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Massachusetts Divorce Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: Hello, how can I go about getting a divorce if i'm not working at the moment due to my pregnancy?
Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Jul 13, 2018

You can certainly file for divorce and the Court can enter temporary alimony orders and when the child is born also child support and custody and visitation orders. The child will be regarded as a child born of the marriage and if you are not working due to child care needs there is the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Business Law for Massachusetts on
Q: Im 49% shareholder/co-founder of an Australian pty ltd startup company. What happens to my shares if I file for divorce?

-My wife has no involvement/stake in the company at all.

-What method of company valuation should be used if there are only expenses so far and no income from business?

-I have not used a single cent of marital funds for the business.

-After the settlement, will my spouse... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Jul 2, 2018

You should promptly meet with a divorce practitioner to discuss the length of the marriage, ages of the parties, income of the parties, ability to acquire future capital, etc. which are among the factors for property division determination. If there has been no financial investment from the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: How long do you have to wait after being married before you can file for divorce?
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
answered on Jun 26, 2018

You can file immediately after. There is no waiting period.

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: If I get divorced, am I required to give half of a trust my uncle set up for me to my ex?
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
answered on Jun 12, 2018

Your question is: [In a Massachusetts divorce], am I required to give half of a trust my uncle set up for me to my ex?

There is no law that requires this. The law only says that all property of both parties will be divided fairly. If the parties cannot agree on what is fair a judge of the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: I owned a house-I sold. I used the money as a down payment on marriage house. Am I entitled to $back? m14years

Would this be considered a premarital asset. I want to know if the money can be subtracted from the amount I have to pay my spouse for the current house now that we are divorcing.

Anthony C. Adamopoulos
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
answered on May 31, 2018

First, all property owned by either party is marital property. So, property owned by you before the marriage is now marital property.

Second, Massachusetts is an "equity or fair" state. This means that the judge at the divorce trial will consider all the evidence then decide how...
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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Massachusetts on
Q: Can my ex wife demand a raise on child support?

I’m on the process of divorce and I’m waiting on her to refinance the marital house so I can buy a house and take our children there with me every other weekend. Meanwhile I don’t have where to take the children so I have been staying in the couch of the marital house, where she lives, from... View More

Anthony C. Adamopoulos
Anthony C. Adamopoulos
answered on May 31, 2018

Your question is "Would it be fair to spend weekdays afternoon only til have a house?"

If there is no Family Court Order setting when you are with the children and when and if you can be in the Family Home then based on what you write it would be fair. While you are with the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: In my divorce agreement it states I get 50% of equity, minus the principal paid by my ex. He stayed in the home.

He told me that I only get that if he sells or refinances, which he isnt going to do. I am in a bad spot financially and feel I earned that throughout the years. Can he do that? Do I need to go back to court and have that readdressed?

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on May 29, 2018

Your divorce attorney should address this issue. If there is no language triggering the timing of a sale or refinance or if the language was vague and it was intended that there be a sale tied into an event, then a declaratory relief action could be brought to bring this information forward to the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Massachusetts on
Q: per my divorce agreement, my ex and I are to split our sons summer day care 50/50. I take him to one place and he takes

him to another. This summer I don't believe he will be using summer care, as he has someone at home to watch him. He is still responsible for half of what I'm paying, correct? That's what I take 50/50 to mean. Also, if he is taking him to a summer camp, do I have the right to ask him... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on May 23, 2018

You should follow the terms of the Separation Agreement/Divorce Judgment and If there is noncompliance then there could be a Contempt Complaint and if there is a material change in circumstances a Modification Complaint may be justified.

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: Terminated my attorney to proceed w/out rep. in a divorce case. Am I required to notify the other lawyer of this?

I’m the plantiff in a divorce case that is currently awaiting a pre-trial conference, which is scheduled in September. I’ve recently made the necessary decision to terminate my attorney. My attorney was officially notified today. I will not be retaining another lawyer. Aside from possibly... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on May 7, 2018

Your attorney would need the Court's permission to withdraw from your representation via Motion hearing unless you have a new attorney file his or her appearance in your case.

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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: My ex is remarrying. I pay the family health insurance. He pays child support below what state would have him pay.

Child support covers his portion of the family health insurance. He needs to be removed from my health insurance. Does his child support change? He still has to pay 1/2 family insurance for our 2 kids.

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Apr 24, 2018

You have not stated why he needs to be removed from your health insurance- does he have other medical coverage opportunities? What does your divorce/separation agreement state about providing coverage and allocation of cost? There are also new child support guidelines which went into effect in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: How long would it take to get divorced if I moved out of state during the proceedings?
Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Apr 16, 2018

Are there children involved? Moving does not in and of itself add time to obtain a divorce, but it could complicate questions of child support, visitation, custody, and medical coverage and alimony. You cannot move out of Massachusetts with the children without Court approval.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: What form/filing do I need to have my husband sign any rights he has to equity/ownership to our home over to me?

