Whether Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and SSI benefits must be shared between spouses when a marriage ends in Massachusetts is an issue that often comes up during divorce. There are two issues here: whether disability benefits need to be split...
In Massachusetts, adultery is still a legal ground for divorce. While "no fault" divorces account for the overwhelming majority of complaints for divorce in Massachusetts, there are still "fault" grounds that are plead. In such cases, if adultery is plead and proven...
Even if Massachusetts parents have joint physical custody, child support can still be ordered because the purpose of child support is to ensure the children are adequately provided for. The belief is that the children have a right to benefit from the income of both...
Requests for admission are very valuable yet underutilized tool in a Massachusetts Divorce. They're one of the best techniques to create admissible evidence for summary judgment and trial. With requests for admission, you can take an evidence shortcut by getting the...
Under the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act, if a spouse who receives alimony begins to cohabitate with another person, then alimony may be modified or terminated under the new law. In cases involving General term alimony, a payor spouse may modify or terminate his or...
Marital asset dissipation is an issue during a Massachusetts divorce when one spouse has given away or transferred or mismanaged marital property. This commonly takes the form of spending marital funds for the benefit of significant others or wasting marital property....
A Massachusetts court-ordered parenting plan governs how parents will share the "care and custody of their children," a fundamental liberty interest recognized by the United States Supreme Court. This liberty interest encompasses parents' interests in religious...
Once the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court has issued an Order whether Temporary or Final in a case, the parties to the action are bound by its terms. If either party violates the terms of a Family Court Order, they risk being found in contempt of court. Contempt...
Divorce is hard for almost all children. It can be traumatic and confusing in even the best of circumstances. But for children with special needs, a divorce in can be even more difficult. And for the parents of special needs children, divorce requires strategizing to...
As parents in a blended family in Massachusetts the most important issue you will face is how your children will be disciplined. Child discipline in the blended family is something you should discuss and set rules about before marrying. In the beginning, the...