Massachusetts military retirees and veterans receiving disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see their paychecks go up by 5.9% for 2022, triggered by inflation and an annual adjustment to the federal Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). ...
Month: December 2021
If I Haven’t Been to Court, Who has Custody of the Massachusetts Children?
When Massachusetts parents are married to each other, both parents share legal and physical custody of the children unless and until a court orders otherwise. When the parents are not married to each other, the mother has sole legal and physical custody unless and...
When Should Supervised Visitation be Ordered for Your Massachusetts Children
In some situations, it may not be safe for the Massachusetts child to be left alone with a parent during visitation. In these situations, supervised visitation can be arranged. Supervised visitation means that a third party preferably someone that both parents can...
Tips for Telling Your Massachusetts Kids About Your Divorce
While deciding to get a Massachusetts divorce is difficult enough, explaining that fact to your children can feel even more challenging. However, your kids must hear the news from you, and you should try to mitigate adverse effects as much as possible. Here are some...
Life Insurance Policies: Taxes and to Secure Child Support and Alimony in Massachusetts
Life insurance policies serve as financial instruments designed to minimize the financial impact of the death of the policyholder. The policy acts as a contract between the insurer and the insured. The insurance company pays a sum of money to beneficiaries when the...
Types of Child Custody Arrangements in Massachusetts
There are 4 different types of custody arrangements in Massachusetts. Parents can make their own arrangements within these definitions and draft an agreement about custody and parenting time. The judge will review their agreement to decide if it's in the best interest...
Definitions of Abuse and Neglect that the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Uses
The definitions of abuse and neglect that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) uses. Abuse This definition is not dependent upon location. Abuse can occur while the child is in an out-of-home or an in-home setting. The non-accidental commission of any act by...
Massachusetts Military Divorce: Rules for Dividing the Pension
A service member's military retired pay can be a valuable asset in a Massachusetts divorce. In 1982 Congress passed the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act, which allows state courts to treat disposable retired pay either as property solely of the member,...
Overview of a Massachusetts Military Divorce
Legally, military personnel who are getting divorced in Massachusetts are no different than anyone else, so the procedural process is the same. If you are in the military or are a military spouse, there are some additional factors that can affect your divorce. For...
Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview For Massachusetts Servicemembers and Family
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides education benefits for those who have served on active duty for 90 or more days after Sep. 10, 2001.The payment rate depends on how much active duty time a member has. What It Pays The Post-9/11 GI Bill has several parts including: What...