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Just about any adult who is on the electoral roll in Massachusetts could be picked at random for jury duty in the state, so if this has happened to you and you are unsure what it means, read on below. Who are jurors? Jurors are people from all walks of life who have...
Separation or divorce can be a challenging and stressful experience and if there are shared children, plans about how to care for them can be some of the most difficult decisions to make. If the two parents can come to a mutually agreed plan about child custody, then...
When selling your property in Massachusetts, you need to be aware that there are disclosures that are a legal requirement in the state. These disclosure requirements are relatively minor compared to some other states, but if you ignore the requirements or are unaware...
Many people are aware of premarital contracts such as prenuptial agreements (prenups) and what they are designed to do. Prenups clarify financial arrangements before a couple gets married so that if there is a breakdown in the marriage subsequently and a divorce is...
Two new pieces of legislation have come into effect in Massachusetts since the start of the New Year. They may not be about laws that you have ever heard of, or even realized that you may have already had a vote on, but directly or indirectly they could affect you in...
If you own a property in Massachusetts, you can’t do whatever you want with it. The state’s zoning laws and by-laws outline the basic parameters for buildings within each zone. For example, in one particular area, the zone may be designated as residential, while in...
By declaring your home as a homestead in Massachusetts, you can protect the equity in your home from some creditors if they try to force a sale of your home in an attempt to settle a debt. Filing a declaration of homestead is relatively easy, but you should know what...
Shareholders agreements are an important part of any business, big or small, that has more than one shareholder. Shareholders agreements exist to establish the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in the business. They are not compulsory in Massachusetts, but...
Around 35% of Massachusetts residents rent somewhere to live. This figure is about average for the whole of the United States, although it hides differences based on age, socio-economic group and location. For example, older or retired people are more likely to have...
Lawsuits are civil actions taken by one party against another because of a perceived wrong against them. Many civil actions are settled without having to use a court, i.e. without having to file a lawsuit, but when the case against the defendant is strong and there...
What are restraining orders? Restraining orders, also called abuse protection orders in Massachusetts, are court orders that are aimed at preventing someone from potentially harming, actually harming, or harassing someone who may or may not be in their family....
Alimony, also called spousal support, is a regular payment made by the better off spouse after a divorce to the less better off one. Not all divorces result in alimony being paid out. In some ways, the payment itself is a throwback to times past when many more...
Community service programs that have been ordered by courts are one possible form of punishment available when an offender has been convicted of a crime that is not very serious. Such programs are thought to have benefits for both the community and the offender in the...
If you have heard that the assets of you and your spouse could be split 50/50 by a Massachusetts court, then you are only partly correct. Of the 50 states, only 9 of them are what are called community property states. In these states (which include Washington,...
If you are in debt to an individual, business, or any other organization and are experiencing pressure to pay your debt or are facing a lawsuit you should make yourself aware of Massachusetts debt collection laws. These provide protection against unfair or illegal...
In Massachusetts, the abbreviations DUI and OUI basically refer to the same thing and that is operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. OUI stands for “Operating Under the Influence” and it is the preferred term for the criminal charges...
“Thou shall NOT...” Maybe not exactly couched in old English, but your new or old employment contract may contain serious non-compete or trade restraint clauses that you need to beware of. Unsurprisingly, employees hardly read or understand the full weight of their...
Estate planning in Massachusetts requires knowledge and precision – and this means that knowing what to do is equally important as knowing what NOT to do. The law heavily regulates the subjects of Wills and estate administration. Since the goal of making a Will is to...
If you have been harmed in any way by someone else, whether they intended to harm you or not, you may have been the victim of what is called in Massachusetts law a “tort”. It is important to know something about torts if you have been hurt in any way by someone else...
There is only one thing more important than making a Will in Massachusetts - it is making a valid Will. There are different sets of legal requirements for a Will to be valid in Massachusetts and they include: Capacity (such as age, soundness of mind, the appointment...