Massachusetts Divorce and Family Law Blog
Divorce & Family Law Answers from Experienced Attorneys
Guardianship vs. Adoption vs. Custody in Massachusetts
Key Takeaways Guardianship, custody, and adoption serve different legal purposes. Although all three involve caring for a child, they create very different legal relationships. Understanding those differences is essential before deciding which legal option is...
College Contribution in Divorce in Massachusetts
Key Takeaways Massachusetts Courts May Order Parents to Contribute to College Expenses. Under G.L. c. 208, § 28, the Probate and Family Court may require one or both parents to help pay a child's college expenses. Unlike child support, however, college contribution is...
How Long Does a Divorce Take in Massachusetts?
Key Takeaways Every Divorce Is Different – There is no single timeline for a Massachusetts divorce. Some uncontested divorces conclude in a matter of months, while highly contested cases may take a year or more. Uncontested Divorces Usually Move Faster – When spouses...
Preparing for Cross Examination in a Massachusetts Family Law Case
Key Takeaways Cross examination is usually about credibility. Most Massachusetts family law trials do not turn on dramatic admissions. More often, cross-examination focuses on credibility, consistency, bias, and whether a witness's testimony deserves trust. The...
Introducing Evidence in Massachusetts Family Law Cases
Key Takeaways Evidence Must Be Admissible. Evidence does not become admissible simply because it is important or relevant to your case. The evidence must satisfy the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence and any other applicable legal requirements before the judge may...
What are the Risks of a Quiet Divorce in Massachusetts?
Key Takeaways A "quiet divorce" is not a legal divorce. The parties remain legally married in Massachusetts despite emotionally and even physically separating. Assets and debts continue to grow or shrink. In Massachusetts, new property, retirement contributions, and...
Massachusetts Appeals Court Clarifies Important Rules for Alimony Modifications in Popp v. Popp
Key Takeaways Popp mainly affects older alimony judgments. The Appeals Court’s analysis is especially important for divorces entered before the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act took effect. Marital lifestyle still matters in some modification cases. When a court...
Gray Divorce in Massachusetts
Gray Divorce in Massachusetts: The Unique Challenges of Later in Life Divorce Divorce is never easy, but divorce later in life often presents challenges that look very different from those faced by younger couples. A divorce involving parties in their sixties,...
100 Questions You May Be Asked During Direct Examination at Your Massachusetts Divorce Trial and How Not to Answer Them
Testifying in a Massachusetts divorce or family law case is difficult for almost anyone. Even calm, intelligent, successful people often become nervous once they are sworn in under oath and asked to testify in open court. Many people assume the hardest part is...
2026 Massachusetts Equitable Distribution Law: Williams v. Massa in 2026
Williams v. Massa: The Massachusetts Case That Defines Modern Equitable Distribution One of the most important Massachusetts divorce cases on equitable distribution is Williams v. Massa, 431 Mass. 619 (2000). Probate and Family Court judges and family law attorneys...