When a Franklin area couple comes to the point where they believe their marriage is heading for divorce, it can be an emotional time. There are so many things that the couple needs to figure out, including property division.Besides a couple's home, their retirement...
Separating property pursuant to a Massachusetts divorce
Life is more than the things that one accumulates over time, but the things that individuals choose to purchase, acquire, and keep can have significant financial and emotional value. Gifts from lost loved ones, residences full of memories, and lucrative investments...
Making the most out of the marital property division process
Divorce is often hard on families, especially when Massachusetts' parents end their relationships with each other and search for ways to co-parent their kids. Although it is tough for children to watch their home lives change and their parents move on to lead separate...
What is separate property in a divorce?
Although a divorce is an opportunity for individuals to find new beginnings in their lives, they often require sacrifice and compromise on the part of both parties. Some couples choose to mediate their divorces, while others use the courts to litigate the ends of...
Property division is an important element of a divorce
No matter how hard a Massachusetts resident tries, they will inevitably accumulate stuff over the course of their life. That stuff can take on many different forms, from small possessions like articles of clothing and books, to large items like personal vehicles and...
Thoughts on whether to keep the marital home
Oftentimes, among a Massachusetts couple's most valuable assets is their marital residence. Real estate remains a good and reliable investment these days, which means couples who have been together a number of years will have a lot of equity rolled up in their...
More on family business assets and divorce
A previous post on this blog talked about how Massachusetts couples who own a family business together and who are going through divorce have to make some important decisions. Sometimes, couples who have never been married may face similar issues.One of the biggest...
The rules of real estate in a divorce
It is not uncommon for divorce settlement negotiations to become deadlocked over a marital residence. When both spouses wish to keep the real estate, the claws can come out with a vengeance. There are a few ways in which real estate ownership can be determined or...
How are retirement funds divided in a divorce?
Often times a retirement fund is the largest pot of money at stake within a divorce. Therefore, it probably goes without saying that it is also often a great source of contention. There are rules in place that determine how a retirement account can be distributed, and...
What is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order?
A qualified domestic relations order (QRDO) is the method through which a retirement plan is divided in the event of a divorce. It provides the terms in which a retirement plan administrator should divide and pay plan proceeds. It is a separate order from the divorce...