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…
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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…
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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…
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When a couple decides to separate, the process is much more complicated than simply declaring to part ways. Instead, ending a marriage is a legal process that involves the courts, as well as numerous decisions along the way. The process of divorce is much simpler when the divorce is uncontested. If you are filing for…
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Child support is very important, and is used to provide a custodial parent with income that can be used to pay for a child’s clothing, shelter, medical expenses, basic needs, extracurricular activities, and more. However, child support isn’t a perfect system, and when a parent is unable to make their child support obligations, the consequences…
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As part of a divorce settlement in Massachusetts, the court may order one spouse to pay alimony, also referred to as spousal maintenance, to the other. Courts will make a determination about alimony based on a number of various factors, including the length of the marriage, the income of each party, the marital lifestyle, and…
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When a couple is divorcing, navigating the process and coming to an agreement about how property should be divided, debts should be paid, and custody should be determined can be extremely complex, if not very contentious. In order to reach a settlement, parties to a divorce have a couple of options: they can mediate their…
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Co-parenting can be a very effective model for raising a child when divorced, particularly for parents who get along well and have shared goals related to child-rearing. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, even the best co-parenting plans have been interrupted. If you are co-parenting right now and struggling to navigate the various obstacles that are…
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When a divorced person with a child remarries, the child and the new spouse–now the child’s stepparent–may form a close bond. Especially when the child is of a young age at the time of marriage, the stepparent may play an integral role in raising the child, providing love and care, and offering parental guidance and…
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Most people think that getting a divorce is bound to be a contentious, emotional, and hate-filled process. Indeed, this is certainly the picture that media and television like to paint. But while divorce is definitely challenging, it doesn’t have to be divisive. In fact, with a collaborative divorce and family law attorney on your side,…
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