Family Law Attorneys Serving Clients for Over 35 Years
When a marriage begins, no one imagines that it will end. As spouses make decisions through the course of the marriage, they are rarely thinking about protecting their own interests in the event of separation.
The role of a good divorce lawyer is to protect his or her client's interests throughout the divorce process. Feelings of sadness and anger are normal during a divorce, but such strong emotions can cloud a person's ability to think logically about current and future needs.
At the Acton, Massachusetts, law firm of Graham & Harsip, P.C., our divorce attorneys have developed a strong reputation in the local community as intelligent, compassionate and zealous advocates for clients going through a divorce.
Dial Down the Conflict: Many strategies exist to help divorcing spouses decrease the amount of conflict that arises as they try to agree on all the terms of their divorce. These methods include divorce mediation and the collaborative law process. The attorneys of Graham & Harsip are skilled at both methods of alternative dispute resolution.
The Basics of the Divorce Process in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a divorce can proceed either on "no-fault" grounds or on "fault" grounds. "No fault" means that the spouses agree there has been an "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." Most divorces in Massachusetts are filed on no-fault grounds. Some of the more common fault grounds in a divorce include adultery, cruel and abusive treatment, imprisonment and alcohol or drug addiction.
A divorce may be either contested or uncontested. If a divorce is uncontested, it means the spouses agree to divorce, agree on the grounds for the divorce (if the divorce proceeds on fault grounds) and agree on all of the terms of the divorce. In a contested divorce, the spouses disagree on the terms of the divorce and ask a family court judge to decide the terms for them.
Issues that must be resolved before a divorce decree will be granted include:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support amounts
- Alimony
- Division of marital property and debt
- College expenses
- Medical and life insurance
The Timing of a Divorce in Massachusetts: No Massachusetts divorce can be approved in less than 90 days. In contentious cases, if the spouses continue to disagree about issues like child custody or child support, a divorce can take a year or longer.
Seek Early Legal Advice — Schedule a Consultation With Graham & Harsip
Our family law attorneys offer all potential new clients a complimentary 20-minute consultation. If you are considering divorce, seeking early legal advice can ease your worries and put you in an advantageous position moving forward.
To schedule a confidential appointment, call 978-631-0146 or contact us online.
