When the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act went into effect in 2012, it provided for a payor spouse to file a Complaint for Modification to reduce or terminate his or her alimony obligation based upon durational limits, as further explained below. Rather than allowing spouses to file all at once in 2012, modification for only durational…
Divorce and Family Law Blog
Postnuptial Agreements
Dear Clients and Friends, Properly executed pre-nuptial agreements have been enforceable for sometime in the state of Massachusetts. These agreements are entered into between the couple before they are married to protect assets each party had at the time of marriage. Here are Amaral & Associates, P.C., we prepare pre-nuptial agreements on a regular basis…
Understanding Types of Child Custody in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, along with most other states, there are two types of child custody: 1) legal custody; 2) physical custody. Not all parents understand the difference between the two types of custody, and it can sometimes be confusing. When a parent has legal custody of a child, then the parent has the right to make…
Child Custody & Visitation Mediation
Child Custody & Visitation Mediation FAQ’s Do you wish there was a way to make getting a separation from your significant other or divorce from your spouse easier on your children? Mediation helps preserve and maintain whatever is left of the good part of your relationship by significantly reducing the tension of getting a divorce.…
Protecting Your Legal Rights When Cohabitating With Your Significant Other
Recent studies show that “shotgun weddings” are becoming less popular as cultural norms become more progressive. Rather than marrying due to a pregnancy, couples are moving in together, not marrying, and raising the child as a family. However, when a couple lives together out of wedlock, they are not afforded the same rights and benefits…
Get Divorced for $1500.00
One of the greatest benefits of mediation is the cost. Please read the below column from a mediation client of another firm. Our firm can get you divorced for $1500.00. COLUMN-How I got divorced for less than $1,500 in legal fees By Tim McLaughlin Jan 9 (Reuters) – When my wife and I decided to…
Weighing Divorce Options
What is the role of stock options in negotiating a divorce settlement? Far from being an academic question, the answer can actually determine the ownership of hundreds of thousands of dollars generated by the sale of appreciated stock acquired through company stock options. By specifying in the divorce settlement exactly how stock options will be…
How to Calculate Your Child Support
Under Massachusetts law, parents who are divorced or separated must continue to support their children. In Massachusetts, a parent’s child support obligation is calculated based upon the Child Support Guidelines. The Child Support Guidelines are a set of rules that dictate how to calculate a parent’s child support obligation, and what income must be included…
What You Should Know About Guardianship, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney
Adults who become incapable of caring for themselves, their property or their dependents may have a guardian appointed for them. However, guardianship can be avoided through the use of living wills and powers of attorney. In such circumstances, personal preferences can be respected without the need for court-appointed guardians. Living wills/healthcare proxies (“living wills”) and…
Change in Federal Regulations After DOMA is Partially Struck Down
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in United States v. Windsor, in which it reviewed, and ultimately struck down, Section 3 of DOMA. Section 3 of DOMA stated: ‘‘In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies…
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