Peabody Family Law Blog

Financial planning for the future during divorce

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Monday, June 11, 2018.

Divorce can be uniquely challenging for many couples in Massachusetts. The end of a marriage is often accompanied by a range of dramatic financial, practical and emotional changes. During this period, it's important to keep some key guidelines in mind in order to avoid making errors that could be costly in the future.

For example, it is not uncommon for exes to rush into a remarriage after their divorces. However, the divorce rate in second and third marriages is generally higher than that of first marriages. The later in life one chooses to divorce, the more significant the financial impact can be, especially if the marriage was long-term. Dividing assets such as retirement accounts can be easier to handle at a younger age as both parties have a greater chance to recover financially. When people remarry after divorce, prenuptial agreements can be considered to protect each party's assets that they brought into the marriage. These agreements can be especially helpful when both parties have children that they wish to protect.

Factors behind the divorce rate among baby boomers

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

Many Massachusetts residents may be aware that gray divorces (those that occur after the age 50) have increased over the past few decades. In fact, it is estimated that 25 percent of all divorces are gray divorces. There are a number of factors that may have caused this increase.

Part of the surge in gray divorce rates is due to the fact that the baby boomer population is aging. For example, there were only an estimated 63.5 million Americans who were age 50 or older in 1990. By 2010, there were an estimated 99 million Americans aged 50 or older. On top of this, both men and women have a longer average life expectancy in 2016 than they did in 1950. Not only are there more people in that age group, but people are also living longer.

Can divorcing spouses use the same attorney?

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC on Friday, May 18, 2018.

Many marriages come to an end in Massachusetts. When filing for divorce in the state, the spouses will first need to state what type of divorce they seek. From there, they will need to decide whether they want an uncontested or contested divorce.

Some divorces are more tumultuous than others, but there are a number of cases where the spouses still get along relatively well. They can act amicably toward each other, and both parties want to cut back the costs naturally associated with divorce. One way many people believe they can save money is if both spouses use the same lawyer. Before proceeding, you need to banish that thought from your mind, because both parties will need different lawyers.

Divorcing couples work together to increase financial stability

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Thursday, May 17, 2018.

In Massachusetts, couples who decide to get divorced may face financial instability after their divorces are over. Some couples are taking a new approach in their divorces to make certain that both spouses will be financially stable following their divorces by working through a collaborative process.

People who are getting divorced may work collaboratively with a team of professionals, including divorce lawyers, financial planners, licensed mediators and others. The professionals work together to look at the property divisions more carefully with the people. Instead of the people concentrating on who gets the vehicles or homes, the professionals help them to consider the financial impacts of medical and automotive insurance policies and who will be protected.

What happens when parents share legal custody

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.

Legal custody may be granted to one or both parents after a divorce and refers to a parent's right to make decisions about major parts of a child's life including education, what religion the child will be raised in and health care. Legal custody is separate from physical custody, and a parent in Massachusetts who has visitation rights may share joint legal custody with the other parent.

Joint legal custody has both its advantages and disadvantages. A parent may welcome being able to confer with the other parent about these important issues as the child grows up. Parents must also work together to communicate effectively and make decisions, and it can be good for children to see this happening.

How to help children adjust to divorce

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

There are many ways that Massachusetts parents can help their children adjust to divorce, and there are also actions they can avoid that could make the situation worse. For example, parents should talk to their children and make sure they do not feel responsible for the breakup. They should also monitor their children for signs of depression and keep in mind that this may manifest as acting out.

It is important to encourage children to maintain a relationship with the other parent. Parents should keep their personal feelings about one another to themselves and not involve their children in their conflicts. They should not try to get the children to choose sides in the divorce or to be messengers between them and the other parent. They also should not question the children about the other parent's activities.

Abusive parents and child custody

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Some parents in Massachusetts who may have been in abusive relationships might be worried about protecting their children from the other parent. Unfortunately, according to the American Psychological Association, courts may dismiss an abuse history when making a decision about custody. Furthermore, in 2012, a report from the American Judges Association said that in around 70 percent of challenged cases, abusive spouses convinced a court that other parent was either unfit or should not get sole custody.

One professor and expert in domestic violence says that abusive parents may try to get control by suing for custody. She refers to this "coercive control" as acts of emotional, financial, mental and other types of abuse. When abusers do get custodial rights, she says, they may use them to manipulate children by telling them they will harm the other parent. Furthermore, men who are abusive to their partners often have a negative effect on their children according to research, but she says this is often downplayed in court.

Financial issues when getting divorced after age 50

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Since 1990, divorce among older adults has more than doubled in Massachusetts and in the rest of the country. The increase in divorces among people over age 50 has introduced several added considerations about finances and retirement. It is important for older adults to carefully consider their finances so that they can understand what type of impact their divorces might have if they decide to move forward with them.

When people get divorced after age 50, they have fewer years to save for retirement. At the same time, they may have to divide any retirement savings that they have set aside during their marriages with their estranged spouses. When these factors are combined with the fact that they may also suddenly have half of the income that they once did while having double the expenses, it is clear why divorcing after 50 can have such a negative impact.

Can I prevent a DNA test to establish paternity?

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in blog on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

You are a mother who has, for reasons that many people would consider valid, kept quiet about the identity of your children's father or discouraged involvement between him and the children. Perhaps he was abusive or engaged in serious criminal activity. Bottom line: You thought it was best that the children not get to know him and vice versa. However, he has found out about the children or wants to be involved in their lives.

Is there any way you can prevent the DNA test that would establish his paternity?

Figuring out spousal support in Massachusetts

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in blog on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

The issue of spousal support can play a large and contentious role in the divorce process. Many people, when thinking of alimony, jump straight to the most extreme examples: the penniless spouse forced to pay alimony to a lazy ex, or, conversely, the homemaker left with nothing after years of marriage. Learning more about how support typically works in Massachusetts can help you get a more down-to-earth picture of what to expect.

Massachusetts does have a fairly specific set of rules for determining amounts and duration for support payments. However, the court still has a lot of leeway in applying the rules; it may also choose to deviate from them if it determines that doing so would be fairer.