Unmarried Parents vs Married Parents Rights to Custody in Massachusetts
Separating from a spouse or partner when you have children who are not yet old enough to look after themselves is often an anxious and challenging experience. In Massachusetts, there...
Is Your Employer Allowed to Pay You Late in Massachusetts?
The short answer to this important question is “No”. However, the more detailed answer is more complex. Most employees in Massachusetts are employed in what is called “at-will” employment. This...
Motion for a New Trial in Massachusetts
If someone has been convicted of a criminal offense in Massachusetts there are certain limited grounds for moving a motion for a new trial. This can be done at any...
Common Residential Home After-Purchase Problems in MA
How do you know whether a home you buy not have any major defects, apart from what the seller has already stated before the sale? The answer is to engage...
Claims for Vehicle Accident Victims in Massachusetts
A report by the Centre for Disease Control (US) reveals that one out of every five people dies as a result of distracted driving. In a similar worrisome trend, Massachusetts...
Deciding Pet Custody in a Divorce Case in Massachusetts
Parting with your spouse may be very painful or good riddance, but never with your innocent pet. For couples who have both developed a deep emotional connection with their pet,...
How Divorce Affects Trusts in Massachusetts
Most couples arrange their financial affairs so that in the event that one of them dies prematurely, the other spouse is the major or only beneficiary. Shared children may change...
What Does Self-Employed Business Insurance Cover in Massachusetts?
If you are planning to start a new business, it can be an exciting time. Being self-employed brings numerous advantages over having a regular job and an employer who dictates...
What is the Difference Between a Title and a Deed in Massachusetts?
New homeowners or those individuals and couples who are aspiring homeowners in Massachusetts are often confused about terms used in real estate and the process of purchasing and selling property....
Why is it Always Important to Leave a Mediation With a Signed Agreement in MA
Why agree to mediation? Mediation can be used in all sorts of circumstances where there is a disagreement or dispute between two parties. Mediation is rarely used for criminal cases....
Increase of Telemedicine – How are Patients Protected in Massachusetts?
Telemedicine became an important part of health care when the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a Public Health Emergency (PHE) in March 2019. Although the PHE was cancelled in the Commonwealth on...
Does State Law Override Local Rules?
Vaccine and mask mandates are gradually being wound down in many parts of the U.S. including here in Massachusetts, as an increased vaccination rate and the gradual reduction in the...
Who is Liable for a Slip and Fall on a Sidewalk in Massachusetts?
Slip and fall accidents are common in winter anywhere in the state, especially when there is plenty of snow and ice around. In fact, slip and fall accidents are the...
Plan Your Estate to Minimize Probate Assets
Why you should plan your estate? A surprising number of people don’t bother planning what to do about the assets they own when they pass away. Not leaving a will...
Does a DUI/DWI Stay as a Criminal Record and Can it Count as a Prior Conviction in Massachusetts?
OUI/DWI/DUI: What’s the difference? If you drink too much or take certain drugs which affect your ability to drive, it could be dangerous to drive and you could hurt or...
Divorce : Filing a Counter Claim in Massachusetts
A divorce is often a messy, complicated and stressful business. Decisions have to be made about assets, child custody, child and spousal support. Ideally, these decisions are made rationally and...
When Does the Right To a Lawyer Apply In Massachusetts?
The only constitutional right to a lawyer in Massachusetts at present is if you have been accused of a criminal offense and you do not have enough money to pay...
What Does “Under Seal” Mean?
What is a “seal?” Seals have been around for hundreds of years, but their purpose has changed a lot during that time. The term “under seal” for instance, has little...
How Does Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Work in the Case of a Divorce in Massachusetts?
Divorces are rarely so disputed that they end in litigation. In fact, there are several ways that a disputed divorce settlement can be resolved without the very public, stressful and...
Can a Contractor Take a Lien On a Residential Property In Case of a Dispute In Massachusetts?
Just as a coin has two sides, so has a dispute between a property owner and a contractor who has supplied construction services to that owner. Let’s just tease that...