Recent Blog Posts
What Can I Expect at a Divorce Mediation?
The Massachusetts Court System explains that mediation is a cooperative tool that parties can use to work out a legal matter, including a divorce. Mediation can be very effective, but you need to know what to expect from the process to get the most out of it. At Reade Law Firm, PC, we are… Read More »
We Already Filed for Divorce in Massachusetts: Can We Still Switch to a Collaborative Divorce?
Did you file for divorce? If your case is still pending, you may have questions about collaborative law. The Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council explains that collaborative divorce is a structured, non-adversarial alternative to litigation. If both parties are willing, you can often switch to the collaborative divorce process even if your initial divorce petition… Read More »
What is a Cohabitation Agreement in Massachusetts?
A growing percentage of American adults are living with romantic partners on a long-term basis without actually getting married (Pew Research Center). Without marriage, there are only limited statutory family law protections. For that reason, a cohabitation agreement can be a very valuable tool for couples who want to intertwine their lives without formally… Read More »
Can a Father Get Child Support in Massachusetts?
Are you a father in Essex County or elsewhere in the Commonwealth who is considering seeking child support from your ex-wife or former partner? You absolutely have the right to do so under Massachusetts law. While men are more likely to pay child support, they have the equal right to claim it. The Commonwealth’s… Read More »
What is the Average Number of Mediation Sessions for a Divorce?
Are you preparing for a divorce in Massachusetts? Mediation can be a very effective tool. It helps couples end their marriage in a cooperative, collaborative manner. You may be wondering: How many mediation sessions is typical for a divorce? While there is no true “average,” anywhere between one and eight mediation sessions is well… Read More »
Best Interests of the Child in Massachusetts: The Importance of Parental Cooperation
In Massachusetts, child custody cases are subject to the best interests of the child standard (G.L. c. 208. Section 31A). That is to say that the Commonwealth evaluates custody disputes based on what is best for the health, safety, and well-being of the child. Parental cooperation is a factor courts use in evaluating this… Read More »
Four Unique Challenges of Grey Divorce in Massachusetts
A grey divorce is broadly defined as a divorce involving a married couple over the age of 50. Notably, the rate of grey divorce has doubled over the last few decades (National Library of Medicine). There are some unique issues that can arise in these cases. Here, our Peabody 50+ divorce attorney highlights four… Read More »
Four Misconceptions About Collaborative Divorce in Massachusetts
Collaborative divorce is a specialized, contract-based process designed to help couples end their marriage in a mutually agreeable, low-conflict manner. There are a lot of myths about how the collaborative law process actually works. Here, our Massachusetts collaborative divorce attorney dispels four of the most common misconceptions about the process. Misconception #1: There is… Read More »
Are there Different Styles of Divorce Mediation in Massachusetts?
As explained by the Massachusetts Court System, divorce mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that is focused on cooperative, non-adversarial problem-solving. It is a flexible process. There are actually different styles of mediation in Massachusetts. Most people focus on facilitative divorce mediation, but others may prefer an evaluative or even transformative… Read More »
Deciding Who Gets the Marital Home in a Massachusetts Divorce
A key issue in many Massachusetts divorce cases is deciding who will get to keep the marital home. If the parties cannot reach an agreement on this issue, it is left to a judge to make a final determination as part of the overall division of marital property. Massachusetts law does not require judges… Read More »