The next biggest stressor is, oddly enough, the things people "think" they know that they really don't know. For example, we regularly hear from new clients that they are worried they won't be able to get any of the marital assets or alimony because they left the family home. They think the divorce court judge will decide they abandoned it. This is simply not true. There are many reasons one might leave a home, including a very real issue, domestic violence.
We are Fall River, Massachusetts divorce lawyers with more than five decades of experience in family court. In fact, over the years, we've handled many different areas of law, which makes us ideally suited to provide you with sound legal advice when it comes to the division of marital assets and debt.
The first step in the division of a marital estate is understanding which assets are marital assets (versus separate or personal assets). Then the fair value of those assets must be determined. This task can be relatively easy if you have few assets, or it can be quite difficult if spouses have been hiding money or the assets are complex.
Massachusetts divorce law starts with the presumption that all marital assets will be split 50/50, but it does not end there. The family court judge must then consider 16mandatory points, and may consider four other issues, before arriving at a final decision. If your case goes to court (rather than being negotiated or mediated), it is my job to explain to the judge why these 20 points work in your favor.
Mediation can be used effectively to arrive at an agreement regarding the division of marital property. In addition to saving time and money, the results of divorce mediation are private (unlike the result of a court case). This can be an important benefit for couples who do not want their assets and debts available for public scrutiny. We am a certified divorce mediator who can help you resolve your differences cost-effectively.
Call (508) 672-8718 or email Driscoll Sanford Family Law to learn more. We offer payment plans and flat-fee pricing for some legal matters.
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