Boston Divorce Attorneys

If you're thinking about getting a divorce and are in the Boston and Cambridge area:

Before you do anything, talk to a divorce lawyer. Some very important decisions may be made -- unknowingly -- before anything gets filed in court.

Don't tell your spouse that you're going to see a divorce lawyer, otherwise you might find assets disappear.

Separate names on all charge cards. Doing that avoids the possibility of your spouse running up bills that you might be responsible for later.

Identify all resources available to you, such as the Child Support Enforcement Unit (to help establish and collect support), the police and the courts, shelters, attorneys, sources of emergency financial assistance, etc.

SIX MOST COMMON MISTAKES ABOUT DIVORCE:

A divorce raises many issues: issues relating to children (which parent they live with and what the visitation rights are of the other parent); issues relating to support (for a spouse or for children, or both) and issues relating to how property should be divided. The parties may agree that the marriage is over, but that doesn't resolve the other issues.

The fact is that each party is entitled to a divorce simply by standing up in court and telling the judge that the marriage is over. Under no-fault divorce laws, divorce is a unilateral decision.

Massachusetts is an equitable division state. An equitable division approach divides all property fairly. How property is divided "fairly" is a complex question that depends upon many different factors, only one of which is who the wage earner was. Massachusetts places equal value on the role of one spouse as the homemaker as on the other spouse as the wage earner.

Marital misconduct has no bearing on the issues that get raised in a divorce. Neither alimony nor property division is determined according to principals of reward or punishment.Except, if such misconduct affected family finances (for example, if one party diverted substantial savings to a lover), then the misconduct will be given great weight in a divorce.

Yes, you can handle a divorce on your own. You can also preform surgery on yourself. If you're removing a splinter, you don't need an orthopedic surgeon. But if you're doing brain surgery . . . The fact is that divorces can involve technical issues which must be addressed with careful understanding and you usually get only one try.

Usually. If you absolutely cannot afford a divorce lawyer, you qualify for one at no cost to you from legal aid. If you are marginally better off financially and do not qualify for an attorney from legal aide, call the Boston or Massachusetts bar association; they have lawyer referral services which offer attorneys at reduced rates, possibly even for free.

The Law Offices of Hans R. Hailey are located in Boston and Westwood, Massachusetts. Divorce and family law attorneys from the Law Offices of Hans R. Hailey frequently represent clients in family law claims in Boston and throughout Massachusetts.