While technically the court doesn’t favor one spouse over the other based on who files for divorce first, the person who initiates the process can gain some advantages by setting the narrative, controlling the initial timeline, and potentially influencing the direction of negotiations by presenting their case first; however, the final outcome of the divorce […]

No. There is no specific time period.

Generally, the answer is yes but both the divorce, docket, the case files and Decree. There can be exceptions to that. The financial statements are kept separately and are NOT accessible to the public. In the courtroom the divorces are open to the public and there can be exceptions such as when DCF is involved […]

There is also a significant factor in terms of income sources for the parties that now would include gifts or inheritances received which were sometimes arguable before it. So, with the new Cavanagh analysis, there is a lot more that is being looked at in terms of determining how child support, alimony co-exist and the […]

This impacts many families in a different way in terms of how they determine or calculate alimony and child support, with a determination that judges are supposed to determine the fairness of each approach in a fashion or order that is most fair for the families. This usually involves calculating the alimony first and then […]

Every few years there are changes in child support. There is one where there will be a task force that is in charge of reviewing the guidelines, recommending changes and in the future continue to be addressed. There are some significant changes with the child support guidelines when they are changed every couple of years, […]

Massachusetts law now recognizes the unfortunate reality that abuse goes beyond just physical. It can be economic or psychological, too. With the recent 2024 amendment to the law on abuse prevention orders (aka restraining orders), Massachusetts became the seventh state in the United States to add “coercive control” to the definition of abuse, and coercive […]

The Pathway Case Management consists of Zoom hearings with the Judicial Case Manager.  The idea behind these is to try and help resolve cases quicker and more efficiently, particularly, for self-represented litigants.  Originally, it started for my practice more in Plymouth County, I believe it also was in Barnstable. Now it is in Bristol County […]

The Hearing Officer will begin to record the hearing. The Hearing Officer will explain the process and have everyone introduce themselves. The Hearing Officer will then swear in anyone who will be providing information at the hearing. The Hearing Officer will ensure everyone has all the documents that were submitted before the hearing. DCF will […]

The fair hearing officer, the DCF worker who made the decision, and usually the DCF supervisor.  Again, who made the decision that you’re appealing?  In general, a lawyer for DCF does not attend and the ongoing worker may attend but usually does not appear. DCF may have witnesses but most times they rely on the […]