What Happens If You Fall Out of Status While Waiting on a Family-Based Petition?
Falling out of status while a family-based petition is pending does not automatically end your case, but it can limit how you complete the process. In many situations, overstays and unauthorized work may be forgiven if you qualify to adjust status through a close family relationship. In others, you may need to...
What Factors Do Courts Consider When Awarding Alimony?
When a marriage ends, one of the most important financial questions is whether one spouse will have to pay alimony. In Massachusetts, judges weigh a range of factors to determine whether alimony is appropriate, how much should be paid, and for how long. These decisions are based on law, fairness and the...
How Can I Modify a Spousal Support Agreement?
Life doesn’t stand still after divorce. Jobs change, people relocate, health conditions come up, and new relationships form. When these shifts happen, your original spousal support agreement may no longer feel fair—or financially possible. If you're wondering whether you can adjust that agreement, the answer is yes, and we're here to help...
Understanding Spousal Inheritance Rights
When a spouse passes away, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. On top of that, there are legal matters to sort out—especially when it comes to what a surviving spouse is legally entitled to inherit. Whether there’s a will in place or not, Massachusetts law provides certain protections for spouses. Understanding these...
Can Alimony Be Modified if Your Ex-Spouse Moves in With Someone?
You might feel frustrated if you're paying alimony and find out your ex-spouse has moved in with someone else. It’s natural to question whether the support you’re providing is still fair under these new circumstances. Alimony is designed to help maintain financial balance after a divorce, but significant life changes—like cohabitation—can alter...
Paying Child Support as a Parent With a High-Net-Worth
Supporting your child financially is one of the most meaningful responsibilities you have as a parent. When you have a high income, child support can become more complicated, especially when balancing your financial resources with your child’s needs. Massachusetts courts strive to ensure that child support reflects a fair contribution while maintaining...
Does Divorce Affect Retirement Benefits?
One of the most important steps that divorcing couples must take is to divide their marital property. While marital property includes many tangible items like real estate, it also includes intangible assets like retirement benefits that are subject to an equitable distribution. Understanding the impact of divorce, and how to protect...
Common Financial Mistakes to Avoid in a Divorce
Divorce brings major upheaval in the lives of both spouses, no matter how simple or amicable it is. The decisions that the husband or wife make during the divorce process could affect their well-being for years into the future. This is especially the case with respect to financial matters. If a...
Essential Steps for a Smooth and Cost-effective Uncontested Divorce
Spouses who are able to agree on the issues arising out of the end of their marriage may be able to obtain an uncontested divorce. The path from separating and announcing one’s intent to divorce, to actually obtaining the divorce itself, is fraught with potential legal hurdles. But there are steps...
Relocation with Children in Massachusetts: What Parents Need to Know
After a child custody order has been entered, life moves on for both parents and the child. At some point, a parent may feel the need or desire to move somewhere else. If the move is within the same state and relatively close by and doesn’t affect the existing custody order...