Divorce 101

At Next Phase Legal, our skilled Massachusetts divorce lawyers and mediators provide you with a range of options for resolving your divorce case. On one end of the spectrum, mediation is a less-adversarial approach involving the assistance of a neutral mediator.  In other instances, a court-based approach is what is needed.

In the early stages of divorce,  it may seem difficult to cut through the information competing for your attention. Family members and friends all have something to say, and although it is nice having a support network, a good bit of the friendly advice you receive may be flat out wrong for your situation.

In fact, some of the worst advice may come from well-meaning family members and friends.  You need solid advice from a professional and realistic feedback, with the goal to resolve your case in a way that works for you and your family.

How to Handle Divorce

If you have children, the marital relationship ends, but parental ties remain. A high-conflict divorce in Massachusetts will make it difficult to have a reasonable parenting relationship post-divorce.  When divorced parents cannot reasonably co-exist, you face years of stressful and heated interactions with your former spouse, not to mention ongoing legal expenses when frequent modifications are filed or a parenting coordinator is required to keep the peace.

This continuing cycle is an often-overlooked, negative consequence of the traditional court-based approach to divorce, or related issues such as child support, child custody and parenting, and alimony.   

Believe us when we tell you that you are going to get tired of frequently knocking heads with your ex-spouse.  No matter how much anger, resentment, and sadness you are feeling, doing your best to take the “high road” will pay dividends in the months and years ahead.   We know this isn’t easy some days.  When people are involved in resolving their own problems there is less likelihood of future conflict because each person helped formulate those solutions.

That being said, it is also true that sometimes one party has unreasonable positions or expectations, or is unwilling to consider options such as mediation.  When that occurs, you will need an advocate that is experienced advocating for your interests in a courtroom.

Our Norfolk County divorce mediators and divorce attorneys are ready to help you reach your goals in the areas of:

  • Child Support
  • Child Custody & Parenting Plans
  • Alimony, Spousal Support
  • Property Division
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Modification and Contempt Complaints
  • Removal of children outside of Massachusetts
  • Assisted Reproductive Technology
  • Divorce Mediation
  • Collaborative Divorce
  • Arbitration
  • Case Evaluation
  • Conciliation
  • Divorce in Massachusetts
  • Collaborative Divorce
  • Restraining Orders

For additional questions on how to best approach your divorce or family legal matter please contact us.