The New Massachusetts Homestead Law

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

The New Massachusetts Homestead Law by Katheryn Kerins On March 16, 2011, the existing law on Declarations of Homestead will change. A Homestead is a document filed with the Registry of Deeds that protects the equity in your home up to $500,000.00 by preventing third parties from forcing you to s...

Protect the Rights of Your “Unmarried” Love

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

by Mark I. Zarrow As important as advance directives such as health care proxies (HCP's), durable powers of attorney (DPOA's) and wills are for married couples, their importance for unmarried couples is immeasurable. Many people these days participate in domestic partnerships without becoming ma...

Frequently Asked Divorce Questions

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

1. How long does it take to finalize a divorce? The length of time it takes for a divorce to be finalized depends on a number of factors: the issues involved; the parties' positions and willingness to compromise; the strategies taken by the parties' and their attorneys; and the court's schedule. ...

Cyber-Bullying and Social Media

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

by Geoffrey Spofford With "social media" such as Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter so prevalent you might think the world would become a "friendlier" place. It is not uncommon for "Facebookers" to have thousands of "friends", a virtual impossibility only a few years ago. The explosion of "friends",...

Bankruptcy: Is it the Right Choice for You?

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

With today's persistent economic downturn, we hear an awful lot about bankruptcy. Still, many people don't understand some of the basic features of personal bankruptcy. Here is a short primer on some of those basics. Federal law has for many years provided a way for an individual or couple to obt...

Alimony Reform Act

Posted by Geoffrey E. SpoffordDec 13, 20130 Comments

Many of you have heard or read about the Massachusetts legislature passing the Alimony Reform Act which was signed by the Governor into law on Monday, September 26, 2011. The law takes effect on March 1, 2012. Alimony is also known as spousal support. The law is significant, mandating the court s...