Under the law of Massachusetts you may file a divorce complaint as a contested divorce on the basis of fault of the other party, (for instance, adultery or cruel and abusive treatment, or on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. If you proceed with a contested divorce, the Court cannot enter a Judgment of Divorce for at least six months after the filing of the complaint. Moreover, as a practical matter, due to the considerable volume of cases pending in the Probate and Family Courts, it is likely that resolution of a contested divorce case will take well in excess of six months. AS an alternative procedure, you and your spouse may file for an uncontested divorce by filing a Joint Petition for Divorce. To do so, you and your spouse must first reach an understanding on all relevant issues, (for example, the division of property, co-parenting arrangements, and extent to which, if any, child support or alimony shall be paid by one party) and have executed a comprehensive written agreement incorporating all of the terms. When the case is uncontested, there is no minimum amount of time that must pass before the Court may enter Judgment of Divorce. Therefore, the Court may schedule a hearing on a Joint Petition for Divorce soon after it is filed. Finally, even if a divorce is initiated as a contested case, you and your spouse may amend the complaint to proceed on an uncontested basis if you have reached agreement on all relevant issues.
Child Support
When a child is born of parents who are not married to each other, there are typically many potential complications and issues that need clarification through legal actions such as child support orders.
Child Custody and Visitation
The Law Offices of Richard C. Woods provides experienced representation for people who have child custody and visitation issues arising out of their divorce. We work toward mediated or negotiated child custody arrangements that truly are best for the children. Our experienced family law attorneys know that parents' egos and guilt often become an issue in child custody settlements.
Paternity
Premarital Agreement
A prenuptial agreement (also commonly known as a premarital agreement or ante nuptial agreement) is a contract between two persons intending to marry. The purpose of the agreement is to establish both parties’ respective property and other financial rights and obligations in the event that the marriage is terminated by divorce. In fact, the party seeking to enforce the agreement upon a divorce will ask the Court to adopt the agreement as being determinative of each party’s rights and obligations relative to the issues covered by the agreement.
Guardianship
Every individual, while healthy and competent should seriously consider establishing a Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy in order to appoint the persons they would personally select to make financial and medical decisions for them in the event of future incompetence. These are simple, inexpensive legal documents that protect an individual during their lifetime. A failure to execute these legal documents while healthy and competent could result in the Court appointing a Guardian for you, in the event you were to become incompetent in the future. The Guardianship process is a legal process requiring Court appearances, and public notices, that is costly, both financially and emotionally. The Guardianship process, in most cases, may be totally avoided by some simple lifetime planning accomplished while you are legally competent. Furthermore, a Court appointed Guardian could be someone you would not have personally chosen and could be a complete stranger, appointed by the Court.
Spousal Support
No. Alimony is a “need” basis form of support. In this context, need is defined as the standard of living to which the parties became accustomed during the marriage. Like determining an equitable division of property, in deciding whether and what amount of alimony a spouse will pay to another, the Court must consider all of the mandatory factors set forth in Mass. Gen. Laws c. 208 sec. 34.
Legal Separation
"Legal separation" as a formal legal status does not exist in Massachusetts. There is divorce, and there are marriages that continue but clarify separation of assets and responsibilities by way of separation agreements.
Although many are fine attorneys, these lawyers are generally overworked, underpaid, and cannot provide your case with the attention and aggressive representation that an experienced, private criminal defense attorney can.
Wrongful Death
Many parties are responsible for your safety when you enter an airplane. Air traffic controllers on the ground ensure that collisions don’t occur. The flight staff is responsible for operating the aircraft safely. Manufacturers, airlines and maintenance providers are held to strict standards to ensure that mechanical problems don’t lead to malfunctions, accidents, injuries and/or wrongful death.
Sex Crimes
Misdemeanors
A statute for a misdemeanor crime may say an offender must pay up to $1000 in fines and serve up to 6 months in jail, or both; it is up to the logic and common sense of the judge to decide on the most fitting penalty.
Drug Crimes
If your client is on trial for drug trafficking, you want to avoid a juror whose family member may have died from a drug overdose. A skilled trial defense attorney will be able to weed out potential jurors who may have certain biases or prejudices that do not amount to giving the defendant the best chance at an acquittal.
Assault
In the context of criminal law, "assault and battery" are typically components of a single offense. In tort law, "assault" and "battery" are separate, with an assault being an act which creates fear of an imminent battery, and the battery being an unlawful touching. Assault and battery are intentional torts, meaning that the defendant actually intends to put the plaintiff in fear of being battered, or intends to wrongfully touch the plaintiff. The wrongful touching need not inflict physical injury, and may be indirect (such as contact through a thrown stone, or spitting). This article describes the law of assault and battery as it is commonly applied, although the law may vary in any specific jurisdiction.
Restraining Order
Upon filing a complaint for divorce, an automatic restraining order (pertaining to assets) takes effect. The restraining order prevents either party from liquidating, selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of assets in a manner inconsistent with the ordinary course of business or usual living circumstances. (The order is effective upon the plaintiff at the filing of the complaint, and upon the defendant upon service of the complaint). This measure of Court-imposed financial protection enables the Court to act very quickly in the event of an apparent violation of the order, and authorizes the Court to impose a wide range of sanctions against the offending party. While your case is pending, if you have limited access to family assets and income, the Court can enter temporary orders for your support and the support of children in your custody.
Contact a Real Estate Attorney in Massachusetts. For more information about real estate law, or if you need to speak with a real estate lawyer, please contact our Stoneham office today.
