Quincy Divorce Attorney

If you’re interested in learning more about filing for divorce in Quincy, MA, call Infinity Law Group today to schedule a free phone consultation.

Divorce will be one of the most trying times in your life – physically, emotionally, and financially. You’ll have to ride an emotional roller coaster leading up to the decision to divorce and surviving the process. The emotional toll can impact your well-being and health. A divorce case also can be expensive at a time when your finances are in flux, adding additional stress. But with the right Quincy divorce lawyer and the right legal advice, a divorce doesn’t have to be unbearable.  

Filing for Divorce in Quincy, MA

To file for divorce anywhere in Massachusetts, you or your spouse has to be a resident, which means you must have lived here for at least 1 year or the reason the marriage is over happened in Massachusetts. You can file for divorce in Norfolk County if you or your spouse are a resident here. If you aren’t sure where to file for divorce, especially if you recently moved to Quincy, talk with an attorney.

Types of Divorce

In Massachusetts, there are fault and no-fault divorces. You can get a divorce based on adultery, desertion, imprisonment for five years or more, abuse, intoxication, impotency, and lack of support. But, the overwhelming majority of people choose to file a no-fault divorce because it’s easier to not have to prove the fault.

There also are contested vs. uncontested divorces. In a contested divorce, you and your spouse might not agree on one or more of the many issues you have to resolve, such as the division of property, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance. In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse have already worked out a full agreement that you want the judge to approve.

Do you know what type of divorce to file for and why? Part of the reason you should work with a Quincy divorce attorney is to figure out what type of divorce you’re headed for. It’s rare to file for a fault-based divorce, but it might be important in your situation.

You might not be sure of whether you and your spouse are on the same page. A lawyer can help you explore the issues you’ll need to resolve in a divorce and help you figure out whether a contested or uncontested divorce filing is appropriate.

Issues to Resolve in a Divorce

There are going to be several issues either you and your spouse agree on or the judge decides during a divorce:

Property Division: Assets and debts, like real estate, cars, and credit card bills, must be divided in a divorce. Property has to be divided equitably (fairly) between you two. Depending on the type of assets and debts, and the value of the estate, this can be a contentious process. Working with an experienced Quincy divorce law firm means you have someone to fight for you to receive a fair portion of property.

Child Custody and Parenting Time (Visitation): If you and your spouse have children, you’ll have to figure out a co-parenting schedule that’s best for the kids. But many parents have a hard time agreeing on what’s best for their kids. An attorney can help you come up with a plan that fits your family instead of asking a judge to hand down a generic custody schedule.

We often forget that while the process of divorce is hard, it’s often even harder on the children. At the beginning of the divorce process, your attorney might encourage you to seek the help of a therapist or a counselor, individually or as a family. In many cases, it’s covered by health insurance.

Child Support: The Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines determine the minimum amount of child support one parent should pay to the other. If one parent has a majority of custody, then the other parent tends to pay them. If you share 50/50 physical custody, then the calculation will determine which parent pays the other.

Alimony: Spouses often have a lot to say about whether one of them should or shouldn’t receive spousal support after the divorce. Massachusetts law allows for rehabilitative, reimbursement, transitional, and general term alimony. We can talk with you about whether any of these might be appropriate in your circumstances.

Prenuptial Agreements: If you and your spouse signed a prenuptial agreement, then the results of the divorce either have to abide by the contract, or you have to challenge the validity of the agreement. Your lawyer will carefully review a prenup to determine if it can be upheld.

Other Family Law Matters: All types of issues can arise during a divorce, including tax issues, such as who gets to claim the children on their tax returns. Other issues involve estate planning, including updating your wills and insurance policy beneficiaries.

Divorce Mediation

Most divorcing couples aren’t battling every issue in court. Instead, the court might require you to try mediation or conciliation first. This is an out-of-court process where you and your spouse try to resolve your issues under the guidance of a neutral mediator.

Mediation often enables a more peaceful divorce, which can be helpful for the children involved. It can be cheaper. And, most importantly, it can help you create customized solutions for your family.

But mediation isn’t always appropriate. If you or your children have been the victims of physical, verbal, emotional, or financial abuse by your spouse, then it might be better to take the issues to court. Mediation also won’t provide any solutions if you and your spouse can’t control your tempers and other emotions.

Let a Massachusetts Divorce Attorney Help

Getting through a divorce is going to be hard on you and your children. But it’s possible to come out of the situation in a much better place than when you entered. The best way to reach a fair result in a divorce is to have an experienced family law attorney guide you through the process.

The law office for Infinity Law Group in Quincy, MA, is our main location. We also represent individuals in Boston and the surrounding areas.

To schedule a free initial phone consultation call (617) 250-8236 or use our online form.