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I witnessed a minor stealing an item from a CVS store. Am I legally allowed to report this incident to the police?

answered on Mar 14, 2025
Yes, you are legally permitted to report a theft you witness, even if the individual involved is a minor. However, it's important to keep in mind that incidents involving minors are often handled differently than those involving adults. Law enforcement typically approaches these cases with a... View More
My husband and I have been married for 18 years and live in the same house but on different floors. He resides in the basement, which is an in-law apartment. His girlfriend has been living there without any rental agreement for over two years, even though she has her own apartment through Section... View More

answered on Mar 9, 2025
My answer is only directed towards her taking out a cable bill and other debt in your name. I will let someone else address the other issues raised. You can file a police report and a FTC Fraud Affidavit detailing that these accounts were not taken out by you. From there, you'll want to... View More
I have a 21-year-old daughter who lives full-time in her college dorm despite the divorce decree stating she would live with her mother. My 18-year-old son, who just turned 18, will be living at home while attending trade school with full benefits and pay. The child support order was issued in... View More

answered on Mar 3, 2025
The easy answer is yes, you can always ask the court to recalculate child support if there is a difference in the amount of child support in effect compared to what the child support would be based on recalculation.
To go a little deeper though, you should first recalculate child support... View More
I hired a contractor in March 2022 for a project in Lynn, MA, and paid $175,000 of the contracted $180,000. The contractor failed to complete the kitchen renovation and other work, resulting in water damage estimated at $25,000 and charging $20,000 for an unfinished kitchen. Despite attempts to... View More

answered on Feb 20, 2025
I assume you have spoken to him and made demand on him and asking for the money or the work to be corrected has been fruitless. You will have to seek the services of an attorney to pursue him legally. You may be able to obtain partial relief from the Massachusetts guaranty fund:... View More
My husband and I are going through a divorce in Massachusetts, and he currently provides health insurance for me and our children. I earn slightly more than him. There are no court orders in place regarding health insurance, and I am concerned about coverage both during the divorce proceedings and... View More

answered on Feb 20, 2025
He will definitely need to maintain the insurance during the divorce. There is an automatic (financial) restraining order that goes into effect at the start of the divorce (Supplemental Rule 411). That restraining order basically prohibits both parties from making any financial moves that damage... View More
I recently left my son's father and moved back to Massachusetts. We were never married. I've raised concerns about a bunk bed he bought for our two-year-old son, but when I asked to see a picture for safety reasons, he insulted me. He has violent tendencies, although never physical with... View More

answered on Feb 17, 2025
Situations like this are best managed in Court, so the boundaries are clear. You may be afraid, but the real question is whether you have a real fear of harm to your child as a result. If he has never harmed the baby and offers responsible care, you might look bad for refusing the parenting time.... View More
I am seeking a family law attorney to assist with appealing a judgment in my area (02145). I believe the judgment was unfair and biased towards the wealthier party, resulting from a 12-year process. On the trial's final day, the judge appeared dismissive, especially since the other party was... View More

answered on Feb 17, 2025
Family law appeals are an uphill battle and the majority of appeals are unsuccessful. Judges have tremendous discretion in deciding issues, and reviewing courts (like the Appeals Court) defer to the judge's determinations regarding credibility of the parties. A reviewing court will almost... View More
209A is a restraining order.

answered on Feb 5, 2025
You can contact the court that issued the restraining order and ask them to serve the Plaintiff. You are right to approach this with caution, it could be a violation of the 209A order. If you were to be represented by counsel, the attorney could serve the plaintiff without violating the 209A... View More
Me and the mom are no longer getting along and she refuses to return the child support money to me even though my son lives with me and she only takes him about a day or two per month. we filed for the child support to stop (when we were getting along) but the court rejected it what can/should I do!

