In a recent decision, Adoption of Ulrich, the Massachusetts Appeals Court addressed the termination of parental rights of a mother of five children, along with the mother’s entitlement to effective assistance of counsel. Background: The mother in this case had a...
In Massachusetts, when a parent separates their partner, they may not agree about how they will handle the various circumstances that arise when raising their child. Because of this, either party (or both) parties may ask a Massachusetts judge to write an order asking...
Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, a burning question exists: how does use of marijuana affect custody issues? If one spouse uses marijuana during a divorce, for example, how does the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court determine child...
When it comes to emancipation of children for purposes of child support, does joining the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in college equate to joining the Armed Forces? The Massachusetts Appeals Court addressed this issue in a recent decision. Background...
Massachusetts generally recognizes marriages and divorces between LGBTQ-identified persons, but the issues that may occur for LGBTQ-identified people are as unique and nuanced as people themselves. Note that there is not a separate or different process for separation...
Warning: This post includes reference to domestic abuse and may trigger strong emotions in you. If you are in an emergency situation, please do not hesitate to contact local authorities. Very little is more precious to most people than their loved ones. Our family and...
Today, society embraces blended families. Heartwarming stories about adoption and the wonderful gift of having a child abound. Often, a new marriage following a divorce brings children into the equation. If you are a new step-parent, you may be interested in the...
When embroiled in a divorce, children play an important factor in many decisions such as child custody and child support. As these issues can greatly impact a family, our family law attorneys educate parents and soon-to-be-divorcees on how the court views these...
Many natural born citizens in the United States take for granted the ease of navigating the legal system as a US citizen. This assertion is especially true in comparison to the ease of navigating the legal system for non-naturalized citizens. Many citizens do not...
Consider the following hypotheticals involving parents, children, and the lifestyle of the parents: 1. A Massachusetts judge must decide whether a parent with a history of drug addiction should have custody over the parent’s two children. 2. One parent,...