When noncustodial parents in Massachusetts neglect to pay child support, they may not realize that their children are the ones who are most affected. A custodial parent who has to make ends meet without court-ordered child support may experience constant anxiety....
A Brighter Future Is Within Your Reach
Year: 2014
Massachusetts alimony reform causes some confusion
Alimony laws in Massachusetts were revised, and in 2012, a reformed alimony law became effective. This provided the basis for alimony calculations, along with determining when alimony should end. Alimony reform states that alimony payments will cease when the...
Child-caring grandparents may want to legalize child custody
When parents leave their children in the care of their grandparents for extended periods, they have the right to take them away whenever they wish. This may be devastating for grandparents, but according to Massachusetts law, they have no right to refuse the parents....
What should same-sex spouses consider when starting a family?
While the legal wheels related to lesbian and gay equality are slowly turning, many same-sex couples in Massachusetts wish to start a family by ways of conception rather than adoption. In addition to adopting the child of another couple, same-sex spouses have...
Parenting plans can ensure continued parent-child relationships
Massachusetts parents who are considering divorce may experience anxiety over the drafting of parenting plans. It is not uncommon for parents to wonder whether both parents will make joint decisions, or whether one parent will have the authority to make a...
Alimony in Massachusetts divorce has many aspects to consider
It is not uncommon for couples who are considering divorce to have little or no knowledge of matters such as spousal support. If it is their first divorce, couples may have only the experiences of friends and family by which to go. However, the circumstances of every...
A divorce agreement may impact the remainder of your life
Couples that get married are naturally very much in love, and most expect to live happily ever after. However, many marriages fail to stand the test of modern times, and couples decide to get divorced and go their separate ways. While some Massachusetts couples manage...
May my ex-spouse pay alimony in a lump sum rather than monthly?
Residents of Massachusetts who depend on alimony payments for survival may suffer anxiety because they are not always sure whether they will receive their monthly alimony payments. If your ex-spouse has the means to settle the alimony in a lump sum, it may benefit...
Divorce mediation may serve you well — even post-divorce
Many Massachusetts couples manage to go through divorce, property division and child support in an amicable manner. However, many other couples would like to avoid litigation, but, due to a break-down in communication, they find it impossible to reach agreements that...
Nonpayment of child support punishes children not ex-spouses
Most Massachusetts parents remain involved in the lives of their children, even after divorce. It is, however, unfortunate that some parents feel wronged if they don’t receive child custody, and they may use child support as a weapon of vengeance. They may be so...