A Mental Health Public Service Announcement

A lot of the work that we do is representing individuals as they transition through difficult periods of their lives. Whether in the context of a guardianship, bankruptcy, divorce, child support, or child custody proceeding, the process can often be emotionally taxing.

While we do our best to remain aware of therapeutic jurisprudence, our court system often falls short of the needs of individuals struggling to deal with the emotional toll of the process. We often work with individuals who are struggling to cope with the process, and encourage them to seek the support of friends, relatives, and/or a therapist. When it comes to your well-being, leaning on the support of others can assist in navigating a trying legal process. In short, don't be afraid to ask for help with your emotional needs while your attorney helps with your legal needs.

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What is the purpose of the Divorce Nisi waiting period?

In Massachusetts the statutory waiting period after a Judgment of Divorce and before the divorce becomes final (or absolute) is called the Nisi period. After a divorce case settles or goes to trial, a Judgment of Divorce Nisi will issue and it will become Absolute after a further ninety (90) days. This waiting period serves the purpose of allowing parties to change their mind before the divorce becomes final. If the Judgment of Divorce Nisi has issued but not become final yet, and you and your spouse decide you don't want to get divorced, then you can file a Motion to Dismiss and the Judgment will be undone. Although many of my clients who are getting divorced think the idea of getting back together with their ex sounds crazy, I have had cases where this happened. In addition to offering a grace period to change your mind, the Nisi period has three other legal effects: 1. The most obvious effect of the waiting period is that you cannot remarry during the Nisi period, be...

New Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines (2021): Big Changes, Little Changes, Typos & some Unexpected Results

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Online Tool for Creating Parenting Plans

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