Before you initiate a divorce in Massachusetts, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the state's rules and options for the process. Doing so could save you significant time and headache in the coming months. In many states, mediation is mandatory first step in the divorce process. I...
Property division is often a heated topic in a Massachusetts divorce. It involves separating all property and assets that you accumulated throughout your marriage. However, not all property is marital and some items may stay with you even after the divorce is finalized. Whether you want to divid...
Prenuptial agreements are often utilized to guard pre-marriage assets in case of divorce. They are also used to outline the handling of matters like student debt, incapacity and death. This type of legal document is often associated with those possessing great wealth, but according to Business I...
Past posts on this blog touched upon the fact that your divorce can have a dramatic impact on your retirement plan. As many of our clients here at the Law Offices of Sheara F. Friend can attest to, that impact goes beyond simply who you will spend your retirement years with. One element of your r...
Massachusetts parents like you often worry about how your child will handle the upcoming divorce. Unfortunately, this can lead to hesitation that might potentially make things even harder on your child. When it comes to telling your child about divorce, you may need to dive right in and do it. A...
Contrary to some states, child support in Massachusetts does not automatically end when your child turns 18. Massachusetts law provides that a parent may need to pay child support up until age 23 if the child remains dependent on the recipient, and a court may even order the obligor to help pay f...
If you have not worked during your marriage, you may have some concern about supporting yourself financially after your divorce. Fortunately, in addition to receiving an equitable share of the marital estate, you may be eligible for either short- or long-term spousal support. To advocate for what...
Choosing divorce mediation can help you to save time and money, but it also requires a different approach than if you were going through litigation. You will still need to prepare for entering mediation, but you will go into it with an attitude that focuses on cooperation and negotiation. Forbes ...
Massachusetts weighs a number of factors when deciding whether to award you alimony in a divorce case. Your age, your level of education and whether you made sacrifices so your spouse could succeed are often among them. If the state does decide to award you alimony, you may have questions about h...
When someone decides to get a divorce, they have many different issues to focus on, whether they have children and are worried about custody or they struggle with the divorce process in general. Many people decide to change their name after ending their marriage and there are various issues to co...
Many parents may rely on receiving their monthly child support. If the noncustodial parent stops making these payments, parents need to understand their options. There are a few different things people might try when their ex-spouse fails to pay child support. According to DivorcedMoms.com, pare...
People have many issues to consider while ending their marriage, but those with kids need to prioritize the best interests of their children and take steps to improve their lives, both temporarily and long-term. Studies show that certain challenges are present in the lives of many children when t...
Each state has specific rules that apply to property division for divorcing couples. Massachusetts calls for the equitable division of marital property, which means the spouses must fairly divide shared assets and debts. Before negotiating a divorce agreement in Massachusetts, learn more about ho...
Preparing for your future post-divorce in Massachusetts may appear daunting at first thought. The sooner you begin making preparations for living independently, the better off you will be. One area of your finances that will require extra attention is your retirement. Depending on the length of y...
Couples often benefit from working together during their divorce. Not only does this reduce tensions and minimize the emotional impact of the divorce process, but it often carries other advantages, such as saving time and money. However, the collaborative approach to divorce simply is not possibl...
After a divorce, parents have to follow a visitation schedule so they both have time with the kids. If one parent refuses to follow this schedule, the custodial parent needs to know what to do. Parents may have different kinds of visitation schedules depending on their situation. FindLaw says tha...
There is more than one way to have a divorce. While the most popular version is still a trial divorce, more and more divorcing couples are choosing alternate means of a legal split. The two most common alternative divorces are “mediated divorce” and “collaborative divorce.” While these varieties ...
Personal, financial and familial situations often change over time, and such changes may warrant a review of your existing Massachusetts child custody arrangement. The way you should move forward in this situation depends on whether you are alone in wanting to change the order or whether your chi...
Your divorce probably took a lot of effort and sacrifice get to the finalization stage. This is an important milestone that you can congratulate yourself on reaching. Unfortunately, however, it may not mean the end of the conflict with your ex-spouse. Sometimes, even after a lengthy process of ne...
A divorce is a big event that comes with many adjustments. In many cases, the financial adjustment is as challenging as the emotional adjustment. For many people, the divorce settlement does not completely clarify a person's financial situation, requiring a period of learning to live in a new nor...
Divorcing couples in Massachusetts already have a lot on your plate. The higher your joint assets are, the more complex your divorce is. Some people may get the idea that higher assets means things are easier to hide. In other words, they use it as an opportunity to lie about the assets they have...
In the midst of a divorce? You are not alone. Many women working their way through divorces have to navigate similar hurdles. If you are among them, you may be thinking about what steps you might take to give yourself a strong financial footing once your marriage officially ends. To do so, consid...
A divorce can easily develop into a lengthy and contentious legal process. When stress and volatile emotions combine, a courtroom face-off with a soon-to-be ex-spouse could become an overwhelming experience. Through mediation, however, a couple may dissolve their marriage and forgo a prolonged co...
If you are facing divorce, you are likely worried about what the future holds. So many aspects of your life can seem uncertain, especially your financial future. Even after dividing the marital assets, you may fear the divorce will leave you shortchanged. If you are financially dependent on your ...
Divorce requires some financial strategy, especially during asset division. But splitting a home can come with extra challenges. As couples can't usually own a home separately, typically, only one spouse gets to keep it. Judges consider many factors As Massachusetts is an equitable distribution s...
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