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When Wealth and Parenting Collide: The Appeals Court Upholds Major Support Increases in Smith v. Smith In a recent and instructive decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a Probate and Family Court judge’s order substantially increasing both alimony and...
As of January 1, 2025, the updated Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) brings crucial legal protections for children and families. The law now ensures that all children, regardless of their family's formation, receive equal treatment. Since the original enactment of...
We've encountered this issue repeatedly. A parent seeks a 209A restraining order in the District Court. Notice is given to the alleged abuser that the District Court will hold a restraining order hearing. At that hearing, the parent seeking the order asks for child...
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently decided Duval v. Duval. This case deals with the modification of an unallocated support order. While a court may order alimony to support a former spouse and order child support for the care of the parties' children,...
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ("SJC") recently decided Cavanagh v. Cavanagh (2022). This decision has major implications for alimony and child support orders, adding more complexity for judges, attorneys, and parties. The SJC in Cavanagh made multiple...
In a previous blog post, we discussed how a spouse may hide assets and income in a divorce. If you believe your spouse is hiding assets and/or income in your divorce, there are ways you, an experienced divorce attorney, or an expert can investigate. In this article,...
Hiding assets is a hot topic in divorce. In Massachusetts, one of the court's goals in a divorce is to divide assets fairly--though not necessarily equally--between the parties. This is done through a process known as equitable distribution. The court also aims to...
In Massachusetts, new child support guidelines went into effect on October 4, 2021. Click here to tune in as our attorney team discusses some of the biggest and more interesting changes to the 2021 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. Or, read the abbreviated...
In a new case, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court addresses the important constitutional safeguards a defendant must receive in a child support contempt matter. Case Facts The parties in the case, Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement v....
The ramifications of violating a temporary or permanent child custody order are significant. This post addresses conduct that subjects a parent to a contempt finding by a Probate and Family Court. Additionally, penalties and remedies for defying custody orders are...