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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ("SJC") recently decided Cavanagh v. Cavanagh (2022). This decision has major implications for alimony and child support orders, adding more complexity for judges, attorneys, and parties. The SJC in Cavanagh made multiple...
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,...
Hiding assets is a hot topic in divorce. In Massachusetts, one of the court's goals in a divorce is to divide assets fairly--though not necessarily equally--between the parties. This is done through a process known as equitable distribution. The court also aims to...
An automatic restraining order is a court order that issues as a matter of course in every Massachusetts divorce or separate support case. Unlike the commonly understood meaning of a restraining order, an automatic restraining order does not have anything to do with...
In Massachusetts, new child support guidelines went into effect on October 4, 2021. Click here to tune in as our attorney team discusses some of the biggest and more interesting changes to the 2021 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. Or, read the abbreviated...
Can my former spouse / co-parent force me to get a COVID vaccine for our minor child? As the COVID vaccine becomes available for younger children, many are asking this question. The short answer is that it's possible. Judges may make orders and judgments covering a...
Regarding adoption, Massachusetts is an "agency state." Accordingly, only the Department of Children and Families ("DCF") or a Massachusetts-licensed agency may locate or place a child for adoption. Massachusetts specifically prohibits private adoptions. Private...
If a judge agrees to reduce a party's existing alimony obligation, does that reduction automatically go into effect once the judgment issues? Or, can the judge delay the reduction's effective date? A recent Massachusetts Appeals Court case, Dolan v. Dolan, answers...
The divorce process is full of confusing legal jargon. To provide some clarity, we give a general overview of common divorce terms below. These divorce terms are organized under three categories: children; finances and property; and, legal procedure. Common...
A divorce can be emotionally challenging. For partners who entered a marriage with excitement for their future together, coming to terms with a new reality, separate from the other spouse, can be difficult. When the spouses have children together, however, the...