Divorce and Family Law Blog
Divorce & Family Law Information, Answers, and Analysis from Experienced Massachusetts and New Hampshire Divorce & Family Law Attorneys
Acknowledgment of Paternity: How Does It Work?
Larry and Lakshmi are the parents of Tom, a child who was born out of wedlock. Larry wants to acknowledge that he is Tom’s father. What steps does Larry need to take to acknowledge paternity in Massachusetts? The most common method to establish parentage is voluntary...
Criminal Penalties for Abandonment
Criminal abandonment charges apply when someone intentionally or negligently refuses to care for an immediate family member. This includes a spouse, child, or parent. Several Massachusetts statutes address criminal abandonment and the legal consequences tied to this...
Start of Durational Alimony
The court will order alimony payments for a specific duration. This period defines how long the payments will continue. What is the starting point for durational alimony payments when awarded years after a divorce decree? Does the durational period begin to run at the...
Exchanging Financial Information During a Divorce
Olivia and Oscar are going through a contentious divorce in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. They are facing issues exchanging financial information. Oscar is a partner in an accounting firm which is local and privately held. Olivia’s attorney requested...
Attorney Fees from During a Divorce
Nina and Noah are undergoing a divorce in the Massachusetts Probate Court. To Noah’s belief, Nina has unnecessarily filed many motions, documents, and other things which lengthened the parties’ case. As a result, Noah has incurred additional attorneys’ fees, which...
Keeping Children from Third Parties
Leila and Liam divorced. They share physical custody of their two children. Liam has a new girlfriend who has moved in with him. Leila disapproves of their living arrangements, which she claims are against her moral beliefs. She wants to know whether she can prevent...
Pretrial Conferences in Divorce Cases
Anyone undergoing a divorce in Massachusetts likely has heard the term “pretrial conference.” The Standing Orders of the Probate and Family Court require a pretrial conference in all divorce cases. Rule 16 of the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure...
Who May Solemnize a Massachusetts Marriage?
Heidy and Hugh, both Massachusetts residents, are getting married in Boston. They are trying to determine who can solemnize their marriage in Massachusetts as they plan their big day. Heidy’s brother, who is an ordained minister in New York, would like to perform the...
Unvested Stock Options: What Constitutes “Double-Dipping?”
Can alimony calculations include a spouse’s unvested stock options, even if they weren’t considered marital property in equitable distribution? The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently answered this question. In Ludwig v. Lamee-Ludwig, the Court said yes. [1]...
Custody and the Religion of the Parents
Alba and Andrew recently divorced after ten years of marriage. They ended their decade-long relationship. They have one child, Andy, and per the divorce decree, the share physical and legal custody. Alba is growing concerned. Andrew recently joined a religious order...