At the time of a divorce, parties must agree on a divorce settlement before the dissolution can be finalized. The terms of a settlement may be something that the parties work out together or, if mediation fails, a judge will issue a court order. While the decision at the time of the divorce may seem…
Before two parties to a marriage can legally dissolve their union and truly separate from one another, they must divide their assets and property in a way that is equitable. Under Massachusetts law, all marital property is subject to equitable division. In most states, separate property is not subject to equitable division and is instead…
Some married couples not only want to separate from their spouse, but would like to pretend that the marriage never even happened. While divorce is the best option for most couples, in some cases, an annulment may be possible. If you have questions about annulment and whether or not your marriage is eligible for an…
Being a victim of domestic violence is nothing short of terrifying. For both women and men who are experiencing domestic violence, understanding the options for seeking safety and legal protections is important. If you are a victim of domestic violence, the Law Office of Heather M. Ward can help you by guiding you through the…
When a couple is divorcing in Massachusetts, it’s important to understand how their assets will be impacted by the divorce, as well as how their assets and income–including their Social Security benefits–will influence a divorce judgment. Here’s what you should know about how Social Security is handled in a divorce case, how it impacts a…
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…