Every four years, per federal requirements, the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines must be reviewed.  To that end, the Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey has announced the formation of the 2020-2021 Massachusetts Trial Court Child Support Guidelines Task Force . The Task Force is seeking public comment regarding the current Child Support Guidelines.  Written comments may be submitted to the Task Force at: childsupport@jud.state.ma.us by December 15, 2020. While we're awaiting the new guidelines, the court has finally updated their existing interactive worksheet to be more accessible .  The worksheet has been available as an interactive PDF since the last guidelines update in 2018.  However, the pdf doesn't work in all readers, and on mobile devices it may not be accessible.  The Court has now released a web-version of the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet which can be used in any browser or mobile device.  The pdf option is still available as ...

Skylark's online Massachsuetts Child Support Calculator   was recently added as a resource on JusticeApp - a free downloadable resource from co-founders Damian Turco and Melina Munoz Turco.  This is the future of how clients will find reliable information, professionals and resources and we're pleased to be included. A Message from the Co-Founders: JusticeApp is a free mobile app designed to help people with legal problems manage their cases through the court system. The app doesn’t aim to create solutions for every legal problem.  Rather, it aggregates credible resources already created and maintain by government, legal aid organization, and, in some select instances, private attorneys, in a simple and clean interface. No more endless internet searches at two in the morning, wondering if the information you find is accurate and reliable.  Without leaving the app, JusticeApp guides you to resources on the law, courthouses, and the court’s official online docket....

by Beth Aarons When a former family law colleague of mine told me about Collaborative Law Process sometime around 2008, conceptually it sounded much like a series of traditional four-way meetings, but with a therapist present.  As a fledgling dispute resolution process, I saw no harm in adding this skill set to my professional tool kit to bolster the transition of my practice out of litigation and into dispute resolution. It was not until several years after I had taken the Introduction to Collaborative Law training that I experienced the actual magic of Collaborative Law Process.  The family had been slowly imploding for years and now everything was coming to a head.* Mom and Dad still occupied the same house but had stopped speaking to each other years earlier after Dad had an infidelity.  They had decided to divorce but not tell the kids until there was a plan to separate into two households.  Mom had lost her job and Dad’s salary was not enough to cover two sets ...

In 2016 we shared what each presidential platform stated about families and given the upcoming election we want to update our post with the latest information.  There are significant differences between the presidential candidates, and their platforms explain some of the vehemence with which many defend or attack the 2020 candidates.  Since this blog focuses primarily on the impact of the law on families and family conflict, we will concentrate on only one portion of the presidential platforms: How does each 2020 U.S. Presidential Platform address families in America? While in 2016 we indicated that we did not endorse any candidate officially, and we provided the platforms in no particular order, in this election the author (Justin Kelsey) cannot, in good conscience make the same statement.  The republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, has failed to represent equality, freedom, and human rights for all individuals and families in America and he has expressed opini...

UPDATE:  The first online training was so well received, MCLC is planning a second.  The next training will be held March 3-5 from 10AM - 4PM. Register here. The Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council's Introduction to Collaborative Law Training won't be stopped by COVID-19.  The training is September 23-25 from 8AM - 2PM via Zoom.  Flyer:  Collaborative Law is a dispute resolution process similar to mediation but with many differences. It is an opportunity to expand your out-of-court negotiation practice, to increase your negotiation skill-set, and to provide additional service options to your clients.  If you've heard about Collaborative Law but you're still not sure, learn more about Collaborative Law by watching this 4-part video series , or reach out to me directly to schedule a meeting to discuss . Register and Learn more here! More Info on the Training: Save time, money, and your commute in this virtual IACP approved basic training in collaborative...

I get this question from lawyers a lot who are wondering if a particular training will "certify" them to be mediators. In fact, I just received an inquiry today related to the upcoming 40-hour online mediation training provided by Divorce Mediation Training Associates (more info below): Are Mediators in Massachusetts Certified? What Mediation Training results in a Certification? In Massachusetts there is no government certification or license provided by the Commonwealth certifying mediators. There are some court rules and statutory provisions, however, that require a 30 hour training for certain activities and I believe this is where the misconception about "certification" stems.  The court rules and statutes that require training are: Under the mediator confidentiality statute,  Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 233, Section 23C , mediators who have taken at least 30 hours of training and meet other requirements, have confidentiality protections in the...

"We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that 'justice too long delayed is justice denied.' "  - from the Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. Seeking and obtaining the assistance of the courts in resolving disputes is a right afforded the residents of our republic, but it is not always administered justly and equally.  Many have been denied those rights over the years due to discrimination or economic limitations, and it is a privilege of access that many others have come to take for granted. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted just how necessary court access is in emergencies, and also delayed significantly the access to courts for non-emergency matters.  Unfortunately, what constitutes an emergency is very limiting, and for many this means bearing the stress and trauma of ongoing litigation for much longer than even the normal lengthy process.  Now more than ever is the time to consider alternatives. T...