Divorce is always a painful process. Splitting assets for its cash value is often a difficult end to a relationship that did not work out. Emotions run high, even in an amicable divorce. Being prepared is the best way to ensure both parties receive their fair share of the marital assets and debts. Listing shared properties of value, dividing properties with written evaluations by a neutral party and listing all goals for the divorce mediation
Divorce, while never easy, does not have to be an ordeal. For couples who wish to amicably end their marriages, there are a number of processes available that do not involve a combative mindset and are designed to minimize conflict in favor of compromise. One of the most common processes that aim for a more cooperative dissolution of a marriage is mediation. Mediation is the non-adversarial divorce process most familiar to the general public. In
What Happens When You Can’t Take It with You? As of 2020, up to 60% of Americans had not created a will. While it may seem like a hassle that can be put off for another day, tomorrow is never guaranteed, and the hassle of dying intestate (without a last testament) is far greater than investing in the peace of mind that a will brings. Without a will, everything and everyone that depends on you—real
Each year, thousands of couples get divorced. Many of these cases end up in court, where a complete stranger decides how assets will be divided and where the children will live. But each year, thousands of cases settle out of court. By avoiding trial, couples are able to keep attorney fees low, reduce conflict, and be more satisfied with the final outcome. While some couples have little disagreement and are able to come to an
Contempt is a tool used by Probate and Family Courts to enforce parties to comply with court orders. This gives the court power to enforce judgments provided during divorce and custody proceedings. Someone who violates or disobeys a court order risks being held in contempt by the court. This includes failing to pay alimony or child support or refusal to comply with a parenting schedule ordered by the court. There are two types of contempt,
Considering Real Estate When Estate Planning Real estate can be the key to financial independence for a lifetime. Through collecting rents and investing in your holdings, you may have built a good life for yourself, your family, and your other loved ones. But managing and maintaining properties is a time-consuming task. You know this. At a certain scale property management becomes a full-time job and incompatible with pursuing another career. If it becomes necessary to
How long has it been since you terminated your marriage? Have your circumstances changed since then? While your divorce may last forever, your divorce agreement can change over time. There are many reasons to consider modifying your divorce agreement. Some examples include: a significant change in income that will impact child support or alimony payments a job change requiring a move needs of aging children the remarriage of the party awarded the alimony Child Support
Divorce cases involving children often require a court decision regarding which parent should have physical and/or legal responsibility. Whether granted joint or sole custody, physical custody designates where the child will actually live. The parent who the child resides with most of the time is considered the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent may be required to provide for a child or children in the form of child support, which is paid to the custodial parent.
Divorce takes a toll emotionally, physically, and mentally on everyone involved. It’s not uncommon for individuals going through a divorce to want to curl up in bed all day and abandon all responsibilities. As tempting as this sounds, it’s not practical. In fact, doing so can even make things worse. The first step to landing on your feet after divorce is finding acceptance. Just because you’re making the right decision to split up with your
Child Support and Out-of-State Issues Whether one parent is living just over the Massachusetts border in New Hampshire but still commutes to Boston every day, or whether the one parent is living on the West Coast while the children live with the other on the South Shore, issues of state jurisdiction may come into play when seeking to modify a Massachusetts child support agreement. Changing Circumstances, Modifying Orders In Massachusetts, child support is governed either
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