There can be many reasons for couples to get divorced. However, four behaviors stand out as causing divorce: Abuse, Addiction, Adultery, and Abstention. Physical abuse constitutes the crime of assault and battery. This behavior can be highly destructive. While many...
Photo of Alan J. Pransky
Experienced Legal Service
for Dedham and the Greater Boston Area
Family Law, Real Estate and Probate Attorney
Divorce
What does it take for a party to get 90% of the assets in a divorce?
Property division in a divorce is controlled by G.L. c. 208, §34 which lists the factors for a judge to consider when making a decision about property division. Usually, the judge makes a division somewhere between a 50-50 split and a 60-40 split. Sometimes, the judge...
Bullying In A Divorce
There has been much discussion in Massachusetts lately about bullying in schools. However, bullying is not limited to that arena. Bullying occurs everywhere in society including marriages and divorce. However, in a divorce, bullying can be particularly...
Do-it-yourself divorce kits
There are advertisements for legal services such as do-it-yourself kits for divorce, wills, powers of attorney, bankruptcy, etc. These kits are usually sold by non-lawyers. People should not use these kits or services of this nature. Decisions in legal matters of this...
Health insurance for ex-spouse
Massachusetts has universal health insurance. In a divorce, this means that the judge will look for ways to provide health insurance for the entire family at the lowest cost. If there are children of the marriage, the likely result is a family health insurance policy...
Can a parent move with children to another part of Masschusetts?
If a party seeks permission from a judge to move to another part of Massachusetts, a Judge will consider the request under the same standards that apply to removal out of Massachusetts. The Court can prevent the move "where the relocation would evidently involve...
Upon remarriage, do you still have to cover the ex-spouse on health insurance?
The obligation to provide health insurance to an ex-spouse is spelled out in the divorce decree. If the decree incorporates a separation agreement, the separation agreement will describe the obligation. The problem is that a family plan which will cover an ex-spouse...
Beware of travel agents selling divorces
Every now and then I find an advertisement for a $99.00 divorce. Sometimes it’s an ad for a twenty-four hour divorce. While these sound great, they won’t get you divorced. These ads offer divorces in foreign countries like Caribbean islands. They will get you a...
When does a child get to choose which parent they will live with?
A common misconception in Massachusetts is that children can decide custody at age 14. This leads parents to try to influence or bribe the child to gain an advantage in a divorce. Legally, a child can decide which parent will get custody at age 18 when the child is an...
What is a successful divorce?
A successful divorce means different things to different people. To some people, it means that they beat the system and hid assets so they received more assets in the property division. To others, it means that they made their spouse suffer during the divorce...
