PRACTICE AREAS
Defined

Legal proceedings necessary to end a marriage, known as a complaint for divorce in Massachusetts, and a petition for dissolution of marriage in Florida. Both states are no fault states: if one party believes that the couple suffers from irreconcilable differences, causing an irretrievable breakdown of their marriage, a divorce ( or dissolution) will be granted.

Legal advice provided to parties contemplating termination of their marriage about custody, property, and support issues and steps to take in preparation for filing. 

This requires the filing of a pleading to establish (or disestablish) the biological parentage of a child and to determine legal and physical custody rights.

Legal advice about the distribution of property after the end of a marriage (real estate, bank and financial institution accounts, retirement, vehicles, automobiles, vessels, pets) and responsibility for indebtedness incurred during the marriage (mortgages, credit cards, car loans).

Determine parties' rights for spousal support based upon such factors as the length of the marriage, income of the parties, health, education, and employability.  Also, compute child support based upon the parties' respective incomes, times sharing schedule, and whether the children have special needs. Provide for security support through life insurance and otherwise.

Represent victims of intimate partner violence, and children affected by it, and assist them in obtaining resources necessary for protection. View Resources

Represent parties to enforce a final judgment, when they are not receiving the property and support awarded by the court.

Represent parties seeking to modify agreements regarding child, custody and support or alimony, based upon a substantial change of circumstances, including relocation.

Assists couples planning to marry to enter into a contract that determines respective property and support rights in the event their marriage does not last. Prior to the wedding, a prenuptial agreement is a contract, entered into by the couple, after financial disclosure.

After the wedding, a couple may elect to make similar financial arrangements via a postnuptial agreement.