"Spousal disinheritance” refers to a person's ability to draft a will which leaves nothing to the spouse upon death. Massachusetts does not completely recognize this doctrine. That is to say, a person cannot entirely disinherit his or her spouse, whether by design or...
Marital property is often at the center of contention in a divorce case. Among the many types of property that may be considered part of the marital estate are retirement accounts and pension plans, business assets, and inheritance assets—and these assets are often...
Divorce can inevitably become a very stressful period in a person’s life. As emotions run high and become all-consuming, many parties do not realize that financial mistakes can be made during a divorce. This article will discuss some of the financial errors your...
When a family is experiencing an emergency, few things could be worse than being unable to stay in the comfort of one’s own home. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many families. Just recently, the Merrimack Valley experienced devastating gas explosions which...
As divorce attorneys, we often see litigation and settlement questions regarding individual retirement accounts (IRAs). A pension plan, IRA, or other type of account is considered marital property for purposes of distribution during a divorce. New questions may arise,...
Increasingly in our global society, legal issues of an international scope arise in family law cases. A recent appellate case dealt with one. In Ravasizadeh v. Niakosari, the Massachusetts Appeals Court decided for the first time an issue regarding enforceability of a...
If you are beginning the divorce process, there are many questions you may have for your divorce attorney regarding your finances. You many find yourself in a situation where you could be paying your former spouse alimony. Or, you could be the individual receiving...
As many studies have shown, couples in which one spouse is an entrepreneur have a high rate of divorce. Whether it’s because the business encompasses much of entrepreneurs' time or because the non-entrepreneur spouse feels neglected, divorce is common. While divorce...
Robert and Mary, a Massachusetts couple, have been married for ten years. They now seek a divorce. During the marriage, Robert worked and Mary took care of the home. They had no children. Since Robert has a pension plan, the question arises: How does a court address...
In what ways might a part-time job or second job affect alimony or child support payments? Change in circumstances: Under Massachusetts divorce law, a spousal support award is not set in stone. Rather, one may alter it by a petition for modification to the court...