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Most people understand and accept that there are strict rules about consuming alcohol and what might happen if an intoxicated person drives, takes control of a boat, or behaves unreasonably in public. In Massachusetts, it is illegal to consume alcohol if you are under...
If you have been physically abused or threatened by someone you know well, you should be able to get a restraining order to protect you from further abuse. Restraining orders, also called abuse protection orders, protective orders or 209A orders, are court orders...
Underage drinking in Massachusetts is treated very seriously. By “underage” it means aged under 21. In most circumstances, you cannot purchase, provide or drink alcohol in Massachusetts if you are aged under 21. That age limit doesn’t exempt older people from...
Prosecutors are attorneys who have the role of representing the government in criminal cases. In Massachusetts, chief prosecutors are known as district attorneys (D.A.s), while each district attorney will also have assistant district attorneys working in his or her...
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...
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....
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 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...
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...
Deciding child custody arrangements before a divorce can be frustrating when the two parents disagree about how they should be made. If the parents cannot come to a mutually acceptable decision about child custody themselves, or with the help of a counselor and/or...
If someone has been convicted of a criminal offense in Massachusetts there are certain limited grounds for moving a motion for a new trial. This can be done at any time after the conviction has been determined by trial. There are two principal categories of reasons...
A report by the Centre for Disease Control (US) reveals that one out of every five people dies as a result of distracted driving. In a similar worrisome trend, Massachusetts Highway Safety Division recorded the highest number of car accident deaths in 2021 since 2009....
Vaccine and mask mandates are gradually being wound down in many parts of the U.S. including here in Massachusetts, as an increased vaccination rate and the gradual reduction in the severity of the Omicron wave take hold. But who actually had the authority to issue...
OUI/DWI/DUI: What’s the difference? If you drink too much or take certain drugs which affect your ability to drive, it could be dangerous to drive and you could hurt or even kill anyone in your vehicle or another vehicle. In every state in the country, there are clear...
The only constitutional right to a lawyer in Massachusetts at present is if you have been accused of a criminal offense and you do not have enough money to pay for a lawyer yourself. The court will appoint a lawyer to defend you throughout the proceedings against you....
We all know what “hearsay” is in colloquial language. Loosely, it refers to things that are said about someone which cannot be substantiated. Hearsay may also be referred to as “rumors” or “tittle tattle.” To give an example of hearsay, let’s say that a group of...
In an emergency, decisions usually have to be made in a hurry. There may be no time to plan what to do and how to do it. If the emergency is a personal one, it’s often up to you and who is around you to make urgent decisions about your own safety. Later, you might...
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...
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...