The Lewis Leeper Blog
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How long will I need to spend in divorce court on the first date?
I have heard stories that you can spend all day in court and who will watch my children? It appears that you will be in Norfolk Probate court. On your first appearance most likely you will be sent to family services/probation dept, that is on the third floor, there you will check in and a probation officer will meet with you to discuss what you are there for and to help resolve the issues and minimize the matters before the judges so that the judges are not overwhelmed. So, the earlier you get there and the more prepared you are [...]
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Do I need to have a forensic accounting done in my divorce?
My divorce attorney tells me that we need a forensic accounting done, but I am losing faith in her. I know that my husbands business is small, it’s just a consulting gig for small businesses in Boston Metrowest, his full time job is corporate and he is a w2 employee with benefits. It doesn’t sound like the costs will benefit your outcome. Use your common sense and you will be fine. Take care. Our Boston Metrowest divorce attorneys serve the Boston, Massachusetts, area from offices in downtown Boston, and the Boston Metrowest offices in Framingham and Dover. Our clients come [...]
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In my divorce agreement it says that if one party…
breaches or something like that the agreement, the other side has to pay the legal fees, thankfully, I have plenty of money to pay for a lawyer now, god knows i paid plenty before, but it was worth it, but i like the idea of him having to pay so maybe he won’t continue to lie and hide money. I hate going to court, it is demeaning, what are my chance of getting that money just to hurt him? I completely agree with you that although you may be able to afford the legal, if he has to write you [...]
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Getting Divorced in Massachusetts
Our total marital estate is about 2.5 million which includes one house in Needham with no mortgage and Westport home with 100k on the mortgage, absent that, no debt- what should I expect the max a divorce will cost with an divorce lawyer on both sides? A divorce attorney who will not throw fuel on the fire or create discovery unnecessarily nor be combative or aggressive without cause, if you can find two of those, the divorce in total can cost as little as $3000.00 if it is mostly collaborative to $15,0000.00 if there is a bit of contention. However [...]
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Does it matter who files a divorce first me or my husband?
I was told by another divorce attorney in Newton to let him file first. This is a matter of strategy and personal opinion, however if the divorce is contentious and you need temporary orders for child support or spousal support (alimony) then you should file first. Also and I think very important you get to speak first in court if your motions are first and you can set the pace and the tone of the process. You can take back control of your life if it has been stalled and you can regain control of your future. I like filing [...]
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Can you ask for a different court besides Cambridge?
The court in Cambridge is too hard for me to get too and its very public. Sometimes you can ask for the satellite sessions of the courts, Middlesex has Marlboro which is a nice local court with plenty of parking, they used to have Concord but no longer. Marlboro is a good alternative, but difficult to get to without a car. Take care and good luck. Marlboro is one court room so it tends to be either very fast or very slow. The Marlboro MA divorce lawyers at our firm serve the Boston, Massachusetts, area from offices in downtown Boston, [...]
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Can I ask for child support and my husband to move out without an actual divorce?
I don’t know if I want a permanent divorce, am i being stupid? I am staying with my parents in Weston who have enough money and a nice house but it is far from our married home. You are caught in a difficult situation, you certainly can file a complaint for separate support in Ma which is not a divorce but does order your husband to pay you child support, however many practitioners and judges are not fond of such complaints. The other option is an informal agreement with your husband made formal by an email or his signature that [...]
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Is paying an attorney out of my joint account allowed
You may pay for your ordinary and necessary expenses which do include legal fees out of your joint account. You may also take as much money as you like until you are formerly served, just be prepared to have it assigned to your side of the balance sheet if you take too much and can’t explain it. Most courts look at what is fair and equitable. So the quick answer is yes, you may take money for expenses and for an attorney. The Greater Boston divorce lawyers at our firm serve the Boston, Massachusetts, area from offices in downtown [...]
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What is Limited Assistance Representation in Massachusetts?
Limited Assistance Representation permits attorneys to assist a self represented litigant on a limited basis without undertaking a full representation of the client on all issues related to the legal matter for which the attorney is engaged. After the completion and assessment of a Limited Assistance Representation Pilot Project in the Hampden, Suffolk, and Norfolk Divisions of the Probate and Family Court Department pursuant to a Standing Order dated August 1, 2006, as amended from time to time, the Justices have concluded that limited assistance representation can be of significant benefit in expanding access to justice in the Trial Courts, [...]
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How do I file for divorce in Massachusetts?
More information: How do I file for divorce in Massachusetts if I do not know where my sp0use is? You may file a divorce by publication. I am sorry you are going through this during the holidays and I hope things work out. This should not be a complicated nor an expensive matter. The Massachusetts divorce attorneys at Lewis Leeper serve the Boston, Massachusetts, area from offices in downtown Boston, and the Boston Metrowest offices in Framingham and Dover. Our clients come to us from communities such as Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, [...]