In September, 2011 the Massachusetts enacted into Law the Alimony Reform Act of 2011. This law changed completely the law of alimony in the state. It created presumptive maximum lengths of time for alimony to be received, guidelines to determine the amount of alimony,...
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Divorce
If I was married in Massachusetts can I get divorced in Massachusetts?
Same gender couples who were lawfully married in Massachusetts and have since moved to other states may find that they can't get divorced in the state where they reside. Their state of residence may define marriage as consisting of one man and one woman. As a result,...
Should a stay-at-home parent have a post-nuptial agreement?
A person who chooses to stay at home to raise children usually makes this decision after consultation with their spouse. The decision is made in furtherance of the partnership called a marriage. The stay-at-home parent assumes that the marriage will last until one of...
Once divorced – create a calendar
Getting divorced can be one of life's most stressful events. Once the divorce is ordered by a Judge, there is tendency to relax and start looking at life after divorce. It is a time to relax, reorganize activities, and to start ignoring the ex-spouse. Very few people...
Can you get a Massachusetts divorce on-line or over the internet?
Massachusetts does not allow on-line or internet divorces. Marriages are created by the granting of a license by the state and can only be terminated by state action. In divorces, the state is represented by a Judge of the Probate and Family Court who must hear...
My ex and I agree to change the terms of our divorce. Do we have to go to court?
Once a Massachusetts Court has made an order or judgment in a divorce or paternity case it is enforceable by all of the powers of the Court and State for enforcement of judgments. This means that any change must be approved by the Court. Of course minor changes in the...
Can I obtain an annulment?
Annulment, like divorce is a judicial declaration that a person is no longer married. The difference is that in a divorce, the court terminates the marriage, An annulment is a declaration that the marriage never existed. An annulment that is granted by a court is not...
Problems with trial separations
Many couples who experience problems in their relationships choose a trial separation in the hope of having some time off and then improving their marriage. It is my experience, as a divorce lawyer, that trial separations lead to divorce. When it comes to separations,...
How to gracefully exit a relationship
Because I am a divorce lawyer, I was asked to read and review a book entitled “How to Gracefully Exit a Relationship” by Frank Love. I reviewed the web site, http://franklove.net/, and agreed to read the book. To my surprise, I found the book gives great advise to...
Parent coordinators help parents avoid court
When parents separate or get divorced, they frequently have difficulty cooperating with the other parent. The hostility between the parents can make every decision concerning children a battle. Frequently, this inability to cooperate results in litigation as the only...