Guardianship versus Adoption

Caregiver, guardian and adoptive parent are terms in the lexicon describing adults who oversee the welfare of minor children. Each status, however, imparts different levels of responsibility for the minor’s well-being and varying degrees of court involvement. The...

Termination of Permanent Restraining Orders

At what point is it possible to terminate a permanent abuse prevention order issued pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws chapter 209A? What qualifies as a significant change of circumstances for termination? The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently addressed these...

Victory in a New Online Harassment Case

In a recent case, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court addressed the issue of a civil harassment prevention order. A high school student uploaded to social media a rap song, in which he made threats against fellow students. The Background The parties in the case,...