The Divorce Collaborative

Divorce and Real Estate in the Bedford, MA Area

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:34:02 +0000

By Bedford and Franklin, MA divorce attorney and mediator Stephen McDonough of The Divorce Collaborative LLC. Stephen is also a licensed Massachusetts real estate broker. Divorce oftentimes involves the sale and/or purchase of real estate. Our friend and realtor Suzanne Koller, owner of Suzanne & Company, Keller Williams Realty, reports the market is definitely improved this spring in Bedford and surrounding towns such as Concord, Carlisle, and Lexington. In fact, multiple offers are not uncommon this spring for houses in good condition and in desirable communities in the metro-west Boston area. Suzanne has an informative website and definitely has the pulse of [...]

Forget Divorce! Here are some Reasons to Get or Stay Married

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:54:53 +0000

By Colleen Cunnally, a Massachusetts divorce attorney and mediator with The Divorce Collaborative LLC of Bedford and Franklin. Marriage is nothing but “a piece of paper!” I chuckle when I hear this statement. As a Massachusetts divorce attorney and divorce mediator, I want to shout out, “NOT TRUE!” The institution of marriage comes with a number of significant benefits. These marital “rights” or “benefits” are often taken for granted. I will save the “friends with benefits” post for another time. So, what are some reasons to get married or work to improve your relationship and stay married? Tax Benefits Spouses [...]

Massachusetts Divorce FAQ – Moving Out

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:54:57 +0000

By Massachusetts divorce lawyer and divorce mediator Stephen McDonough of The Divorce Collaborative LLC of Bedford and Franklin, MA. If you are getting a Massachusetts divorce, can you make your spouse move out of the marital home, or can your spouse make you leave the house? Should you move out voluntarily? Is it OK to wear white pants after labor day? With the exception of the fashion question, these are some of the most frequent questions our Massachusetts divorce and mediation clients worry about. The best answers to these questions really depend on your specific situation, so get [...]

Milford, MA Divorce Mediation – Case Study

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:29:10 +0000

Note: This post gives a glimpse into what an actual session with a divorce mediator from The Divorce Collaborative is like. The facts are based upon a recent session wit clients from the Milford and Worcester, MA area. Earlier this week I was sitting with a couple from the Milford, MA area in our Franklin office. It was their first divorce mediation session. The couple has two young children and both parents work full-time. Like many dual-income families, these parents had already decided they would each spend about the same amount of time with the kids, also known as shared [...]

Massachusetts Divorce Myths

admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:16:44 +0000

Whether I am talking to a prospective divorce client from Lexington, Concord, or Milford, here are three of the most common divorce myths that we hear over and over during initial consultations. 1. “My spouse and I are legally separated” You may not be living together, but you are not legally separated. In some states, such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island, married couples are allowed to file a petition with the court for a legal separation. The process and filing fees are often the same as a divorce petition, and the courts will typically decide the same issues it [...]

Massachusetts Divorce – Handling Joint Debts

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:00:20 +0000

Thanks to our great economy, dealing with debt is a bigger part of divorce cases. More then ever before, divorcing clients are facing short sales or foreclosure of real estate, bankruptcy, and significant debt load. During a Massachusetts divorce, what are some of the issues you should consider surrounding joint liabilities? There are many variables to consider, so remember this is just general information. Debts and liabilities fall under the larger umbrella of property distribution. Savvy readers of our website know that property division in Massachusetts must be…..? Anyone? Anyone? Answer: Equitable! Or fair. But not necessarily [...]

Divorce and the 5 Stages of Grief

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:47:29 +0000

Divorce is almost always accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. Pretending your feelings of grief don’t exist will not work. Instead, try working through the sadness so you can move forward emotionally. Grieving is definitely part of the divorce process, and there are different things to grieve about, including the loss of your partner, loss of future plans as a couple and/or parents, the loss of your status as couple, and maybe even the loss of your home. A parent may feel grief if they are not able to see their children as often as they would like. [...]

Love Stinks! Things to do on Valentine’s Day That Have Noting to do With Love

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:31:43 +0000

By Massachusetts divorce lawyer and mediator Colleen Cunnally If you are dealing with a separation or divorce, the last thing you may feel like doing on February 14th is celebrating Saint Valentine. Here are some activities that do not involve flowers, candlelight dinners, Hallmark cards or Victoria Secret to help you manage. 1. Clean out your closet. Ok….so that may not sound like the most fun activity in the world but it can be symbolic and therapeutic. Besides you will feel productive and you will make plenty of room for number 4. 2. Adopt a dog. Dogs give you unconditional love [...]

Massachusetts Child Support – Are you a Deadbeat Parent?

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:22:43 +0000

Massachusetts child support and divorce lawyer Stephen McDonough was recently featured in a story about a new federal website targeting some of the worst deadbeat offenders in the U.S. Although most people think about child support issues as pertaining only to individual states, when deadbeat parents flee to another state or country the federal government can step in. The Federal Office of the Inspector General launched the new website, which you can visit by clicking here. The top deadbeat parent owes in excess of one million dollars in child support. That’s nice. He probably just fell behind a little, and will catch up next week! The new website hopes [...]

The $199.00 Massachusetts Divorce…or Not!

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:06:31 +0000

Didn’t your parents always tell you…? “You get what you pay for!” There’s nothing worse than scoring a seemingly great deal, only to have something fall apart 20 minutes after you bought it. When it comes to professional services, nothing could be more accurate. I recently helped a couple mediate their divorce after the Judge REFUSED to accept their divorce separation agreement they purchased online. Their court financial statements were not completed properly and were not allowed by the court. This was an educated couple with good jobs and income. Some of us appear in court for a living, but [...]