The rights of parents are strongly protected in Massachusetts. Even in the event of a divorce, the court is very unlikely to revoke the rights of one party—the court usually finds that it is in the child’s best interests to maintain a relationship with both parents.
For many couples living throughout Massachusetts, marriage is not the right answer; instead, a domestic partnership allows a couple to have legal recognition of their relationship without all the bells and whistles of a wedding ceremony. However, a domestic partnership that’s registered is still a legal relationship in the eyes of the law, which means…
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Making the decision to leave your spouse may be the hardest thing you ever do. Not only is divorce emotional, but it can be legally complex. What’s more, conflict and disagreement throughout the process that leads to divorce litigation can only exacerbate feelings of exasperation. At the Law Office of Heather M. Ward, we believe…
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Most people think of divorce as a contentious, divisive process that’s characterized by large courtroom battles and litigation. While divorce can look like this, it doesn’t have to. Indeed, there is an alternative to the contentious divorce: collaborative divorce. Here’s what you should know about collaborative divorce and when it may be a good option…
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At the time that a couple divorces, there are dozens of things they’ll need to think about and resolve—many of them not just logistical, but legal matters. For example, a final divorce judgment will need to address things like division of property, spousal support, and child custody and support if the couple has children.
One of the hardest parts of divorcing for parents with children is determining where shared children will live and what the responsibility of the other parent will be. In addition to child custody, the court will also issue a judgment for child support. Here’s what you should know about how child support is calculated in…
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Getting married is one of the biggest decisions that you’ll ever make. Which is why when you get married, you want to be sure that it’s the right choice. Unfortunately, some people almost immediately regret the marriage and want to find a way to undo it. In a small number of cases, an annulment may…
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When a person is unable to care for themselves or manage their affairs on their own, the court may appoint a guardian, a conservator, or both. Guardianship and conservatorship in Massachusetts are both large legal responsibilities that require an understanding of each role’s expectations. If you are applying to be a guardian or conservator, please…
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Being the victim of violence is terrifying, especially if the violent person is someone living in your household or with whom you have an intimate relationship. At the Law Office of Heather M. Ward, we want you to know that you are not alone—there are resources for victims of domestic violence. One way to protect…
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Most teenagers aren’t considered adults until they reach the age of 18 and, even at this time, many still rely on their parents for financial support, decision-making support, or both. While the age of majority may be 18—which is the legal age at which a child becomes an adult—there are some situations in which a…
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