A previous post on this blog talked about the possible tax consequences of a divorce. While it is very important for a couple to consider all the tax implications of a divorce, there are other important financial issues and implications a person needs to think about...
Tax consequences of divorce are multifaceted
Many people who go through a divorce will tell you they were surprised that, despite all the intense emotions that come with the end of a marriage, the process of dissolving the marriage is largely about money. And the monetary aspects carry over during tax time....
Options other than full-blown guardianship
As this blog has discussed, guardianship of a minor is an option that relatives of minor children can use when someone needs to step in and take care of those children. This scenario arises often in situations where a parent, due to a drug addiction, mental illness or...
Child custody and parenting time in abuse situations
It is unfortunate that in Massachusetts, many children find themselves in situations of abuse and neglect. Oftentimes, parents even separate precisely because one or the other parent is hurting the children. Massachusetts has a law that affords special protections to...
Emotional stress will ordinarily be part of the divorce process
Most Springfield, Massachusetts, residents know anecdotally that divorce is a stressful experience. It only makes sense that the end of a relationship would come with some emotional stress and psychological turmoil. Scholarly research backs up this common experience....
Can other relatives legally step in to help a child?
A previous post on this blog talked about how Springfield, Massachusetts, grandparents can use a guardianship to get custody over a grandchild that is in need of a stable home and whose parents, for whatever reason, are unwilling or unable to meet that need. In some...
Options for servicemembers, veterans behind in support
When people in Springfield, Massachusetts, hear discussions about the enforcement of a child support order, they are often thinking about what can be done to a parent who does not pay. However, there are also circumstances in which a well-meaning parent who is facing...
What are signs of abuse in the home?
One of the reasons Springfield, Massachusetts, residents might seek out a guardianship of a child who is a relative or a close friend is because they suspect abuse in the home of the child's parents. As much as these people might love the child's parents, they feel...
Review of prenuptial agreements in Massachusetts
As this blog has mentioned previously, couples in Massachusetts are legally authorized to enter into what are commonly referred to as prenuptial agreements, or even just "prenups." While these agreements can be very helpful in the event of a divorce, they are also...
Fighting a termination of guardianship
Previous posts here have discussed how a relative can obtain guardianship over minor children when there is abuse in their home or the children's parents are otherwise unwilling or unable to care for their children. Massachusetts law has a procedure parents can use...