Our Massachusetts millennials, or "Generation Next," have been studied and characterized by the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trust surveys as, "Confident. Connected. Open to Change." This group of 18 to 29-year-old young adults is very different compared to their...
A Brighter Future Is Within Your Reach
Year: 2012
Post-divorce: financial tips for women
Despite Title IX and the recent gold medals for women at the Olympics, there is significant data that shows women are not on the same level as men in some areas of life. One of those areas is financial averages and net worth after divorce. There are three disturbing...
Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling on civil unions
Our Massachusetts readers are no doubt aware that same-sex marriage has been legal here following a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 2003. It seems the court is breaking ground again. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a civil...
Divorce: How to handle life insurance issues
When someone in Massachusetts is working through a divorce, the most difficult issues tend to be those that concern either money or the children. However, there is another issue that seems like it could be a simple one, but it is one which touches on both division of...
Are you prepared for the impact of divorce on career?
Our Massachusetts readers will probably agree that divorce, no matter how friendly, can be a difficult transition. It can be made less difficult with the assistance of legal and other professionals who can help navigate the stormy seas and watch out for dangerous...
Divorce lessons from Cruise and Holmes
In Massachusetts and elsewhere, we do not always look to celebrities as our role models. However, the recent news of a divorce settlement agreement between Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise seems to indicate that they, and their attorneys, did something that we all could...
Couple gains dubious rights to being first lesbian divorce
In 1934 "The Gay Divorcee" starred Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. In 2012 it is starring two 29-year-old women who married in New York and now have the dubious honor of being that state's first lesbian divorce. One of the women said, "I do very much feel like the...
Property division complicated when business goes under
When a married couple is seeking to divorce, one of the major decisions to be made is how to split the property. In Massachusetts, like in most other states, the assets and debts accumulated during the married years are generally divided in an equitable fashion....
Post-divorce child custody dispute lands Cape couple in court
The courts in Massachusetts maintain that they make child custody determinations in the best interest of the child or children. A recent case has put that assertion into the spotlight. A mother is once again in probate court seeking to deny child custody to her...
Who gets custody of the family business?
Is there anyone in Massachusetts who enters into a marriage thinking he or she will end up divorced? We can safely say the answer is -- not many. And is there anyone who starts a business with their spouse who drafts an exit strategy along with the incorporation...