Unmarried Parents & Establishing Paternity

Dear Jon Snow: No judgment here. There are plenty of “Snow” children in our current age. (For those of you who don’t watch “Game of Thrones”, characters born out of wedlock in the show have the surname “Snow” instead of a parent’s last name. Also, check out HBO and thank me later). Parenthood always comes…

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Fixating on the amount of your Massachusetts child support may not be the best idea.

Note:  This article originally appeared in the October/November 2015 issue of New England Woman Magazine. If you are considering a divorce, or already divorced, you may be wondering about returning to work, getting a new job or even just increasing your hours.  Divorce almost always involves some element of financial strain. Maintaining two households on the…

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Siblings & Elder Mediation

As our family members age, conflict between siblings is no longer based upon who gets to decide what to watch on TV or who gets to sit in the front seat.  A myriad of issues may surface requiring a consensus among other adult family members.  Oftentimes, these challenges can lead to conflict among siblings as…

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Online Divorce Mediation… Without Pants?

Are you feeling constricted?  Maybe you have not found the right fit for your divorce or other mediation? Yes, the rumors are true. You can resolve your Massachusetts divorce, or post-divorce concerns such as modifying your parenting plan or child support, without leaving your own home or office. You could even wear your pajamas while…

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The Fields of Opportunity – Divorce Mediation

Many potential clients I meet with have read about divorce mediation and focus on the more obvious benefits of the process when compared to a court-based case.   The “low hanging fruit” includes the lower cost of divorce mediation and the potential for a quicker resolution. A recent mediation session had me thinking about how some clients understand that…

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Certified Divorce Mediator

  Stephen McDonough Attains Certified Divorce Mediator Status through the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation Press Release: March 20, 2015 | Medfield, MA Stephen McDonough, founder of Next Phase Legal LLC, recently achieved status as a Certified Divorce Mediator through the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, the premier family facilitative mediation organization in Massachusetts, and the only organization offering a robust…

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Divorce Financials – Employee Benefits

During your Massachusetts divorce (or a post-divorce issue such as a child-support modification), it makes sense to understand your employee benefits, and those of your spouse or former spouse.  Interestingly, we find that some people are unfamiliar with their employee benefits, whether it is the various health insurance options or something else. This post covers the…

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Returning To Work During Divorce

An issue that comes up frequently involves a client that has been out of the workforce, but is feeling some pressure – either internal, from another person, or both – to go back to work.  If a divorce is looming, or even in-process or finished, and you find yourself in this situation, should you go back…

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High Conflict Divorce and Custody

Are there ways you can better manage a high conflict divorce or custody conflict?  Is everything a battle with your ex-partner, spouse, or your child’s other parent? As a mediator, I am in the conflict management business. When a client is dealing with an unreasonable or difficult ex, stress frustration levels skyrocket, so anything I…

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How Does Massachusetts Child Support Work?

If you are due unpaid child support in Massachusetts, you should be familiar with the numerous options for collecting the money to help support your child or children. Administrative enforcement options are coordinated by the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). If you are owed back child support, the best idea is to…

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