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 today's world of blended families, adoption of a child by a step-parent in Massachusetts has become common as parents strive to form cohesive and stable family units. Under Massachusetts law a step-parent may file a petition to adopt a minor child who is the child...
Massachusetts law allows a judge to order one party to pay the other party's reasonable attorney's fees in certain family related legal matters, including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and post-divorce actions. In awarding attorney's fees in actions...
Transmutation is a term used in family law to describe property that has been transformed from a party's separate property into marital property in Massachusetts. In the context of equitable distribution, the term "separate property" refers to property that is owned...
The K1 Visa is exclusively given to fiancées who come to the U.S. to get married. U.S. immigration services requires the K1 fiancée to marry his/her partner within 90 days of arrival on U.S. soil. After getting married, the couple must file for Adjustment of Status....
If you suffer from a mental illness, your life is filled with challenges. And this is especially true if you have a child. But just having issues does not preclude you from being a loving and capable parent. Unfortunately, if you should become embroiled in a...
After a Massachusetts divorce, both parties want to continue to live in the style to which they have become accustomed. And Massachusetts law supports this desire by requiring courts to base spousal support awards on the standard of living established during the...
Under current Massachusetts law, a judge may issue an emergency custody order changing the living arrangements of a child or awarding one party temporary custody if there is sufficient reason to believe that the child is at risk of bodily injury or sexual abuse, or...
The Social Security system permits a divorced person in Massachusetts who is eligible for social security benefits to receive the greater of (a) a calculation based on 100% of his/her earned benefit amount, or (b) provided the parties were married for at least ten...