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 other circumstances. We discussed who can file a petition for guardianship, and the fact that certain people, such as the child's parents or other relatives, will need to be served notice of the time and date the court sets for a hearing. But, what will generally happen at such a hearing?
Massachusetts parenting plans for special needs children
The emotional toll a divorce can take on both partners in a relationship is hard to overstate. The dividing of a household, the untangling of finances and debts, and the realization that one may not have someone else to depend upon all the time can create a lot of anxiety. This is often further exacerbated when children are involved, as then there will also be questions of where the kids will live, and who will be making the important decisions about their lives.
Does Massachusetts child support automatically end at 18?
Most parents in Massachusetts can tell you that taking care of a child is a life-long commitment. While, for most purposes, society treats people as adults when they turn 18-years-old, this does not always mean they can be completely independent at that point. This may be especially true in coming years as educational expectations continue to climb and undergraduate degrees become more and more expensive. When parents have ended their relationship with each other prior to a child's 18th birthday, there may be questions with regard to whether a non-custodial parent is to continue ordered child support payments once the child turns 18.
