If you are going through a divorce in Massachusetts and you want to change your name, you have three different options on changing your name. Here are some things you need to know about changing your name after a divorce in this state. Option 1: Resuming a former name...
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Can divorce ruin your credit score?
Can divorce ruin your credit score? This is a common question that many people have when they are going through a divorce or considering one. The answer is not so simple, because divorce itself does not directly affect your credit score, but it can have indirect...
Books to help children cope with divorce.
When parents separate and get divorced their children have great difficulty coping with the changes in their lives. Parents seldom explain reasons for the divorce in an honest and complete manner. Children usually lack the ability to understand the reasons for the...
If you post it on social media it can be used as evidence against you
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by the police. This is generally interpreted to mean that police cannot search an area in which a person has a reasonable expectation privacy without a warranty or an exigency....
October is national bullying prevention month
National Bullying Prevention Month is an annual campaign to unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Bullying can occur at any age and among any group in society. Children are the usual victims of bullying. If bullying...
Can an out of state divorce decree be modified by a Massachusetts Courts?
In a recent case, Cohen v. Cohen, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Massachusetts had no jurisdiction to modify a California divorce decree to order college expenses and child support. This case is easily misunderstood as the decision is limited to a...
My spouse is cohabiting. Can I stop alimony payments?
In 2012, a new alimony law went into effect in Massachusetts. This alimony law contains a provision that reads: General term alimony shall be suspended, reduced or terminated upon the cohabitation of the recipient spouse when the payor shows that the recipient spouse...
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,...
Security Deposit Law—Landlords Beware!
The Massachusetts Security Deposit law, G.L. c. 186, § 15B, states that a landlord cannot require a tenant to pay any money at the inception of a tenancy except (i) rent for the first full month of occupancy; (ii) rent for the last full month of occupancy calculated...
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...
