Nondisparagement Order and Free Speech

A recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case discusses an important issue at the intersection of family law and the First Amendment — a nondisparagement order. In custody cases, can a court issue an order that compels the parents not to disparage each...

Durational Limits for Alimony

In recent years, litigants have tested the new Massachusetts alimony laws in the state’s appellate courts numerous times. One of the most highly contested issues deals with the durational limits for alimony. With the Alimony Reform Act of 2011 came the implementation...

DCF Family Reunification Efforts: New Case Law

In a recent case, Adoption of West, the Massachusetts Appeals Court addressed an important issue regarding the termination of parental rights: when and how a parent may assert a claim that the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) failed to make...

Grandparent’s Guardianship Petition

A recent Massachusetts appellate case discusses a grandparent’s guardianship petition. In this case, a grandmother sought guardianship of her two minor grandchildren. The Appeals Court had to review whether it could offer any relief in this case. Here, the...