My child's father believes that I am using drugs. The reason is because he heard a recording of my current partner and i arguing. That he obtained from a 3rd party, illegally. Also, my partner didn't know he was being recorded. In the audio it uses a slang word for a drug, but that word... Read more »

answered on Apr 30, 2023
The judge can basically order anything that they deem to be in the best interests of the child. If there is a reason for them to be concerned about drug use, they can order a drug test. It doesn't really matter how they came to making that order, unfortunately. You could choose to appeal it,... Read more »
My domestic partner is looking to end the relationship. We currently own a house together and share bank accounts for the past 3 years. In speaking with the mortgage company I would need a court document stating we are separating and agreeing that I would keep the house for her to be released from... Read more »

answered on Apr 24, 2023
You could file a Petition to Partition in the Probate and Family Court. I have never seen one filed jointly, but I don't see why you couldn't do that, or you could file it as contested then file an agreement for judgment. I believe that could also be filed in Land Court, I am pretty sure... Read more »
I recently had a baby while living in MA. I filed for child support giving as much information about the father as possible. It has been a week and the application still says "submitted".
The father moved out of state and won't supply me his new address so I could only... Read more »

answered on Apr 4, 2023
It could take anywhere from several weeks to several months. You could call DOR-CSE and ask them about the status if you haven't heard anything in a few more days.
DOR will work with the child support agency in his state to collect the payments once the MA court issues an order for... Read more »
I live in MA & currently have temporary sole legal and physical custody of our child. My ex lives out of state in Maryland and will soon start court ordered parenting time every other weekend for 6 hours. He frequently disappears for weeks to months at a time without any contact. He has also... Read more »

answered on Mar 30, 2023
The Court could enter a version of the requested order , but you should assert the difficulty involved in having the child participate for the full length of the call . Of greater concern at this point is the lack of consistency by father "disappearing for weeks or months" . Is there also... Read more »
I am an unmarried single mother that has a temporary order for sole legal and physical custody of my 1 year child in MA. Child’s father lives out of state in Maryland and judge has ordered a temporary, unsupervised visitation schedule for father to come to MA every other weekend for 6 hours.... Read more »

answered on Mar 4, 2023
From a practical standpoint, even though he was granted visits, how often is he going to be able to travel from Maryland to Massachusetts for a 6-hour visit? You may want to wait and see how things go. Judges usually give parents the opportunity to show they can parent successfully, but if it... Read more »
During the process of gaining guardianship, what if parent demands kid comes back

answered on Mar 3, 2023
You would need to obtain Guardianship over the minor via Petition to the Probate & Family Court where there was either a previous divorce or paternity proceeding or where you live if not applicable. If there is an Emergency you would need to also request temporary guardianship and have grounds... Read more »
My ex am I have an order stating neither one of us can cancel a Drs appointment made by the other, she brought him in to the Drs and got the second vaccine shot which was an appointment I made for another date, the office then canceled the appointment I made as it was obviously no longer needed, is... Read more »

answered on Feb 18, 2023
It is hard to say without reviewing the specific order, but a judge would probably look at your ex's intent, but also if that cancellation harmed you or the child in any way. If your ex took the child to a different scheduled appointment and the doctor offered to give your son the second... Read more »
He is not trustworthy due to things he's done through the years. He is named as the PR in her Will only because he bullied her into it and is the oldest. I do know that she tried to make her Will specific and made sure that her estate would be divided equally between her four children

answered on Dec 28, 2022
If your brother filed an informal probate, then he had to file a copy of your mother's Last Will and Testament. You can request to see a copy of your mother's estate case at the Probate and Family Court. This will allow you to see the Last Will and Testament and obtain a copy of it.... Read more »
My court hearing for child support was 27 days ago yet I still haven’t received the judgement in the mail, neither have the courts or DOR.

answered on Nov 22, 2022
It depends on the type of hearing. If it was a divorce trial where child support was just one of many issues, it would take a few (or more) months. If it was a hearing where DOR was seeking support on the other parent's behalf, it should be much quicker. It also depends on the county you are... Read more »
Ambiguous. Who decides ability? Can parent have a savings account or be concerned someone is going to say "S/He has money?" Child is 20 years old in college and is capable of supporting self but lives with one parent.

