Divorce and Family Law Blog
Divorce & Family Law Information, Answers, and Analysis from Experienced Massachusetts and New Hampshire Divorce & Family Law Attorneys
Primary Caretakers and Custody Issues
Nancy and Nick are married. However, they are living separately. She lives in the marital home with the couple’s daughter, Nicole, who is nine years old. Nancy has been Nicole’s primary caretaker since Nicole was born. Nancy believes she is automatically entitled to...
“Station in Life” In Dividing Marital Property
Audra and Adam, married for fifteen years. In that time, Audra has supported Adam while he finished medical school, underwent a medical residency, and established his practice. Audra also took care of the couple’s children. The couple enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle...
Does “Common Law Marriage” Exist in Massachusetts?
Understanding Common Law Marriage in the U.S. You may have heard the term "common law marriage." It refers to a relationship where two adults cohabit long enough to be legally recognized as married. The U.S. Supreme Court held as early as 1877 that a such a marriage...
What are Void and Voidable Marriages?
A wedding may be the happiest day of one’s life; however, in some cases, the wedding day might not lead to a valid marriage. In fact, some marriages are voidable. Moreover, They can be annulled under certain circumstances. According to the courts' well-established...
Age Relevance in Divorce Property Division
Ellen and Earl have been married for over 20 years. Their age is a key factor in the divorce. During the marriage, Earl worked full-time as an engineer, while Ellen stayed home to care for the parties’ two children. Ellen finished high school. Once the kids learned to...
Tips for Co-Parenting During the Holidays
What’s better than being with your kids during the holiday season? Likely, you answered “nothing.” Co-parenting during the holidays with a former partner can be stressful. This time of year often increases challenges in sharing parenting time and responsibilities. To...
Sharing Custody Across Different Towns
Murray and Monique divorced a few years ago and share custody of their two minor children. The kids stay with Murray most days in one town and attend a well-reviewed school nearby. Monique lives in a different town, just five minutes away, and has generous visitation....
Pets and Divorce: Property or Something More?
There is a long line of case law that has established pets as personal property. Courts have ruled that pets are personal property in various cases. These include cases involving pet loss in accidents. Other cases involve pets potentially “inheriting” their owner’s...
Postnuptial Agreement Effectiveness
Sandra and Steve separated two years ago. Recently, they reconciled. Steve is happy to have returned to the marital home and reconnect with Sandra. However, he feels concerned. What if they separate again? Is there a way for Steve to protect his assets in case of...
Deviating from the Child Support Guidelines
The Massachusetts Uniform Child Support Guidelines determine the amount of child support in most cases. Massachusetts has well-established guidelines. They do not tolerate deviation from these guidelines, and the payor must justify any change. How much deviation...