While mothers are automatically granted parental rights in Massachusetts and immediately incur the rights and responsibilities bestowed to parents as such, the same is not true for fathers. In fact, unless parents are married at the time of a child’s birth, then paternity must be established through one of two ways. Establishing paternity is critical…
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Many couples know that their relationship is over—and perhaps even live separately—for many months or years before they file for a divorce. In some situations, couples may even be separated and back in the dating game, despite the fact that their divorce is pending. While dating again after your separation may feel completely natural, it’s…
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When couples are going through a divorce, there are many things that must be resolved before the divorce can be finalized. One important issue to resolve is that of property and asset division. Couples are encouraged to work together to reach an agreement, although the court will intervene if an agreement cannot be reached. Unfortunately,…
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Divorce is a decision that no one comes to easily, especially parents with children. For parents, choosing to get divorced can be particularly excruciating, and telling the kids about the divorce can be heartbreaking. While divorce can take an emotional toll on children, having the right conversations with children at the right time can help…
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Divorce is always complex, even when parties are in agreement about the divorce and pursue it jointly. When one party is incarcerated, the process of filing for divorce can be especially confusing. If you’re divorcing an incarcerated spouse in Massachusetts, our divorce attorney at the Law Office of Heather M. Ward can help. Please call…
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Having a child and being a parent is a beautiful thing. While no parent wants to think about it, planning for the slim possibility that something happens to both you and your spouse, leaving your child parentless, is important. At the Law Office of Heather M. Ward, we can work with you to name a…
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For divorcing parents, reaching an agreement about child custody is a key part of finalizing a divorce settlement. After a divorce, though, one parent may want to relocate to a new city or state, potentially impacting each parent’s current time spent with the child, and potentially breaching the child custody agreement. If you or your…
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Most people are familiar with the idea of a prenuptial agreement—a legal document that parties enter into prior to a marriage that outlines the financial terms of the relationship, including things such as how property will be divided upon separation and the value of a spousal maintenance award. While prenuptial agreements are common for married…
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When parents are seeking a divorce in Massachusetts, they must reach an agreement about numerous elements of the divorce before the dissolution can be finalized. Perhaps one of the most important decisions to make is how custody of a shared child will be split.
While not all couples want to get married, many couples who have been together for years do want to enjoy the legal benefits of a marriage. For these partners, seeking a domestic partnership instead of a marriage may be the best option. Here’s an overview of what you should know about how to form a…
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