Q: What is martial property? A: Massachusetts law has a very broad definition of marital property. It defines marital property as property owned by either or both spouses, whether acquired during the marriage, or prior to the marriage. This means that if property is in only one spouse’s name, or was bought before the marriage,…
Middlesex County
Protecting Your Credit in a Divorce
It is not uncommon for married couples to have joint accounts, including joint credit cards. However, once married couples are involved in a divorce, they must decide how to apportion the credit card debt. At that time, each spouse should be looking to protect their credit as much as possible. In Massachusetts, each spouse’s credit…
Good Tips for Co-Parenting After a Divorce or Breakup
When a couple divorces (or in the case where they were never married, breaks up), it can be difficult to get along after the breakup or divorce. However, when there are children involved, the couple has no choice but to stay in touch and try to get along after the divorce or break up. As…
FAQ’s About Massachusetts Divorce Law
With the national divorce rate close to 50%, many spouses have questions about divorce and the legal process of divorce. Divorce laws from state to state. Here is a summary of Massachusetts divorce law and frequently asked questions about this topic. Q: Is there a legal separation in Massachusetts? A: There is no formal “legal…
FINDING A GOOD DIVORCE LAWYER
Millions of men and women go through divorce proceedings every year and yet many give little thought to finding a lawyer that will best meet their needs. While a good lawyer will lead you through the divorce quagmire and hopefully get you the best possible results, the wrong lawyer can create more problems and add…
Collaborate or Mediate Your Divorce?
When considering friendlier alternatives to divorce litigation, you should understand the differences and similarities of the options available to you. Specifically, mediation and collaboration are two popular forms of alternative dispute resolution that might sound similar in theory but have different practical implications. You should choose according to a style that most caters to your…
Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act & Durational Limits
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…
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.…
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