answered on Oct 17, 2022
A child in college full-time is not considered to be emancipated and the duty to pay child support and make college contribution exists. Where there is an indefinite percentage or sum indicated there is likely a basis for court review in a Modification proceeding. The current Massachusetts child... Read more »
We have been married for 15 years without kids. We tried IVF several times, but it did not work. Now my wife wants to go for adoption, but I am not interested. She is even willing to do it as a single mother. And I am opposed to it primarily because, we don’t know how things will turn out after... Read more »

answered on Oct 11, 2022
I am actually not sure whether your wife could adopt a child solely while you are married, but another lawyer with expertise in adoption may be able to answer that.
Regarding an agreement to waive child support, however, that is definitely not possible. The courts view child support as... Read more »
When my dad passed away 3 years ago he had no assets including house cars or property. She had randomly reached out tonight asking us to sign and make her executer of his “estate”. How should we proceed?

answered on Sep 2, 2022
First of all , was he a resident of Massachusetts? If so ,Is it a Late and Limited Petition? Because a regular estate post 3 years is not available. The Late and LImited Petition is just that- a filing to determine title to assets inasmuch as the 3 years post date of death has passed.
now his father is telling me he's no longer going to let him come home what are my rights I've been raising him for the last 17 years and his father owes over $100,000 in child support in Massachusetts what can I do to get my son back legally?

answered on Aug 1, 2022
If you are the primary custodial parent he is in Contempt and a Contempt Complaint should be filed in the Court where your custodial orders were established ASAP with a Motion and Affidavit for Emergency hearing to have the child brought back to Massachusetts also potentially has also violated... Read more »
I volunteered for a probation officer to investigate my custody dispute currently I'm court. I currently have visitation that is ordered from the judge. I take random urines and there was a problem with the system and it reported I didn't have a urine and the probation officer said I did... Read more »

answered on Jul 26, 2022
It sounds like something is amiss and you should have legal representation in this important matter which you have tried to handle pro se to your detriment. You may seek a hair follicle examination via Motion citing the information you have given in this question, but your ability to navigate the... Read more »
I am left from my family. My brother never married or had children. He passed in 2011. A bank in Boston has money of his. How can I retrieve it?

answered on Jul 15, 2022
You will need to follow the process for a Voluntary Statement filing in the Probate Court for the County where your brother was living and you will also need to obtain his death certificate which the funeral home can help you with and you can also contact the town where he died .
My ex has primary custody of our kids. They live in filth and squalor, sleeping in beds with moldy food, used tampons, etc. I have video and photographic evidence, along with my ex admitting to the conditions in text messages, asking me to help clean, and stating, "I can't put all my time... Read more »

answered on Jul 13, 2022
It does sound like neglect from your description of the children's living situation and the DCF can be contacted to investigate. They will know a divorce is pending and that you are a party. Is this a new distinguishable state of affairs in the household ? One of the questions that will be... Read more »
She was living with my sister and my sister was a domestic violence victim,he is in jail. She,my mom, has dementia,but if am the guardian of my mom can I tell elderly serviceI want my mom with my sister?

answered on May 2, 2022
A guardian can make decisions in the incapacitated person's best interests and there seems to be an issue of sister's husband being a domestic abuser which could subject your mother to potential violence if I am reading your question correctly. Inasmuch as elder abuse could be claimed... Read more »
I'm disabled
Epipsy, PTSD and severe panic disorder.
After a four year criminal harassment court battle with our former duplex neighbor who was found guilty my husband who witnessed the trauma and it's damage that blew through my life. He himself after vacating our home... Read more »

answered on Apr 28, 2022
It sounds like you need the Probate Court's intervention in the form of Temporary Orders concerning exclusivity of possession of the home and orders concerning preservation of the asset if it is a home owned by the parties and spousal support and return of the liquidated marital funds - you... Read more »
My daughter has lived with me full time for 4 years. My ex had sole custody of her legally. He hardly gave me any financial support. Since she has turned 18 he refused to help with her. She is still in high school and has a severe mental illness. I have tried taking him to court about a year ago... Read more »

answered on Apr 25, 2022
So the child has not graduated from high school and may have special needs also. There should be child support in accordance with the child support guidelines and you may need to once the child has completed high school seek contribution for the child's continued care via equity petition... Read more »
I am not able to answer his phone calls every single night so he can speak to our son. The last lawyer I had said to agree to the terms of him speaking to my son every night and that it wouldn’t be a big deal. I never wanted to agree because I know my schedule is crazy and I shouldn’t have to... Read more »

answered on May 24, 2023
If there is a Court Order that there is a phone call father has at such a time each night, someone needs to make sure the call happens so that if someone else is watching the child, then they can handle the child responding to the call.
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