Mothers are automatically granted full parental rights at the time of the child’s birth as, unlike with fathers, there is never any doubt about whether a mother is a child’s biological parent. For fathers, on the other hand, parents must be married at the time of a child’s birth for the father to be granted…
For mothers, parental rights are imparted at the time of a child’s birth; the mother does not need to do anything or sign any documents to prove that she is the child’s mother or to be granted parental rights. However, the same is not always true for fathers in our state, particularly unmarried fathers. For…
Prenuptial agreements are used to make decisions about property, finances, and other matters during the course of a marriage, as well as decisions related to the division of assets and alimony at the time of a divorce. However, merely writing down your intentions for these matters does not mean that the prenuptial agreement will be…
While many people who get married are doing so for the first time and enter the marriage without any children, it’s also common for people to get married a second or third time, and to get married when they already have children from another partner. In some situations, the child’s new stepparent may want to…
Divorcing parents have a challenging task ahead of them: they must decide how custody of their child will be shared. In some cases, parents are in agreement about a time-sharing arrangement; in other cases, parenting time is hotly disputed. If parents are unable to reach an agreement about child custody, then a judge will make…
For married couples who own a business, dividing up the business in a divorce can be complicated. Yet regardless of who owns the business, the value of the business will certainly factor into a property division settlement. If the business is separate property, then this may affect how a judge divides the couple’s marital property;…
For couples who are divorcing, selling the family home may seem like the most optimal option–or the worst, depending on each party’s perspective. In either case, there is no doubt that dividing up the family home during a divorce can be a contentious process. At the office of Heather Ward Law, our experienced divorce attorney…
When two people get a divorce, it is often more than just those two people involved who are affected by the separation, especially if the couple has any children. Indeed, the child may be impacted, as may be anyone who has a relationship with that child, including grandparents. At the law office of Heather Ward…
Choosing to form a pre- or postnuptial agreement in Massachusetts may not be an easy choice. Indeed, even if you recognize the practical value of such an agreement, you may be criticized for “not being romantic,” or for “planning for the worst.” At the law office of Heather Ward Law, our experienced Massachusetts divorce lawyer…
When parents are separating, the custody of shared children may be highly disputed. When parents are not in agreement about how custody should be shared, they may try to gather as much evidence against the other parent as possible. Sometimes, this means that one parent will make an allegation of substance abuse–whether founded or unfounded–against…