The Trials of Virtual Court
As you may or may not be aware, the Courts have made some adjustments in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Imperfect as they may be, they are made in an effort to proceed with as much normalcy and efficiency as possible. Procedures vary from Court to Court, so if you have not received specific instructions […]
Divorce When Only One Partner Lives in Massachusetts
Many married couples live separately, even across state lines, for reasons which have nothing to do with the health of their marriage. However, when living across state lines from each other, couples may find their marriage at a crossroads and begin considering divorce. Perhaps distance has created serious problem in the relationship or laid bare […]
Get the Facts About Parental Rights, Paternity Testing, and Child Support
As far as the Massachusetts courts are concerned, both mothers and fathers have legal rights and obligations when it comes to children. However, a child born to unmarried parents doesn’t automatically have a legal father. The mother is given sole legal and physical custody until paternity is established. For married couples, the husband is presumed […]
Property Division, Retirement Assets and Divorce
In a divorce, there will be an equitable division of marital assets and marital debts. So, what constitutes a marital asset? Marital property is an all-encompassing term that covers anything that was acquired, or accrued value during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the account. Many people are surprised to find out that […]
Modifying Child Custody Agreements: For Safety’s Sake
Final Judgement, Not Final Word In awarding custody, the goal of a family court, above all, is the safety and wellbeing of the child or children involved. One of these factors is consistency, so courts will be hesitant to change what is called a “final” custody order. While it is possible for later modifications to […]
How to Protect Yourself if Falsely Accused of a Crime
Being wrongly accused of a crime is the last thing anyone wants to happen. Unfortunately, innocent people can be caught in the crossfire of circumstances, causing a witness or victim to misidentify suspects or lead police to think that an innocent suspect committed a crime. It’s important to know what steps to take if you […]
What are the Legal Consequences of Setting off Fireworks in Massachusetts?
During a recent press conference Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that calls for fireworks have gone up by 2300%. Firework complaints typically increase in the week before fourth of July; however, this statistic is unprecedented. According to Massachusetts State Law, it is illegal for citizens to use, possess, or sell fireworks, or to purchase them […]
What Are Your Rights When You Get Pulled Over?
If you are pulled over by an officer under the suspicion of driving under the influence, it is important to be aware of your rights. The officer may ask you a series of questions, which if answered, will be part of his report. You do not have to answer any of these questions, as you […]
Spousal Support and COVID-19
If you have been adversely affected by COVID-19, know that you have options when it comes to your support obligations. Alimony is always modifiable in the event that there has been a change of circumstance. This means that if your employment situation has changed, you may have the option to reduce your current payment. Any […]
Health Insurance and Divorce
When someone comes into our office at the start of the divorce process, we tell them that it is important to find out if they can stay on their spouse’s health insurance policy. Health insurance can become a contentious issue in a divorce, and it is important to know where you stand. If you are […]
Co-parenting in the Face of Coronavirus
Amid the spread of COVID-19, we are all facing unprecedented times. As this pandemic continues, regulations regarding safe practices change daily. One thing on the mind of parents sharing custody is whether or not their court order is enforceable. Rest assured, custody, visitation, and placement are in effect and continue to be enforceable during this […]
Parenting and COVID-19
Co-parenting through a divorce has never been easy, but this is an unprecedentedly difficult time. COVID-19 has changed the landscape of everything, so you may be questioning what this means for your parenting time. As of March 24th, Chief Justice Casey has stated that “Parenting orders are not stayed at this time.” This means that […]