Premises Liability
At the Law Offices of Richard C. Woods. we have successfully handled numerous premises liability and slip/trip and fall accidents and can fight aggressively for your rights.
Real Estate Transactions
Whether you have sustained a personal injury, are going through a divorce, need to create a will or probate an estate, or involved in a real estate transaction, The Law Offices of Richard C. Woods & Associates can assist you.
Property Damage
Even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you may still be able to recover money damages for your injuries, medical and rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Condominium Law
Our real estate lawyers in Stoneham, Massachusetts represent individuals and institutions in connection with the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate, and all phases of real estate development and financing. Services provided include preparation and review of the Offer to Purchase and Purchase and Sale Agreement, Real Estate Closings, preparation of Realty Trusts ("Nominee Trusts"), Condominium Conversions, and other services related to real estate transactions. We can also provide assistance in obtaining competitive mortgage financing in Massachusetts with a variety of competitive mortgage lenders.
The Law Offices of Richard C. Woods is a Massachusetts law firm concentrating in personal injury law and on handling complex tort litigation in the state and federal courts. Examples of accidents involved in the firm's work include: scaffolding failures caused by not securing the scaffolding to the building or securing it improperly; scaffolding collapses caused by the use of substandard or poorly maintained scaffolding equipment; injuries and deaths caused by falls from ladders that violate OSHA regulations or industry standards.
Medical Malpractice
It is important to realize that, just because you may have had a bad result in your medical treatment, it does not necessarily indicate that you may have a medical malpractice case. There may be many reasons why you did not get well or why you may even seem to be worse after treatment. Nevertheless, you are entitled to recover against the doctor only when the bad result was caused by their negligence.
Auto Accidents
Social Security Disability
In most cases a simple Will is sufficient to accomplish your objectives. On larger Estates, valued at over the Estate taxable level (currently $2.0 million dollars federally for Year 2007 and $1.0 million dollars for Massachusetts resident whose Estates exceed $1.0 million dollars with date of death in Year 2007), more elaborate Estate planning may be required. Also, sometimes more specific planning is necessary to protect a disabled spouse, child or grandchild during your lifetime, and/or after your death. For example, perhaps a disabled child is receiving social security disability benefits that would be lost if that child received even a small or insignificant inheritance. With proper planning, the child could be left the same assets, without risking loss of the benefits that they receive that are necessary for their support. Perhaps a spouse requires long term medical care, while the spouse remaining at home and in the community needs to preserve the couple's income and assets for their own financial security. With proper planning these issues can be addressed and a plan implemented to meet your personal needs.
Medicaid Planning
Execute a Declaration of Homestead to protect your home from creditors during your lifetime. The Homestead document is recorded at the Registry of Deeds. A Homestead Declaration provides you with protection against creditors of up to $500,000.00 in equity in your home. In the event of a lawsuit against you, the Homestead prevents an attachment and possible forced sale and loss of your home to a creditor. After age sixty-two (62), you are eligible to execute an elderly Homestead which provides $500,000.00 of protection for each over sixty-two (62) owner of the real estate. Thus, a joint Homestead for two (2) owners over age sixty-two (62) provides 1 million dollars of protection. A joint Homestead is not permitted for persons under age sixty-two (62). The Homestead will not protect your home for purposes of Medicaid planning, or nursing home obligations.
Dog Bites
Nearly five million people annually suffer dog bites in the US, and half of those who seek attention for dog bites are children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those injured, nearly 400,000 require treatment in a hospital emergency department and more than a dozen die.
Slip and Fall Injury
It is very important to document the scene right away after a slip and fall injury. The next day, property owners will most likely fix the handrail or cracked sidewalk or remove the ice. The condition of the scene may soon look markedly different. Family members can help right away by photographing the scene of the accident and helping to identify witnesses. Better yet: contact the Law Offices of Richard C. Woods
Hiring a lawyer to facilitate the probate and estate administration process can be helpful in relieving burdens. However, it can be expensive and lengthy if not managed by a truly experienced probate lawyer. At the Law Office of Richard C. Woods you can be certain that your interests are being represented by skilled attorneys working to resolve the probate as efficiently as possible with your finances in mind.
Wills
Estate administration includes probate, which is the process that transfers legal title of property from the estate of the person who has died, as well as non-probate transfers of the deceased's assets. Non-probate transfers include life insurance, annuities, qualified retirements plans, and trust assets. We assist the personal representative of the estate in the gathering, valuation, accounting, and distribution of the decedent's assets. We file the appropriate documents in order to release liens on a decedent's real estate, and handle any related litigation, such as will contests. We help ensure that all the proper steps are taken in order to carry out the deceased's intent in accordance with the law.
Trusts
Several statements are generally offered as advantages by those individuals who advocate “Avoiding Probate” by the establishment of a Revocable Living Trust to own your assets. The following is a sampling of some statements used in support of a Living Trust arrangement. Each statement set forth below is followed by a response that raises issues for consideration in making a decision about whether a Living Trust is advantageous for your personal Estate Plan.
Power of Attorney
Every individual should establish a Durable Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy to handle their financial and personal decisions in case of their disability. A Living Trust does nothing to protect any individual’s personal decisions in the event of incompetence.
3. Make sure the assets are valued. A valuation is needed for Estate tax purposes, but it is also done for the sake of the heirs. Under the tax law, the heirs inherit the assets at a tax basis that is equal to the value at the date of death. This “stepped up basis” can be a valuable tax benefit, so the Executor must have the assets valued and keep a record of the values.