A divorce is more than just the dissolution or termination of a relationship. It also concerns issues of child custody, support, and how assets and debts are divided. One important issue is that of health care. In many marital relationships, one spouse will have medical insurance coverage through an employer that includes the children and…
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Children need the guidance, counsel, nurturing, and love of both parents to have the best opportunity to become secure, well-adjusted, and productive members of the community. But when parents divorce, the courts and the law strive to maintain that dynamic by promoting and encouraging co-parenting or shared parental time. But the Covid-19 crisis can and…
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A divorce, like any other civil action, can take months to resolve or for a final judgment to issue. While it may certainly appear to be in the best interests of both parties in a divorce to conclude the proceedings as quickly as possible to save on legal fees and to get on with their…
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Alimony or spousal support is a topic that often arises in divorce cases where one spouse may be financially disadvantaged in relation to the other. While many people perceive that alimony is only ordered after a marriage of long duration, you may be entitled to some form of alimony in marriages that only lasted a…
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With millions of people temporarily or even permanently losing their jobs due to the pandemic, what effect will this have child support and alimony obligations in Massachusetts? Applications for unemployment compensation have skyrocketed in the past month or so with our state experiencing up to 20,000 applications in a single day. At the beginning of…
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The Corona virus epidemic has led to massive closings of essential businesses, schools, sports arenas, and recreational facilities. Although courts may be deemed essential, they have been closed as well in Massachusetts, though they still operate on a limited, virtual basis for emergency matters. For clients and others who have family law matters pending in…
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After parents divorce, the parties often live close to each other so that whatever parenting time they have will not significantly affect the children’s school, sports, transportation, or other community involvement. Massachusetts courts favor giving the parents shared parenting time, though in many cases one parent is the primary or even sole custodian with the…
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Many states have a waiting period in place whenever a divorce proceeding has concluded, and before the marriage relationship has been legally terminated. The parties in a Massachusetts divorce are required to sit out during this period, which is called the “Nisi period.” In other words, once the court has issued the Judgment of Divorce…
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When you married, you likely named your spouse in your will as the beneficiary of all or at least a portion of your estate if you subsequently have children. You may also have named your spouse as a beneficiary in your IRA, 401K, life insurance, and other accounts, including trusts. If you have a living…
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Choosing the right lawyer for you and your case is essential if you want the best possible outcome at a reasonable price. It is no different than finding a reputable surgeon, contractor, or accountant. Divorces can be expensive depending on the complexity of the issues and if the parties are amicable or are disputing custody,…
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