My husband doesn't want our home or any equity there may be in our home. He said he wants to sign any rights he may have to the property or it's equity over to me. What do I need him to sign in order for this to be legal and allow me to refinance the house in just my name. Our mortgage... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Apr 12, 2018

Is this in the context of a divorce? I am assuming so. Property division must also be fair and reasonable or the Probate Court will not approve of same. Also, normally the refinancing of the property into your sole name is to take place contemporaneously with the exchange of the Deed in a divorce.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: I filed a complaint for divorce pursuant to G.L. c.208 1B. Do I need representation?

Last year she had been charged with domestic violence and her first son had been charge with 3 counts of assault and battery (2 being with a weapon). They were both arrested that day. The Department of Children and Family then came to my home and investigated the situation and took my 2 biological... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Apr 11, 2018

You should address why the DCF feels that you should not have the children with the DCF. Have they made recommendations or a service plan for you to follow? If not you can request same.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Massachusetts on
Q: Can the court change an agreement regarding real estate after divorce

The agreement state that after april first if wife can't refinance husband have the right to move back have sol occupancy of the property and refinance

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Apr 11, 2018

This would normally be pursued in a Contempt Complaint to enforce the provisions of the Divorce Judgment and Separation Agreement. If the Court finds that the failure to comply was not willful or a clear violation the Court could grant some additional time to comply if t he circumstances justify... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: Please, I've been engaged for 11 yrs, lived with man for 18 yrs And helped raise his three kids from a previous marriage

We may be splitting up and everything is in His name. I'm on disability SSDI and have no where to go. What are my rights to anything Will he have to pay me Alimony?

Lissa McKinney
Lissa McKinney
answered on Apr 11, 2018

Sorry to say, there won't be any alimony. You will only have rights to anything if there was a contract about that. For a review of this issue, see: https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-law-about-unmarried-couples

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Massachusetts on
Q: My wife puts everything in trust. Our house, Inheritance, and such. none in my name. If we divorce I should get 50/50.

We are in the state of MA. With all of our land, stocks and moneys that she has inherited. She has put everything in trust, (my name excluded). I am unable to work. Wife keeps her bank accounts to a minimum. What recourse do I have if we divorce since all our holdings, land, house, money's... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Mar 1, 2018

The length of your marriage which you did not state is important. You should contact a divorce attorney to go over the full facts in your case. The fact that wife has established a trust and conveyed assets into it does not prevent the court from making an equitable distribution. How long ago she... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Massachusetts on
Q: child born 1 week after nisi period ends (absolute divorce) real father is not from marriage. If he signs birth C.? His?

Been separated for years- got pregnant wth my boyfriend and hustled to get a divorce. Baby born 1 week after nisi period ended- legally it seems according to Massachusetts statute 209(c), that baby legally belongs to ex husband! Because of the 300 day conception rule before divorce. Boyfriend... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Feb 20, 2018

If your ex husband does not want to be financially responsible for the child he will likely want to cooperate with a paternity complaint brought by biological father.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: I am going to try and file for a divorce. I have an IRA in my name that I worked for. He is not on the account can he g

Can he get half? He came with nothing

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Feb 20, 2018

There a several statutory factors involved in determining equitable distribution of the marital estate including the length of the marriage, ages of the parties, health of the parties, ability to acquire future assets, etc. and you have not given enough information for this question to be responded... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law and Tax Law for Massachusetts on
Q: By the judge altering the custody of my children to me. Does that change the divorce agreement to allow me to claim kids

If the divorce agreement we split the tax exemption on the 2 kids. By getting full custody and the visitation up to me for the ex. Does that allow me to claim both kids on taxes for the exemption? I'm from mass and she pays no child support

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Feb 15, 2018

You will either need to have a Modification Agreement on that issue which can be filed with the Court as an uncontested proceeding. otherwise you will need to have a Modification on that issue and also should have an appropriate Motion before the Court if this custodial change happened in 2017, to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Massachusetts on
Q: I am looking to get alimony from my ex spouse once child support payments terminate

I was married for over 20 years before divorcing my wife. We have 3 kids, one still in college, 2 out of college. I am paying child support and 1/3 college tuition. Once she graduates and child support is terminated, I would like to seek alimony, which is allowable per our divorce agreement. My... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Feb 8, 2018

You may have the ability to seek alimony, but an examination of your separation agreement is necessary to determine the viability of a Complaint for same. Your co-habitation is an issue under current alimony law, but still your separation agreement needs to be reviewed by an experienced domestic... View More

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