“You have been served.” These four words can be scary, infuriating and even heartbreaking. Whether or not you expected your spouse to file for divorce, receiving your divorce papers can be a highly emotional event. Once you receive your divorce papers, you may want to burn them, bury them or simply ignore them. However, it is vital that you respond to them promptly, as a failure to do so could lead to truly negative consequences.
Why it is critical to respond to divorce papers promptly
Thinking about downsizing in the wake of your divorce?
Downsizing is generally treated as a negative word in American popular culture. It is associated with job loss, property loss and general loss of wealth. However, in the context of divorce, downsizing can be a positive experience. Many individuals find that they cannot maintain their married lifestyle in the wake of divorce. Others find that they simply want to pursue a different lifestyle. In either case, downsizing can be a liberating experience.
Where your child support matter is decided can make a difference
Child support modification can be complicated, if the other parent does not agree to your proposal to raise or lower the amount of the payments. When the parents live in different states, the matter can be even more confusing. Which state’s courts have jurisdiction, or the legal power to change the child support order?
How does Massachusetts determine alimony payments now?
If you're currently going through the divorce process here in Massachusetts then you may have also come across the topic of alimony payments. Also called spousal support or maintenance, these court-ordered payments are found in just about every state across the nation and come from a time in which women stayed home with the children and did not have a career.
