Not all couples who marry and have children end up living their lives together until death parts them. Rather, a number of Massachusetts families undergo transitions from shared households into separate households as the parents go through divorces and bring their...
What is temporary guardianship?
A guardian is a person who is responsible for taking care of a person who cannot take care of themselves. In Massachusetts the courts can appoint guardians for adults who are incapacitated or otherwise unable to make decisions to support their wellbeing. They can also...
Who will care for your child if you are unable to do so?
Massachusetts parents would often do anything for their children to ensure that the youths are well provided for, happy, healthy, educated and thriving. Parents are willing to make incredible sacrifices for their kids to provide them with the opportunities that the...
Child support issues go beyond receiving a child support order
The separation of unmarried parents or the divorce of married parents can create a great deal of uncertainty in the life of a Springfield child. Though many parents who choose to end their relationships take steps to protect their kids from the emotional challenges of...
Why might a child be appointed a legal guardian?
When it comes to making important decisions about children's lives their parents often fill the role of judgment makers. Parents in Springfield regularly make choices about how to have their children treated for medical conditions, how they will have them educated and...
What can be included in child support?
When Massachusetts residents think of costs associated with child support, often the first things that come to mind are necessities, such as food, clothing and shelter. But, to sustain a healthy and happy upbringing, we all know that there are far more items,...
Why does Massachusetts use child support ‘guidelines’?
Every state in the country has some legal mechanism to help ensure that a child is supported financially when their parents divorce or separate. Because most states have adopted a uniform set of federal child support laws, many of those systems are similar, though not...
What conditions can be placed on visitation in Massachusetts?
This blog has dealt with several types of custody issues that people in Massachusetts might encounter. We've previously discussed some of the basics of the best interests of the child standard applied by family courts in the state, and the general types of custody,...
What are ‘weekly expenses’ in a Massachusetts divorce?
Previously on this blog, we talked about the fact that those Massachusetts residents filing for divorce will have to complete a financial statement and submit it to the court. The purpose behind this is to allow the court to determine the financial situations of both...
Massachusetts guardianship of a minor hearings
A few weeks ago, this blog covered some of the very basics of beginning the process of becoming a legal guardian for a child. An adult may do this if, for some reason, the child's parents are not capable of taking care of him or her, due to illness, incarceration, or...
