If you visit a seasoned family law attorney prior to marriage with the terms "separate" and "marital" on your mind, that lawyer is going to know exactly what you are concerned about.In a word: property. Here's the deal. Many individuals in Massachusetts and elsewhere...
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Property Division
When asset protection takes on a sinister twist
Many people likely think of estate planning professionals when they hear the words "asset protection." And, of course, safeguarding wealth is a core concern of estate administration practitioners focused upon promoting their clients' best financial interests.A recent...
Hiding assets is worse than cheating?
Stashing a few hundred dollar bills away for a couples trip to your favorite Air BnB is not what you would consider “hiding assets.” A marriage is a partnership. The expectation between two people in that union is that they share everything. Well,...
The sale of a family business in divorce is not inevitable
Of course it's not your child, but you can certainly get protective and emotional when it comes to your family business, right?If you've got one of those, you undoubtedly worked long and hard -- perhaps alone, maybe alongside your spouse -- to make it profitable. You...
Following the maze: uncovering hidden marital assets
You know your spouse is a notably successful business person, owning several companies. Additionally, he or she (let's just say he for purposes of this blog post) has bragged over the years about his investment acumen.So where is all that wealth now, as you're looking...
No stone unturned: identifying, valuing marital assets in divorce
If your soon-to-be ex is hyperventilating on the floor after having just learned that the lottery ticket he or she bought recently actually has THE WINNING POWERBALL NUMBERS, take a moment to collect yourself.And then promptly remind your impending former spouse that...
Divorce focus: family business valuation and an equitable result
If you worked hard to establish a Massachusetts business and make its ongoing operations profitable (either by yourself or working together with your spouse), you certainly have an avid interest in how that enterprise will be handled if you and your partner decide to...
Even absent a prenup, you can still protect your separate property
Reams of material have been written on prenuptial agreements in recent years. Notably, the slant ranges widely.On the one hand, there are emotionally charged -- and, candidly, easily challenged -- spiels on how a prenuptial contract allegedly dampens romantic ardor...
For many, obviously the largest divorce concern — the house
Not a lot of people are confident enough -- or remotely able -- to discuss the material considerations relevant to the family home in a divorce.Your attorney is, especially if that professional commands a background marked by proven performance assisting a diverse...
Taxes: a likely discussion topic during the divorce process
We have noted many times in past select blog posts that divorce in Massachusetts and elsewhere is never a typical or boilerplate process. Every dissolution is different, because every family is unique.Having said that, though, it is certainly true that a few core...