Tax laws and other financial matters have always had a significant impact on how Massachusetts couples divorce. Now, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, divorce planning is sure to go through significant changes to match the radical difference in how spousal support payments will be handled. The changes will go into effect with the new year in 2019, but they will only affect people who finalize their divorces in 2019 or later. Some couples are hurrying to finalize their divorces on or before December 31, 2018 in order to preserve the current tax treatment.
Is Massachusetts a community property state?
If you and your spouse contemplate ending your Massachusetts marriage, one of your main concerns likely is how you will divide the property the two of you have accumulated during your marriage. Massachusetts is not one of the community property states that consider all marital property to be owned by both spouses jointly in a 50-50 manner. Rather, Massachusetts requires you to divide your property in a fair and equitable manner, which may or may not entail a 50-50 split between you.
Splitting custody and parenting time after a divorce
Following a divorce, getting back to a normal life can be difficult for everyone involved. While many parents in Massachusetts will have to learn to cope with limited custody time, the children may have a harder time adjusting to the fact that their one household suddenly became two. However, there are some ways that parents can help their kids adjust.
