When parents split up, and there is a dispute over who is to get primary custody, judges generally decide this based on what they see as “the best interests of the child.” One recurring question is whether a judge may consider the ideology that a parent is teaching the child— for instance, may a judge…
Family Law
Important Documents a Spouse Should Bring to a Consultation with a Divorce or Family Law Attorney
If you are thinking it has come the time to file for divorce, or any other important family law matter, there are certain types of documents a spouse or parent should always bring with him or her when meeting with a lawyer for the first time. Being prepared with these documents can assist an attorney…
What Happens When a Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement is Invalidated in Massachusetts
Both prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements can be valuable tools for spouses. It can give guidance regarding the division of assets and support in the event of a divorce or a spouse’s death. It gives some predictability and certainty, which is not always guaranteed in the circumstances of a divorce in which there is neither…
What a Divorce or Family Law Attorney Can Do That a Spouse or Parent Can’t Do on Their Own
When a spouse is going through a divorce, or a parent is going through a custody or child support battle, it can be a stressful time in that person’s life. Navigating through the family court process can be confusing under the best of circumstances. If the case is very contentious, then this only makes the…
Hey, Divorced Parents, How About Going Beyond Civility?
I’m living with my ex-husband again. It’s not what you think. When we married in the spring of 1998, before wedding registries were online and photos were still shot on film, our chances of staying together forever looked pretty darn good. Great, in fact. We were 26-year-old college graduates who had dated for four years,…
Massachusetts custody proposal rightly stresses time with both parents
Slowly but surely, Massachusetts is reshaping its laws around divorce. First, a task force of experts and advocates prompted a sweeping overhaul of outdated alimony laws. And two years ago, the governor’s office convened a similar committee to review the state’s child custody laws. That committee’s work is done, and the result is promising: a…
Children of divorce grieving their losses
In my last two columns, I addressed the grief and loss process experienced by couples during separation and divorce. But what do the children experience? At a time when so many marriages fail, it is important to understand how youngsters are affected by the loss. Children of divorcing parents go through the same four stages…
Paying for Children’s College Costs After a Divorce
In a divorce, it is not uncommon for child-related issues to be disputed. Issues such as child custody, parenting time, and child support, can become very heated and contentious issues. However, there are other important issues related to children that can sometimes be overlooked or forgotten in a divorce. One example of this is paying…
Calculating Child Support When One Parent is Unemployed or Underemployed
In Massachusetts, child support is calculated based upon the Child Support Guidelines. The Child Support Guidelines use a mathematical calculation to determine a child support obligation based upon each parent’s gross weekly income, as well as the number of children for the child support order. When these numbers are entered into the formula, a number…
Before You Say ‘I Do’, Think About a Prenuptial Agreement
A recent study showed that brides and grooms-to-be who have cold feet before their wedding could very well foreshadow an unhappy marriage that could even end in divorce. Brides and grooms-to-be who have cold feet should really consider entering into a prenuptial agreement with their future spouse. This agreement can protect both spouses-to-be in the…
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