Tag Archives: Parenting Plans

Mediation is Not Just for Divorce

My mediation practice ranges from Divorce, Post-Divorce Modifications, Parenting Plans, Child Custody, Cohabitation & Non-Marital Parenting, Mediation for Same Sex Couples, Contempts, to other non Family Law matters such as Contested Probate Estate Matters. I have over 30 years of experience in Family Law and bring to the table a wealth of knowledge at a […]

Parenting Time and the Holidays

I was in Essex Probate and Family Court this week and seeing the lines going out the door reminded me that sharing time with your children during the holidays is easier said than done.  The probation departments are overflowing with distressed moms and dads, either armed with lawyers or not, waiting to meet with the […]

THE BENEFITS OF MEDIATION

Philip J. Byers– Here are some of the benefits of mediation: You can schedule your meetings with the mediator, when it is convenient for the two of you and the Mediator. The time interval, whether it is an hour or several hours, will be exclusively for the mediator to work only with the two of […]

Massachusetts Mediation, Not Just for Divorce.

My mediation practice ranges from Divorce, Post-Divorce Modifications, Parenting Plans, Child Custody, Pre-Nuptial & Post-Nuptial Agreements, Marriage Mediation, Cohabitation & Non-Marital Parenting, Mediation for Same Sex Couples, Contempts, to other non Family Law matters such as Contested Probate Estate Matters.  I have over 30 years of experience in Family Law and bring to the table […]

HOLIDAYS AND PARENTING PLANS

Being in the Essex and Middlesex Probate Courts last week and seeing the lines going out the door reminded me that sharing time with your children during the holidays is easier said than done. The probation departments are overflowing with distressed moms and dads, either armed with lawyers or not, waiting to meet with the […]

Child Support- Massachusetts

Child support is an issue that has received a great deal of attention and revamping in the last two decades. Whether you are the person who pays or will receive payment, you will want to understand this important issue. The federal government, in order to bring the states into line on the child support issue, […]

Paternity Cases in Massachusetts

There has been a proliferation of paternity cases in the probate court. These cases arise when the parties are not married but have a child together. When I first started practicing law in the 1970’s, paternity meant blood tests and criminal non-support complaints issued by the district court. In today’s world where paternity filings exceed […]

Child Visitation and Divorce Cases in MA

The term visitation is becoming archaic in divorce actions. With the increasing involvement of both parties with the children of their relationship, the more appropriate term to use is “parenting plan”. In other words, taking into account the age and needs of the child as well as the schedules of the child and the parents, […]

MODIFICATION OF DIVORCE AGREEMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

When we meet to discuss modification, the first issue I need to determine with you is whether or not the order/judgment can be modified. When a divorce agreement is prepared and submitted to the probate court for approval, once the judge approves the agreement, the question becomes, does the agreement merge or does it survive. […]

CHRISTMAS AND PARENTING PLANS

Sharing time with your children during the holidays is easier said than done.  If you were to visit the family services department (now referred to as the probation department) of any probate court in Massachusetts during this wondrous holiday season, you would see distressed moms and dads, either armed with lawyers or not, waiting to […]