McDonough Speaks at Mass Bar Conference
The Massachusetts Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section hosted their first Dispute Resolution Symposium at UMASS Boston on Friday, May 19, 2017. Titled Conflict Resolution: Advancements, Strategies, and Trends, the symposium featured keynote speaker NYPD detective, hostage negotiator, and crisis communication trainer Jeff Thompson, Ph.D. Attorney and Divorce Mediator Stephen McDonough of Next Phase Legal LLC in Norfolk, MA presented…
Read MoreA Divorce from Social Media: Avoid Creating a Messy Trial
Have you ever stopped to think how child custody, support, or property division could be affected by social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and various dating websites? Make no mistake – anything you post, tweet, or “snap” can and most likely will be used against you in settlement negotiations or in the courtroom. Statistics regarding time spent on…
Read MoreFamily Business Mediation: Solving Legal Issues Without Going to Court
Mediation is often considered an excellent means of conflict resolution for personal or family disputes, but the benefits of mediation extend to more than just familial problems. In fact, mediation is oftentimes the best conflict resolution tool available for small and medium sized businesses. Unlike litigation, business mediation is a more affordable and faster problem solving process…
Read MoreContested vs. Uncontested Divorce in Massachusetts
If you get divorced in Massachusetts, there are different types of divorces that are available to you, with each following a different path as it goes through the courts. Some are quicker, simpler, and less expensive than others. It depends on whether your divorce is contested or uncontested and also on whether it is a fault…
Read MoreConciliation: What is the Advantage?
The conciliation process can be an invaluable tool to reduce intractable conflict in cases where obstacles prevent out of court settlements and cost-effective resolutions. An experienced conciliator can serve as a conflict surgeon and help foster productive communications, curtail unreasonable behavior, and promote creative solutions—relieving the burden and costs created by unproductive negotiations and court proceedings.…
Read MoreIs Adultery in Massachusetts Really a Crime?
In many states, adultery is a crime. It may seem archaic, but there are still active laws on the books. In Massachusetts, adultery was considered a crime “against chastity, morality, decency, and good order” until the statute was repealed in 2018. SECTION 2. Sections 14 and 18 to 21, inclusive, of chapter 272 of the…
Read MoreFighting Over Fido: Custody of Pets in a Divorce
When you think of custody battles between divorcing spouses, you might assume their fight is over the children. However, in some situations, the disagreement between two separating people is not about a human child, but instead a fur baby. That’s right, their pets. Just as parents fight for time with their children, pet parents demand their wishes…
Read MoreIs Limited Assistance Representation Right for You?
When it comes to legal help, not everyone wants the same amount of assistance. You may have the time and talent to do a lot of the work yourself, which of course could save some money in the short-term. It may also provide you with a new perspective on your case and better insight into…
Read MoreSurviving the End of Summer in Massachusetts
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my son. I love spending time with him—bike riding, arts and crafting, reading, throwing a baseball…you get the idea. But as a single mother working full time, summer stinks. For the time of year that is supposed to be low-key and schedule-free, summer causes more anxiety, more bills,…
Read MoreAre Massachusetts Divorce Records Public?
After a divorce, you may not want the whole world to know about it. So are your divorce records public? The majority of records in Massachusetts are considered public, unless they can be held under specifically stated exemptions. These exemptions are created by the legislature, and in such cases an attorney has to prove that…
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