Bankruptcy Blog and other Resources

In addition to providing answers to commonly asked questions on our website, we also try to provide links to other resources where you may find further information. These links include the Court websites, other government websites, and organizations that we either belong to or may have further resources that could be useful to the public.

In addition we will often include in our Twitter accounts, links to blog posts from other blogs that we believe you might find interesting. You can click here to connect with Attorney Trask or Attorney Kelsey on twitter.

One particular resource that you should review if you are considering bankruptcy is the Bankruptcy Law Network, where we often find great blog posts on numerous questions involving bankruptcies. Here are just a few examples:

San Diego: New Ruling Allows Student Loans to be Discharged in Chapter 13! http://ff.im/-4nJBn

How Do I Find a Good Deal on a Secured Credit Card? http://ff.im/-4FnH5

Do I have to be a citizen to file a bankruptcy case? http://ff.im/-4hCit

How to Value a Car for Chapter 13 Plan “Secured Claim” Purposes http://ff.im/-4a82w

How Long Will My Chapter 7 Take? http://ff.im/-46Odg

What Happens If A Creditor Contacts Me After My Bankruptcy? http://ff.im/-3LIbV

“Stealth” Plan Provisions: Confirmation of Chapter 13 Plan Did Not Alter Domestic Support Obligation http://ff.im/-3uuIL

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2024 U.S. Presidential Party Platforms - What are the policy positions that could affect families?

While the laws that affect family formation, marriage and divorce are often made at the state level, there are also many policies and laws at the federal level that affect families and children. Just some examples from recent years that have impacted families in my mediation practice include changes to the federal tax laws (such as the elimination of the alimony tax deduction ) and U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same sex marriage and reproductive health rights. In just over a month, the United States presidential election will have a significant impact on these federal policies going forward, and could choose the next appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court as well. In 2016 and 2020 we shared what each presidential platform said about families and policy regarding family formation and dissolution, and below we'll provide you an update on the 2024 presidential platforms. As Maya Angelou said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."...

Updating your Divorce Agreement Template - More Lessons from Cavanagh v. Cavanagh

We recently posted a lengthy review of the the Massachusetts SJC decision in Cavanagh v. Cavanagh (2002) which included some recommendations for drafting divorce agreements, also typically called Separation Agreements. The Cavanagh case is best known for it's clarification of how the courts should evaluate support calculations when a case may have both alimony and child support. However, the case also contained numerous rulings that should make practitioners review their Separation Agreement templates and change some of the ways in which they may have previously drafted certain sections. In this post we'll share actual language from the Gray Jay Endeavors, LLC form Separation Agreement template which addresses each of the issues raised by the Cavanagh decision. If you are a professional interested in purchasing the full Separation Agreement template, check out Gray Jay's forms subscription which includes editable Massachusetts court forms and financial st...

Massachusetts Family Court Financial Statement - Instructions & Best Practices

During a divorce, or other case in the Massachusetts Probate & Family Court that involves your finances, such as a child support case, you will likely be required to file a court form Financial Statement. In Massachusetts there are two versions of this form: a "short form" if your income is under $75,000 and a "long form" if your income is $75,000 or more. Many people find these forms confusing and we've compiled a list of helpful information for filling them out. First , to access the forms, the court has provided pdf or online versions here: Massachusetts Rule 401 Short Form Financial Statement (pdf) Massachusetts Rule 401 Long Form Financial Statement (pdf) There are also some basic instructions provided by the court explaining the sections of the forms and providing access to a Schedule A (for self-employed people) and Schedule B (for rental income): Massachusetts Rule 401 Short Form Financial Statement Basic Instructions Massachusetts Rule 401 Long F...

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