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In Massachusetts, Can My Child Choose Which Parent to Live With?

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On September 2, 2025

No, a child cannot legally choose which parent to live with in Massachusetts before turning 18, as the court’s decision is based on the child’s best interests, not their choice. However, a court may consider a mature child’s custodial preferences, especially with older children, but this is just one factor among many and is never the […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On August 11, 2025

In Massachusetts, the narratives for the mandatory parenting class for divorcing parents, which was in place before COVID, and then have a mandatory nature that ended, but at this point, it is another filing requirement.

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On August 4, 2025

In Massachusetts, Chapter 209C of the Massachusetts General Laws governs paternity actions for children born to unmarried parents. It establishes a legal framework for determining paternity, establishing support obligations, and addressing custody and visitation matters related to children born outside of marriage. Key aspects of Chapter 209C: Establishing Paternity: It provides the process for legally declaring a man as the […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On July 28, 2025

Massachusetts courts now recognize “coercive control” as a form of domestic violence under the updated restraining order law. This new legal provision covers a broad range of behaviors intended to dominate or isolate a family or household member. Examples include: Isolating the victim from friends, family, or other sources of support Depriving them of basic […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On March 31, 2025

The answer is yes. You can have DCF involved. You can also ask the court to either have the parenting time of visitation supervised by that parent. You can also ask the court for a Motion by the court to order random drug screens, you could ask the court to order random alcohol testing, or […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On March 24, 2025

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 […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On March 17, 2025

No. There is no specific time period.

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On March 10, 2025

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 […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On March 3, 2025

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 […]

Posted by Alexander Nesson
On February 24, 2025

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 […]

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In Massachusetts, Can My Child Choose Which Parent to Live With?

The Changing Narrative of the Mandatory Parenting Class in Massachusetts Divorces.

Massachusetts now has the Massachusetts “Parentage Act”.

Massachusetts Updates Restraining Order Law to Include “Coercive Control.”

In Massachusetts, if there is an Issue in Custody but there is a Concern about the Other Parent Drinking or using Drugs. Is there anything that I can do?

Does it Matter Who Files First in a Divorce Case?

Does Massachusetts Have a Legal Separation or is there a Specific Period that you need to be Separated prior to Filing for Divorce?

A Common Question the Clients Ask is: Are Divorces Open to the Public and are the Files Public Records?

In Cavanagh, regarding Child Support and Alimony.

In Massachusetts, there has been a Significant Case Law Under Cavanagh.