Residency Grounds Procedures Children's Issues Grandparent Rights

JMILaw - Massachusetts Divorce Law Massachusetts Divorce Attorney James M. Ianiri, Esq. knows the pain you are enduring when considering divorce. When marriages fail, stress not only falls on you, but your spouse, children, families and friends. Divorce can mean feelings of inadequacy and betrayal. You will experience emotions that you never thought possible, and you may think they will never end. It is always sad when a marriage fails, but regardless of the reason, it is important to get through this experience and begin the healing process. Massachusetts permits both "fault-based" and "no-fault" divorces. Fault-based divorces, where one party is blamed for the breakdown of the marriage, may be awarded on grounds of: Cruel and abusive treatment Utter desertion continued for one year A prison sentence of five years or more Confirmed habits of intoxication by the use of liquor, opium or other drugs Refusal or neglect to provide suitable support and maintenance for the other spouse Adultery Impotency No-fault divorces, where neither spouse is blamed for the breakdown of the marriage - are awarded on grounds of the "irretrievable breakdown" of the marriage. If the parties are in agreement about property and debt division, as well as child custody and child support matters, they can file a "Joint Petition for Divorce" with the Probate and Family Court stating that the marriage is "irretrievably broken,"and the divorce can be finalized on an expedited basis without a trial. Otherwise, the legal divorce process begins when one of the spouses files a "Complaint for Divorce" with the Probate and Family Court. The other spouse is then served with the paperwork and given time to respond. The court will then set a time for a hearing. After the Complaint for Divorce has been filed, either party can request temporary assistance from the court in the form of temporary custody and child support orders, and orders to determine who pays community debts on a temporary basis. The Law Office of James M. Ianiri can assist you throughout the entire Massachusetts Divorce Process. We can help you to establish residency if needed and explain the entire procedure to you. If children are involved, we make sure you take the necessary steps to protect them. We have successfully represented many parties in divorces, ultimately allowing the couple to move on with their lives.