Almost everyone has heard the term "Nesting", but they usually associate it with preparing a home during pregnancy. In the context of a divorce or separation, Nesting is when the parties agree that the children (and all of their things) will remain at the primary...
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Child Custody
How to co-parent effectively during the holidays and always:
As the winter holidays approach, many co-parents are addressing the issue of how to effectively share or divide special events with their children. For some parents, this is the first holiday season that this situation and other custody issues have come up. During...
Back to school may be a good time to review custody arrangements
It's back! Autumnal weather, backpacks, new schoolbooks and new schedules. Extracurricular activities can send kids and parents in many directions. New friendships can blossom around the corner or across town. Transportation can turn into an Olympic sport for some...
Custody options for separating parents in Westborough
For couples with children, the hardest part of breaking up is determining who the children should live with and how to share the child care responsibilities. There are two main types of child custody: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody pertains to major...
New Family Drug Court
On June 17, 2016, Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey, Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court Angela Ordonez and Commissioner of Probation Edward Dolan attended the official opening ceremony of the Commonwealth's first Family Drug Court. On June 17, 2016,...
Communicating Effectively With Your Ex
For many couples who have broken up, separated or divorced, communication may be very difficult. This is especially true when children are involved, and the parties have to communicate regularly regarding parenting time, payment of expenses and child support. For many...
Can a Judge Order you to Use a Parent Coordinator?
Earlier this month, The Supreme Judicial Court issued its decision on Bower v. Bournay-Bower, which addressed the Probate and Family Court's powers as they relate to the appointment of a Parent Coordinator. Earlier this month, The Supreme Judicial Court issued its...
Speaking to Children About Divorce
Speaking to your children about divorce can be an extremely difficult process. Parents often disagree on the amount of knowledge children should have about the divorce process and what his/her parents are going through. Speaking to your children about divorce can be...
A Few Words of Advice from a Minnesota Judge
Judge Michael Haas of Cass County Minnesota retired in 2002 after 26 years of service as a Judge. The following 200 words issued by him (we are not certain whether they were stated on or off the record) have been referenced in multiple appellate court decisions and in...
Parental Alienation
One of the most difficult cases I work on are those dealing with parental alienation. Parental alienation often occurs during or following divorce, and is characterized by a child expressing unreasonable, unjustified and strong dislike or even hatred for a parent. One...