The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is not a 50/50 state. When a court is needed to rule on the allocation of assets, they are not necessarily divided equally between the two parties. While some states mandate a 50/50 split, Massachusetts is an equitable division state. Commonwealth laws dictate that the courts can decide on a fair […]
To be eligible to be an adoptive parent in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the law states you must be at least 18 years old, and you or the child must be a resident of Massachusetts. In most cases, any married couple or single adult is eligible to adopt. If married, both spouses join together in […]
While marriage laws are based on where the parties are at the time of marriage, divorce is based on where the parties live at the time of divorce. The answer to this question depends on how long you’ve resided outside of Massachusetts. While most states require you to be a resident before you may file […]
In the state of Massachusetts, a court granted annulment means your marriage never legally happened. Each state’s legislative code sets specific guidelines for what constitutes an annullable marriage. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t annul a marriage based on a short duration. Massachusetts outlines seven specific grounds for annulment. In Massachusetts, annulments require your marriage […]
A judge will be unlikely to respond to the argument “My ex is a bad influence” or “My ex doesn’t know what is best for the children.” Judges hear these arguments all day, every day, during acrimonious divorce proceedings. What a parent needs to prove the former partner is not a fit parent is plenty […]
You and your fiancé would be wise to consider a prenuptial agreement, or “prenup” as it has come to be known. In fact, most, if not all, couples would benefit from a prenuptial agreement. Objections to getting a prenuptial agreement usually come in one of two categories. The first kind asserts that there is no […]
There are many reasons why couples or sometimes just one spouse decides that the marriage is over and files for divorce. Certainly money or the lack thereof is often THE contributing factor to marital discord. Finances play a big part in any divorce. In Massachusetts, once divorce papers are filed by both spouses or just […]
When you’re going through the divorce process and managing the child support and custody issues, you’ll hear the term “best interests of the child.” Generally, the court will consider the new family lifestyle after a divorce and where the court feels the child will best be able to adapt to the new changes. It is […]
Did you know that as a divorced spouse you may be entitled to collect both spousal (your ex is living) benefits and survivor (your ex is deceased) retirement benefits on your ex-partner’s employment record. This is true regardless of whether your ex has remarried. This can be especially beneficial if you were the lower earning […]
When you think about your wedding day, many of us remember the planning it took to make the day perfect. For some, the marriage has not been so perfect and perhaps you and your spouse are contemplating divorce. Just like any event, to be successful you need to plan for the event. Divorce is no […]
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