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…
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…
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…
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,…
In many cases of divorce, one or both spouses may want to immediately marry another individual once the divorce has finalized. Some of these relationships may have arisen during the doomed marriage between the divorcing parties and been the reason for the breakup. But despite your desire to get on your new life, you cannot…
Massachusetts is a no-fault state when it comes to divorce, meaning that a spouse or spouses filing for marriage dissolution merely need to allege “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as grounds for it without having to prove anything. However, our state is one of 33 states that also allows a party to allege certain grounds such…
Divorce can be a time of great upheaval. Not only do you have to deal with a range of emotions, but you also have to figure out how to make sure the split doesn’t adversely affect your kids, both psychologically and materially. Of all your child’s needs, education often takes the largest chunk, financially at…
Anyone who’s gone through a divorce knows how it’s not exactly a walk in the park. The thought of losing all you’ve invested in the relationship is bad enough, but if you own property together, things can get extra stressful. The process of valuing and splitting property is often long and taxing, and having a…
Every new year, we craft new resolutions for the year, but all too often, not one of those goals survives beyond the second week. Unless, of course, we’re talking about divorce matters. When people decide to end a marriage at the start of the year, chances are it will be ending in divorce soon after. …
Unlike days past, same-sex couples have just as much a right to parenthood as anyone. So if you’re hoping to adopt a child with your same-sex partner, you need to know that there aren’t specific laws addressing adoption among same-sex couples in Massachusetts—which means you both can adopt jointly. But as always, individual adoption experts…