Peabody Family Law Blog

Uncovering cryptocurrency during a divorce

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

Most divorces in Massachusetts include some negotiating, if not downright battling, over how money and other assets will be divided after the divorce. Cryptocurrency is changing the way that these negotiations take place. Part of this change is due to the nature of cryptocurrency.

These currencies are encrypted and move around in a largely unregulated market. This makes finding a divorcing individual's cryptocurrency investments, as well as determining the value of these investments, difficult. As a result, divorces involving large amounts of cryptocurrency assets have become more complicated and take longer.

Fracture patterns may help doctors spot signs of domestic abuse

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in domestic violence on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Doctors in Massachusetts are sometimes able to spot unusual broken bone patterns and identify possible instances of child abuse. A new study suggests the same concept may be applied to help ID signs of domestic violence in adult patients. This information is important because there are sometimes situations where abuse victims visit a doctor for treatment with a credible story to explain an injury that doesn't immediately raise red flags.

While injuries to the head and face are often strong indicators of domestic violence, researchers found that arms and legs could also present credible evidence of spouse-related abuse. Injuries of this nature are more common in abuse victims than facial or head injuries, but they also frequently affect other patients as well. This is why researchers dove a bit deeper to find out what specific types of fractures are more likely to be seen in domestic abuse sufferers.

4 of the most common myths about divorce

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC on Monday, February 25, 2019.

When a married couple decides to part ways, the process may seem mysterious and daunting. Divorce is something that many experience but few understand until they do.

There is a lot of misinformation about what happens before, during and after divorce proceedings. You may have some notion of what occurs, most often from friends or family accounts. Take a look at four of the most common divorce myths still circulating today.

Learning more about how divorce works

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

An unhappy marriage may lead many people in Massachusetts to think about ending the relationship. At the same time, they may be confused about what the divorce process involves. Some people delay a divorce for lengthy periods of time because of misconceptions about the laws and circumstances that are involved. By doing some research and preparation, people can understand more about the period to come and how they can emerge successfully from the divorce.

Many people are under the impression that divorce needs to be a high-conflict situation. In fact, many people are able to resolve many outstanding issues through mediated settlements or negotiations and go to family court to have their final decisions approved. This can be a particularly well-advised option for parents with children, especially if there are no issues of abuse, neglect or other serious misconduct.

A lack of commitment is a factor in many divorces

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Friday, February 8, 2019.

The simplicity of the legal process of marriage belies the complexities that can be involved in marital dissolution. A Massachusetts couple need only be 18 years old and receive a license before they may permissibly tie the knot. Contrast this with ending a relationship with divorce where the issues of property division and child custody could become contested and fought over, and it seems clear that marriage should be entered into only with forethought and an eye to the future. The reason why many marriages fail, therefore, seems somewhat surprising.

While some people approach marriage with a more romanticized vision of life together than others, most would agree they have found a lifelong partner to share their life with. Of course, as family relationship experts point out, a marriage could be placed in serious jeopardy by an unexpected turn of events that destroys trust and completely changes the dynamic. Infidelity, substance abuse or domestic violence are some examples of issues that may be too devastating to work through.

Property division challenges during a high-asset divorce

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in property division on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

Some Massachusetts residents have probably heard something about the pending divorce involving Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his spouse of 25 years. The couple jointly announced the decision via social media shortly after 2019 began. Even though the pair appears to be headed toward an amicable split, there will likely be some challenges ahead when it comes to divvying up assets valued at nearly $140 billion.

One major difference with property division among the super-wealthy is the nature of joint assets. Affluent people tend to hold the bulk of their wealth in stocks, which means that Mr. Bezos' soon-to-be-ex may be vying for some sizable stock options. It's also not unusual for wealthy couples to have assets that can be difficult to attach a value to, such as rare collectibles or overseas bank accounts.

How does attractiveness affect divorce risk?

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in divorce on Friday, January 11, 2019.

When Massachusetts residents get married, divorce is not one of the concerns on their minds. However, according to some studies, if one person in the relationship is significantly more attractive than the other, the risk of divorce might be higher for that couple than for couples that are matched in attractiveness.

The studies focusing on this fact have provided a variety of explanations for the higher risk of a divorce. One study proposes that the risk increases because the more attractive person in the relationship is less committed and ends up flirting with others. Meanwhile, another study offers the opposite reason and finds that the issue does not lie with the better-looking person. Instead, the less attractive person might be more prone to jealousy while the other spouse remains committed to the relationship.

Why hiring a divorce attorney may save you in the long run

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Getting divorced is painful emotionally, mentally and financially. The splitting up of a joined life into two separate but equal parts can drain a person, especially if trying to do it alone.

When considering divorce, hiring an attorney may seem like an expense you cannot justify, but in the long run, that money spent upfront can help you retain more assets and rights.

Child support leading source of wage garnishment for men

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in child support on Wednesday, December 26, 2018.

Parents in Massachusetts who fall behind on child support payments could face wage garnishment at some point. Wage garnishment arises from a court order that seizes a portion of wages until debts have been fully paid off. A study that analyzed the anonymous pay data of 12 million workers nationwide in 2016 determined that wage garnishment affected 7 percent of workers. The burden of wage garnishment falls most heavily on men who comprise nearly three-quarters of those who have money taken from their paychecks.

Child support accounts for the overwhelming majority of these wage garnishments. Payroll deductions to cover child support and debts hit people in middle age the most. Workers aged 35 to 54 represent 62 percent of those making these payments.

Making parenting decisions with the child's well-being in mind

On behalf of Reade Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

As many Massachusetts parents can attest, raising children after divorce can present challenges. Most parents are committed to putting the well-being of their kids first. Experience shows that the way divorced parents interact with their children and with each other has a lot to do with how well they have moved on after the divorce.

In a divorce where there are no children, the separated couple can choose to never see each other again. When children are involved, ex-spouses still have to interact as parents. In rare instances, the court may decide that granting sole custody to one parent or the other is in the child's best interest. However, in the vast majority of cases, the court usually decides to grant some form of custody or visitation rights to each parent.