negotiating table in the form of enhanced tax credits. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan provided Covid-19 relief for millions of...
Self-Discovery is a Protected Activity for Massachusetts Employees When Filing a Discrimination Complaint
In Verdrager v. Mintz Levin, the Supreme Judicial Court answered a question of first impression under Massachusetts law: Do the anti-retaliation provisions of state anti-discrimination law protect an employee who accesses her employer’s documents to support her...
IRS TAX TIP: Massachusetts Custody Arrangement May Affect Their Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
Massachusetts parents who share custody of their children should be aware of how the advance child tax credit payments are distributed. It is important to remember that these are advance payments of a tax credit that taxpayers expect to claim on their 2021 tax return....
IRS Tax Tip: Non-Traditional Families May Qualify for Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
Families come in all shapes and sizes – and some families may not realize they could receive advance payments of the 2021 child tax credit in the last months of this year. The IRS urges grandparents, foster parents or people caring for siblings or other relatives...