The Trial Court of Massachusetts issued new Child Support Guidelines, which took effect last week on September 15th. There are many changes to the new Guidelines, but also a lot of things stayed the same. This article will explain the changes to the new Guidelines, but what also stayed the same compared to the 2013…
Family Law
Can Alimony Last Past the Scheduled Termination Date?
When the Alimony Reform Act was enacted in 2011, it provided for set termination dates of General Term Alimony, which is the most common type of alimony in Massachusetts. Under the statute, M.G.L. c. 208 §49(b), General Term Alimony will terminate after a certain period of time, depending on how long a couple was married. …
The Benefits of Engaging a Parenting Coordinator
A Parent Coordinator is a Family Law Attorney or mental health professional who works with families relating to child custody and parenting time, whereby the Parent Coordinator assists parents to resolve and reach agreement concerning disagreements about co-parenting, custody, and the parenting schedule. Parent Coordinators are commonly used in child custody and parenting matters in…
How to Effectively Co-Parent At the Beginning of a Divorce
When parents divorce, there can be a significant impact on the children. For divorces involving children, some judges have referred to such a divorce as a corporate reshuffling, and say that the family corporation remains the same, but has undergone some reshuffling. That is to say, the family unit continues to exist, but in a…
How to Help Your Child Emotionally Through a Divorce or Child Custody Matter
Going through a divorce or fighting over child custody is difficult and emotional for any parent, and any child. When a child realizes that their parents are breaking up, and will now live in separate houses, it can be very traumatic. This can cause a child to feel unstable and like the rug was swept…
How to Ask Your Fiancé for a Prenuptial Agreement
Congratulations! You’re engaged. You’re on your way to walking down the aisle on the happiest day of your life. There’s a lot to do to plan for the wedding. Find a location, book a caterer, find a dress, pick out a cake, and oh so much more. But there’s one more thing engaged couples should…
Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act: When Does my Alimony Obligation Terminate?
In March 2012, the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act became effective. Under the Alimony Reform Act, a spouse’s alimony obligation now has a termination date, whereas under previously Massachusetts alimony law, a spouse’s alimony obligation could last forever. To determine when your alimony obligation will terminate, you first must know what kind of alimony you are…
Handling a Child Custody Case
There are not many other types of court cases that are more emotional and stressful than a child custody case. Because emotions are running high during these types of cases, parents can sometimes fall into pitfalls and traps, which can ultimately hurt their case down the road. Here are some tips for parents going through…
Child Support, Alimony & Taxes
When going through a divorce, there are many financial issues that spouses must address. Some of these financial issues have tax consequences, and other financial issues do not. One area where taxes come into play is support. Under Massachusetts Law, there are two categories of support. The first category is alimony, which is the periodic…
Co-Parenting and Visitation During the Holidays After a Divorce
Holidays can be an exciting time for families. They can include family gatherings, big meals, and other fun events. But they can also be a stressful time for parents and children when negotiating a visitation schedule or co-parenting plan resulting from a divorce. This can mean maintaining different schedules and children splitting their time between…
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