Divorce & Family Law
Divorce is an emotionally charged and personal event. The legal aspects of divorce can feel invasive and like a terrible breach of privacy. When children are involved it can be even more emotional and upsetting. One of the biggest mistakes divorcing couples can make is to let their feelings take priority over making sound, practical choices. Boston divorce attorney Karen Lane can help you during this difficult time.
Grounds for Massachusetts Divorce
Massachusetts grants divorce on the ground of an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Divorce Issues
A divorce ends your marriage so that you can live separate lives and remarry if you choose. Issues which are decided in a divorce include:
- Property division
- Spousal support
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Who gets the marital home
Temporary Orders
Temporary orders set conditions while your divorce is pending. Common issues for temporary orders to address include child custody, child support, who can live in the marital home, and restraining orders. Temporary orders lay the foundation for the outcome of the divorce, and well-drafted temporary orders can help you avoid problems later in the process.
Separation Agreement
If you and your spouse can reach an agreement on all of the issues applicable to your marriage, you will put it into a document called a Separation Agreement. Separation agreements are used in both uncontested and contested divorces.
If your situation is very simple, meaning there are no children involved, no assets, and no contested issues, your Separation Agreement can be simple and informal, although it must still be in writing and signed by both spouses. On the other end of the spectrum, a Separation Agreement may be very lengthy, complicated, and detailed.
Your agreement must be approved by a judge who will review the agreement and your circumstances, and ask both of you questions to make sure that you truly understand the terms of the agreement.
If you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement on the terms of the divorce on your own, you can choose divorce mediation. Mediation avoids a trial, is less expensive, and keeps the decisions in your hands. Divorce mediation is much easier on the spouses, and any children involved, than a divorce which goes to trial.
In the rare case that an agreement cannot be reached, your divorce will go to trial.
If you are considering filing for a divorce or you spouse has filed for divorce, call today Family Law attorney Karen D. Lane. Her office is located in the town of Sherborn, which is centrally located in Middlesex County, 3.3 miles directly south of the Mass Pike, on the Natick/Framingham town lines. She represents clients throughout metro-suburban Boston in Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester, and Essex counties. Please call attorney Karen D. Lane at 508-655-5513 or contact her online today to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about how she can help you to protect yourself by providing you with her legal expertise in family law to develop solutions in the best interest of YOU, you family and your future.