Massachusetts Family Law Blog

Though couples do not usually get married planning to split up, for many couples, divorce becomes a reality. In such cases, having a plan in place for the dissolution of the marriage can be beneficial.

If a prenuptial agreement is not in place, a postnuptial agreement could be beneficial. There are a few things to understand about this type of agreement.

Thousands of Massachusetts residents have gone through a divorce. However, some cities have couples who appear to be more prone to divorce than others. The cities with the highest divorce rates in the state include North Adams, Newburyport and Pittsfield. 

One of the most contentious issues that will come up in any divorce is the subject of alimony. More times than not, one spouse will have to pay the other a set amount of money, at least temporarily. If you are the party who has to pay out, then you need to be cautious and avoid the following mistakes. 

Nearly every attorney may have a client who wants a prenuptial agreement. Surprisingly, clients with little or no valuable assets are eager to make a prenup because their friends say it is the right thing to do.

Prenuptial agreements, while trendy favorites in media circles, are not necessary or even useful for everyone. They are serious legal documents that can deeply affect many aspects of a marriage. A couple should not casually enter into these agreements without understanding the consequences.

Before the Great Recession, the going philosophy was that the marital home was a prize to be won during the property division process of divorce. Today that philosophy no longer holds as much water as house prices have deflated. The consequence is that couples who go through divorce today try to avoid ownership of a marital home that has lost value. For some, the upkeep of the mortgage on the marital house after divorce poses as a stealth financial disaster.