When people start thinking about divorce in Massachusetts, one of the first financial questions that comes up is deceptively simple: “What happens to inheritance?” It’s a fair question, and often a deeply personal one. Inherited assets are rarely just financial. They...
When people start thinking about divorce, they often focus on the obvious assets—the house, the bank accounts, maybe a retirement account they can log into and see a balance. But one of the most valuable, and most misunderstood, assets in many New Hampshire divorces...
On October 14, 2025, the Appeals Court in Karim Suwwan De Felipe vs. Leila El-Youssef Suwwan, 106 Mass.App.Ct. 158, considered anew issues that have long confounded courts and family law practitioners, wrestling with complex equity compensation in private companies....
A new Massachusetts Appeals Court case, Michael A. Trethewey v. Rosalia F. Trethewey, highlights the risk of “double dipping” in divorce matters involving marital asset division and alimony (or other support) orders. In Trethewey, the probate and family judge treated...
The valuation date for marital property can be a significant issue in a divorce because asset value is rarely static. Oftentimes, property appreciates after the separation or divorce process has commenced and before the divorce is final. When there are larger assets,...
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently decided Rabinowitz v. Schenkman, a case with shocking facts. The parties in Rabinowitz, former spouses, executed a separation agreement, which a probate and family court judge approved and incorporated into a 2014 amended...
The valuation of real estate and other assets is an issue that arises in divorce--and it's often a contentious one. In a divorce, the Probate and Family Court judge needs a complete picture of the parties' assets and the assets' value to determine an equitable...
A prenuptial agreement can eliminate much of the guesswork from the divorce process and save divorcing spouses time and money. Also known as an "antenuptial agreement" or a "prenup," it is a written contract engaged couples sign prior to marriage that clearly outlines...
Financial security in retirement takes years of planning and saving. Married couples may do this retirement planning together. Perhaps each spouse has their own retirement account or pension. Or maybe one spouse is a stay-at-home parent or cannot work. So, the couple...
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,...