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Thinking About Divorce? Here are 3 Tips to Protect Your Credit Right Now
/by Sclafani & Moriartyby Diana Valez Harris The financial fallout of a divorce can be catastrophic and it can take years to recover. If you’ve been thinking about divorce, there are steps you can take right now to mitigate the impact on your credit. Pull your credit report from the three reporting agencies, right now (www.annualcreditreport.com). Most people […]
Western Mass – Things to do this Fall!
/by Sclafani & MoriartyIt’s Fall in Western Massachusetts, and there’s so much to do to celebrate this season! From leaf peeping, picking your own apples and pumpkins to haunted hayrides and corn mazes, check out some of our favorites below! Pick Your Own Fruits in Western Mass Kosinski Farms, Westfield – Apples, Pumpkins, Winter Squash Kielbasa Orchards, Hadley […]
For How Long will the Court Order Alimony?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyHow long will the court order alimony? The length of alimony is dictated by Massachusetts law and depends on the type of alimony the Court orders. General term alimony will end upon the remarriage of the person receiving alimony, or upon the death of either party. If the length of the marriage is 20 years […]
How Much Alimony will a Court Order?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyHow much alimony will a court order? The amount of alimony is completely within the Judge’s discretion. There is a law in Massachusetts, however, that provides some guidelines to assist the Judge in determining what is reasonable. The law dictates that the Judge has to consider the following factors when determining whether alimony is appropriate […]
Alimony
/by Sclafani & MoriartyWhat is Alimony? Alimony is court-ordered financial support paid by one spouse, who has the ability to pay, to the other spouse, who has established the need for support. Either spouse can request alimony. In Massachusetts, the length of time and the amount of alimony is something that must be determined by a Judge, unless […]
What Debts Can and Cannot Be Eliminated in a Bankruptcy?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyBankruptcy may make it possible for you to: Eliminate the legal obligation to pay most or all of your unsecured credit card or medical bill debts. This is called a “discharge” of debts. It is designed to give you a fresh financial start. Stop foreclosure on your house or mobile home and allow you an […]
What is income for Child Support purposes?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyGenerally speaking, according to the child support guidelines, income is defined as, “gross income from whatever source, regardless of whether that income is recognized by the IRS or reported to the IRS or the state Department of Revenue or other taxing authority.” The guidelines, however, do not consider means-tested public assistance programs as income to […]
Am I required to pay for my child’s college expenses?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyAccording to the new MA Child Support Guidelines which went into effect in September 2017, the answer is … maybe. The new guidelines dictate that the Court has the, “discretion either to order or to decline to order a parent to contribute to post-secondary educational expenses. Contribution to post-secondary educational expenses is not presumptive.” The […]
When is a child considered emancipated for child support purposes / how long is child support required to be paid?
/by Sclafani & MoriartyThe MA Statute that dictates how long child support must be paid is M.G.L.A. c. 208, §28. Most people understand that they are required to pay child support for a child who is under the age of 18, or still in high school, whichever last occurs. The fact is, however, that c. 208, §28, allows […]
How to avoid commingling assets
/by Sclafani & MoriartyOn behalf of Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty, Attorneys at Law posted in High Asset Divorce on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. Most couples don’t think about separate versus marital property when they marry, unless they both have considerable assets of their own and/or get a prenuptial agreement. However, it’s important to understand those two concepts. For […]