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,...
Benefits should be considered in special-needs divorce planning
This blog has previously discussed the fact that parents of special-needs children may have to do more planning and negotiation than other parents, when they get divorced or separate. Putting together a shared child custody implementation plan in Massachusetts was...
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...
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...
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...
‘Shared custody implementation plans’ in Massachusetts
This blog has previously mentioned the difference between types of child custody under Massachusetts family law. There are two important distinctions to remember in custody cases: that between physical and legal custody, and between shared and sole custody. Physical...
What is a ‘financial statement’ in a Massachusetts divorce
When a couple in Massachusetts decides to dissolve their marriage, there are many issues to be considered. Because it can be an especially emotional and stressful time, parties to a divorce may feel like putting off certain actions that need to completed to move the...
