Divorce and Family Law Blog
Written by an experienced Divorce and Family Law Attorney with offices in Boston | Andover | Newburyport | Newton
Where Money Lie$: The High Cost of Financial Infidelity
It has been said that, in relationships, financial secrets are emotional ticking time bombs — they never stay buried for long….. Anecdotally, the uptick of financial infidelity that we, as family law practitioners, have increasingly seen in our law practice is borne...
Understanding Conservatorship: What You Need to Know
When a loved one becomes unable to manage their financial affairs due to age, illness, or disability, it can be a stressful and uncertain time. Conservatorship is one legal tool families can use to help protect the person’s financial interests and assets. What Is a...
Extraordinary authority: When is a guardianship not enough?
Even if a person has a guardian, certain decisions must be made by a judge, not the guardian. Collectively, these decisions are referred to as “extraordinary” authority. Those that we see most commonly are related to treatment with anti-psychotic medication (the...
Cavanagh v. Cavanagh 2025: Massachusetts Courts Re-Shaping Alimony and Child Support
Cavanagh 2025 Introduction: A Case that Keeps Changing the Rules Few family law cases in Massachusetts have had the sweeping effect of Cavanagh v. Cavanagh. What began as a routine post-divorce dispute over child support and alimony has now produced two landmark...
Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-25
Probate & Family Court Standing Order 3-25: A New Building Block in the Court's Effort To Fortify a Sturdy Foundation for the Administration of Justice As August begins, pro se litigants and attorneys should note "Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-25:...
SJC’s Jeevanandam Ruling Limits DOR’s Child Support Overpayment Powers
Having the Department of Revenue manage child support enforcement is a great benefit available under the law. That is, until a party overpays—and no child support flows in either direction between the parents, as here. In a May 2025 decision with broad implications...
Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Major Support Increases in High-Income Divorce Case
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...
Voluntary Acknowledgments and Legal Finality
Finality in Parentage: The Supreme Judicial Court Reaffirms Limits on Challenging Voluntary Acknowledgments of Paternity In a recent decision, A.D. v. K.S., SJC-13665 (April 24, 2025), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) addressed the critical question of...
Domestic Relations Reform: MA Courts Update
Modernizing the Rules: A Look at the Proposed Overhaul of Massachusetts Domestic Relations Procedure The Probate and Family Court is proposing major updates to the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure, and it's inviting public comment through June 30,...
De Facto Parents – Massachusetts Parentage Act
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...