Monthly Archives: November 2012
PET LABRADOR GRANTED RESTRAINING ORDER
Reported in the Patriot Ledger a six-year-old Labrador mix was successful in getting protection pursuant to the newly enacted amendment to protective orders, heretofore the protection of individuals under Mass. General Laws, Chapter 209A. The amendment to the law is intended to protect household pets from abuse. Therefore, a party who is seeking a restraining order […]
Have Fault Grounds Lost Their Relevancy in Today’s Society?
Until 1974, when the legislature enacted irretrievable breakdown as grounds for divorce via Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 208, Sections 1A and 1B, in order to secure a divorce in Massachusetts fault had to be alleged and proved in court. The basic grounds that were listed and still are listed in section 1 of Massachusetts General Laws, […]
LUCY, DON’T MESS WITH SNOOPY
On August 2, 2012, Governor Deval Patrick signed Chapter 193 of the Acts and Resolves of 2012, An Act Further Regulating Animal Control. Provisions of this law became effective on October 31, 2012. The new section to the non-abuse statute, Chapter 209A is section 11(a ) which now allows a court to order “possession, care, and control […]
What is Alimony?
For the 38 years that I have practiced divorce law, the word alimony has been the anathema to those divorcing individuals and an obligation, in their view, to be avoided. With the enactment of the Alimony Reform Act of 2011, your basic understanding of what alimony is should be a prerequisite to your understanding the […]
Alimony Reform Revisited: A Basis and a Defense
As we discussed in a previous blog, Massachusetts Alimony Reform is now law. People who are 67 years old or older and have retired may bring an action for modification beginning on March 1, 2013. Others who wish to bring their actions based only upon the time limits for alimony payments must wait until that […]
PhilipJByers
Philip J. Byers, Attorney 