Cease and desist letters are a response to actions by an individual or business which is doing something wrong which affects you in some way. Common reasons for sending a cease and desist letter in Massachusetts includes incidences of bullying, intimidation,...
Can I Challenge an Unfair Divorce Settlement in Massachusetts?
Divorce is by its very nature often messy, emotionally fraught and frustrating. Somehow or other an agreement has to be made about shared assets, property and child custody. The longer a couple has been together, the greater the number of children and the more...
Steps in a Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawsuit Settlement
If you have been injured because of the negligence of someone else, you may be able to recover the cost of your injury through a personal injury lawsuit. In Massachusetts, personal injury lawsuits are filed in a district court or the Boston Municipal Court. Not all...
Changing Your Name – or Your Child’s – After a Divorce in Massachusetts
As if divorce wasn’t stressful enough, there are rules concerning changing your name after divorce and the names of any children you have physical custody for. In fact, many spouses who get divorced may not change their names at all and decide to keep their married...
What To Know About Ride Share Accidents
In recent years more and more people are choosing to use Lyft and Uber services as alternatives to taxis and public transport. Armed with one of these rideshare apps, you can almost always get a ride when you want to around town and it is normally cheaper than using a...
Costly mistakes a will can help you avoid.
Did you know that 68% of Americans don't have a will? Estate planning and wills shouldn't be left until the last minute. A will gives your family guidance on how to divide your estate. If you die without a will, the court and the laws of your state determine how your...
Uninsured Drivers in Massachusetts
As the summer heats up and COVID restrictions lift, people are hitting the road for the first in over a year. More drivers on the road, unfortunately, results in more car accidents. The aftermath and the insurance claims process is scary and complex. It is especially...
Does Having a Trust Avoid the Need for Probate?
Many people leave worrying about what could happen to their property and other assets on death until it is too late. If you die before making a will or establishing a trust, your entire estate will be the responsibility of the court to distribute according to...
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: What are the Differences?
The future financial relationship between couples aiming to tie the knot can be tricky. Even when the two people start out married life more or less equal in assets, income and prospects, things can change over the period of married life. The arrival of children,...
What Does Family Law Cover in Massachusetts?
Family law is a category of mainly civil law that involves relationships or conflicts between members of a family, e.g. spouses, civil law partnerships, children and parents. Family law cases may overlap with criminal law occasionally, e.g. if there are cases of child...
Who can benefit from record expungement in Massachusetts?
Some past mistakes can continue to haunt us for years to come in the form of a criminal record. If there is something on your record then you have likely experienced difficulty with getting jobs, apartments, or even obtaining a loan. Perhaps you have been looking into...
Child Custody Arrangements for the Summer Vacation in Massachusetts
The long summer school break, nine weeks of it, is rapidly approaching. No doubt kids have been looking forward to this particular summer break for good reason. The pandemic put a damper on any kind of summer fun last year, but things, while still not exactly back to...
Can A Prenuptial Agreement In Massachusetts Be Unenforceable?
40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. A well-rounded and executed prenup is likely to save couples significant resources, time, and expenses. By entering into a prenuptial agreement, individuals intending to marry can better spell out their...
States Make Their Own Laws – But Just How Much Do They Differ?
The United States has been just that since 1776 - a united confederation of states, each of which was created and developed along its own unique pathway. Most Americans are well aware that each state makes its own laws and when you cross from one state to another, you...
Understanding this Year’s Changes to Massachusetts’ Zoning Act
After years of trying to make more substantial changes to Massachusetts’ state wide zoning laws, state lawmakers finally made history when Governor Charlie Baker signed into existence the greatest shake up in legislation on state zoning rules in the last 40 or 50...
Who Is Eligible For a Simplified Probate in Massachusetts?
When someone dies in Massachusetts, any assets that the deceased owns must be distributed according to the wishes of that person. If there is a will, then the assets are eventually distributed according to the instructions in the will, minus debts owed to creditors,...
Gig Workers And Employment Laws – Here’s An Update
Gig workers operate out of the non-traditional work arrangements. They have temporary contracts with companies that hire them; as a result, their income varies on the number of gigs they get at any given time. These freelancers make up a considerable portion of the US...
The Pandemic and the Probable Rise of Commercial Bankruptcies in 2021
Many businesses have been hit hard in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic and smaller businesses in particular are teetering on the edge of filing for bankruptcy or have already fallen off the cliff. The much publicized 1.9 billion dollar coronavirus relief...
Four Unique Massachusetts Laws You Should Know About
Every state in the Union has its own laws which distinguish the state from other states and from federal laws. Only if there is a substantial conflict with federal legislation will there be an attempt to override new state laws. Most laws unique to Massachusetts may...
Divorce In Massachusetts: Equitable Doesn’t Necessarily Mean 50/50
Couples getting divorced in Massachusetts must deal with three issues before they can be legally separated. These issues are related to parenting/custody, alimony, and division of property & debts. Lawful distribution of property can be a complicated process,...