Same Sex Partnerships in Marriage and Estate Planning
In the following posts, Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jon Fields and Massachusetts estate planning lawyer Sheryl Dennis respectively examine some off the issues pertaining to Massachusetts same-sex couples: http://www.bostondivorceandmediationlawyers.com/2011/02/how-will-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-deal-with-massachusetts-same-sex-marriage/; http://www.estateplanninginmassachusetts.com/2011/02/same-sex-couple%E2%80%99s-guide-to-estate-planning/
Continue ReadingBrief History of Enforcement of Prenuptial Agreements in Massachusetts
Here’s a post of a paper I presented a few years ago at the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation. While it’s not completely up-to-date, it’s a good primer on the topic. I. Early History At common law, post-marital contracts between prospective spouses were legally impossible because, under the “doctrine of marital ...
Continue ReadingIs Marriage Becoming “Obsolete”?
According to a 2010 Pew Research Center survey examining American attitude toward relationships, 39% of the 2,691 people asked, believe marriage is becoming obsolete. In a 1978 Time Magazine survey, only 28% reported the same.
Continue ReadingImputing Income and Divorce Planning
The Appeals Court affirmed a judgment in which the trial court refused to impute income to a wife who was working an 80% schedule at the time of trial and who was earning an annual salary of over $500,000. The Appeals Court was impressed that throughout the marriage, she had often reverted from full-time to ...
Continue ReadingIs Divorce Contagious?
Is your wife hanging out a lot with her newly divorced friend? Watch out. A recent study suggests that divorce may be contagious. Having a divorced friend or relative, according to the new study, increases the odds that you will get divorced. An article published yesterday details a case in which a married couple may ...
Continue Reading