Automatic Restraining Order in a Divorce Case

An automatic restraining order is a court order that issues as a matter of course in every Massachusetts divorce or separate support case. Unlike the commonly understood meaning of a restraining order, an automatic restraining order does not have anything to do with...

Role of a Lawyer and Agencies in an Adoption

Regarding adoption, Massachusetts is an “agency state.” Accordingly, only the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) or a Massachusetts-licensed agency may locate or place a child for adoption. Massachusetts specifically prohibits private...