A revocable living trust allows you to create a sperate entity that holds your assets while you are alive but also allows you more control over to who and when your assets should be distributed. It can allow greater control. You can have a trustee that controls that assets until such time as children( grandchildren […]

DCF has had very bad publicity recently. Whether the news about DCF is accurate or not, it has changed the landscape of how DCF is handling cases. DCF is much more likely to be more actively involved in families’ lives and the courts have seen a huge increase in the amount of Care and Protections […]

In MA, a Cahill disposition means instead of the penalties of a second offense( with lifetime lookback) that includes a mandatory 60 days jail sentence or 14 day in patient program you may be able to negotiate probation with the 24D program( first offender’s disposition). In addition, the license suspension would allow for a hardship […]

The Law now is that any driver with a second or subsequent OUI or DWI who is eligible for a hardship license for license reinstatement will need to have an Ignition Interlock Devise attached to any vehicle that the driver owns leases or operates; and that includes an employer’s vehicle, and the driver has to […]

This continues to have a dramatic impact in the criminal justice system and cases that have collateral consequences is recently as October 18, 2013. There has been an article showing that the Attorney General, Martha Coakley is requesting that Annie Dookhan serve up to 7 years in jail in state prison, if she pleads guilty.  […]

If there is no prior OUI offense it is 180 days; if there is one prior OUI offense it is 3 years; two prior OUI offenses it is 5 years; or three or more prior OUI offenses it is lifetime.  However, if you are under 21, it adds 3 years and 180 days for no […]

I just had a trial this week regarding supervised visitation at a visitation center where my client was requesting, which the court had allowed in the Temporary Orders and was waiting the ruling from the court regarding the Judgment, that the father was able to have visits at a visitation center.    Generally, the court […]

Massachusetts has a lot of newer Anti-Bullying Laws and requirements that the school has to follow in order to protect students from bullying.  Bullying does not just include physical violence, but it can also include words and it applies to all schools; whether they are public, private or chartered.  Bullying means any kind of repeated […]

CORI Issues:   Massachusetts Law Reform Institute CORI Project – 617-357-0700   Disability and Mental Health Issues:   Center for Public Representation – 617-965-0776   Healthcare Advocates – 617-338-5241 Discrimination for Gay and Lesbian Advocate Defenders – 617-426-1350 or 1-800-455-GLAD Elder Abuse Reporting – 1-800-922-2275 Mass. Commission against Discrimination – 617-994-6000

Consumer Law   Attorney General’s Elder Hotline: 888-AGELDER (888-243-5337)   Consumer Protection Division – 617-727-8400   Small Claims Advisory Service – 617-497-5690   Attorney General Wage Hotline – 617-727-3465   Advise on Debt Management, includes Landlord/tenant; consumer credit counseling service In Boston its 617-426-6644.