answered on Jan 24, 2025
You should file a Complaint for Modification with the court ASAP. You can ask for child support to be adjusted retroactively, but the court can only go back to the date that the other party was served with the summons on your Complaint for Modification. If you go to the courthouse and ask for the... View More
The man later on got beat up by 3 other guys. The reason for that was because he touched intoxicated girls including a minor (he’s 18)

answered on Jan 23, 2025
Hello,
The answer depends on the specific facts of your case and how serious the government or prosecution views the incident involved. Based on the information you have given, if you have no prior criminal record or involvement you will most likely not end up at a juvenile facility or in... View More
I am unable to afford legal representation and have contacted multiple organizations offering free services - none of which are able to offer me services at this time. I understand I have burden of proof. The Agreement states clearly what the obligations are. There have been multiple aspects he has... View More

answered on Jan 17, 2025
You can absolutely file for contempt without an attorney. A Complaint for Contempt is on the easier end of the spectrum compared to other types of cases in Probate & Family Court because the issues tend to be pretty discrete.
You will first need to show that there was an order in... View More

answered on Jan 16, 2025
No, tickets will always remain on a driving record, and there is no know method of having them removed or expunged. This is because insurance, civil, and criminal decisions can be made based on a driving/rmv record, regardless of how old it is. At a clerk's hearing on a traffic ticket, the... View More
For about a week and when I decided to go and give it a push It was painful and I started bleeding, mind you I do not have any prior problems healthy all around, that lasted for about 5 months I had a terrible pcp and I had to see another DR, the first did not help, my lawyer told me that it's... View More

answered on Jan 15, 2025
A Massachusetts attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. I'm sorry about your accident and the ordeal it has caused you. As far as those things you added to the car, PD adjusters do not always consider them. That would be the adjuster's call and the... View More
I am on H1b visa since Oct 2021. My status was going to expire on Sept 30th, 2024. My current employer applied for a Extension of stay and the USCIS sent I-797C receipt notice on August 16th. The case is still pending so I don't have I-797A approval notice. I got a new job and they are filing... View More

answered on Jan 9, 2025
USCIS regulations offer the possibility of H-1B portability, meaning that an H-1B worker who is changing employers may start work for the new employer while its petition is in process, provided that the new employer's petition was filed while the H-1B worker is still maintaining status and has... View More
hello, my father passed away about 2 years ago. he was not married and I’m his only child. he did not have much just a car that was paid in full and a bank account which i was the beneficiary from. I have the death certificate, bank information and car title.

answered on Dec 30, 2024
You may need to file for voluntary administration or petition for probate so that you may be appointed administrator or personal representative, depending on the value of the assets he left behind. Once appointed, you can then transfer title.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 21a part I title II sec 28 states a manufacturer or retailer shall not sell, offer or manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce or import into the commonwealth a covered product. I sell into households outside of MA as well and can direct ship to the customer.... View More

answered on Dec 27, 2024
I think the manufacturer makes a good point. G.L.c. 21A s, 28(b) states: "(b) A manufacturer or retailer shall not sell, offer or manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the commonwealth . . ." The words distribute in commerce can be read to mean sale to citizens of... View More

answered on Dec 8, 2024
You are a 'witness' to whatever happened that started the criminal charges involving your ex boyfriend, and the DA's office has issued a summons for your testimony. Whether you have a *right to refuse is very different than not participating or cooperating in the prosecution or not... View More
I have a restraining order on my son s father . I got it in 9/2022 and I currently updated it 9/11/2024 and is effective until 9/11/2026
The restraining order has already been violated last year and he plead guilty with a fine.
We are only to communicate via a court order app and... View More

answered on Nov 13, 2024
An order to communicate about you child via the OFW app or another is very important for setting boundary's and building trust. If the RO states it must be via the App, then it could be a violation. One issue is whether he understands the limits of the authorized discourse or not.... View More
I have been divorced for many years and would like to get my ex-husband's name off the mortgage and deed to the house. When we got divorce divorced, I assumed all responsibility for the house including mortgage payments, repairs, maintenance, etc. He has not paid any money toward the house at... View More

answered on Nov 5, 2024
This is nearly always specified in the Separation Agreement or Judgment of Divorce. If not, it may not have come to the judge's attention that there was real estate held in the names of both parties. Either way, you can remove your ex-husband's name from the mortgage by either refinancing... View More
Regards video and audio recording. Is there an exception for possible domestic abuse scenario

answered on Oct 23, 2024
There can definitely be consequences for recording someone without their consent.
While I certainly DO NOT recommend recording someone without their consent, if it is a safety issue and you feel recording the other party may assist you in creating a safer situation for yourself (such as... View More
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