Jobs with the Highest Divorce Rates
There are many elements that can lead to a couple divorcing, but career seems to play a very large part. Whether it’s due to the stress of the job, long hours away from home, or a great deal of social interaction without your spouse, your career could put you in a high-risk category for divorce. These jobs have some of the highest…
The Second Look Test Assures a Fair Prenuptial Agreement
Every year, thousands of people get married with a plan to live happily together for the rest of their lives. In reality, between 40 and 50 percent of those couples will eventually divorce. This is just one of many reasons why couples should consider entering into a prenuptial agreement. Massachusetts law specifically recognizes prenuptial, or antenuptial, contracts concerning the division of assets…
Consider Adding a Sunset Clause to Your Prenuptial Agreement
No matter how intently a couple believes their marriage will last forever, the reality is that the divorce rate in the U.S. is between 40 and 50 percent for first marriages. The rate is even higher for subsequent marriages. Many married couples are now entering into prenuptial (prenup) agreements to deal with the future division of assets and liabilities and whether or…
Songs to Help You Cope with Divorce
Music is very powerful and during one of the hardest times in any family, it might make you feel less alone that perhaps someone out there understands what you’re going through. You Don’t Bring me Flowers – Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond This song talks about the beginning of the end; when you realize that the other person no longer do those…
Retirement Funds in a Divorce
Retirement funds are the basis of financial security in your later years. They offer the same reassurance to your spouse especially if you have been married for decades. However, a divorce reduces reassurance in many aspects, including access to these accounts when both of you stop working. Many people visit a divorce attorney concerned about asset protection including their retirement accounts. While…
What is a Divorce Decree?
The process of a divorce has several steps, the last of which is the divorce decree. To ensure you get through the process as easily as possible, it is wise to seek the advice of an experienced Massachusetts divorce attorney. Read below to learn the specifics about the last step in the divorce process, that being the divorce decree: What is a…
Marriage and Divorce Rates, Unmarried Birth Percent in Massachusetts
Both the marriage and divorce rates in Massachusetts are among the lowest in the country, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Over the past decade, the state’s marriage rate has gradually decreased, from 6.2 percent in 2005 to 5.6 percent in 2014. The divorce rate, on the other hand, has increased, from 2.2 percent to 2.7 percent over that same…
Dividing Property in a Divorce in Massachusetts
If you are getting a divorce in Massachusetts, it’s important to understand that Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state. This means that all assets and debts from your marriage will be divided up in a way that is deemed fair, and not necessarily equal to both parties. When you are going through the divorce process, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you…
QDRO – Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a court-approved decree that assigns part or all of tax qualified retirement benefits to divided marital assets, to provide child support, or to pay spousal alimony. Any assignments of retirement interests must comply with two federal laws: the Internal Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974. On order for…
Paying For a Divorce Lawyer Now Made Simpler
Massachusetts couples should always remember that, among other things, marriage is a legal contract between two people. Yet, in the end, after all the pomp and ceremony of the nuptials, it is important to understand the serious legal ramifications involved in the partnership. It seems many forget this reality. When things do break down, they are fortunate to be able to retain…