Thank you for contacting The Law Offices of Christine G. DeBernardis. We will be in touch shortly to discuss your concerns privately with you. You may be interested in the following.
Questions from our Readers:
I have physical custody of my children. Do I have to allow them to visit their other parent during the holidays?
In both New Hampshire (NH) and Massachusetts (MA), the courts typically encourage the involvement of both parents in a child's life, even after a divorce or separation. If you have physical custody of your children, it's essential to consider the best interests of the...
How do I manage my anger during the holidays?
My ex and I just went through a bitter divorce. Now she has a new boyfriend (the cause of the breakup) and wants him to be part of the childrens' Christmas, other holidays and vacation. I am very angry but do not want to taint my children against their mom. I could...
Appeal after Self Representing
Can I appeal if I represented myself in the original case? Yes you can...but you shouldn't. Appeals are complex. It's very unlike what you experienced in your trial case. Appeals are all about the procedures which means there are filing rules that the courts will...
Visiting Parent Hasn’t Kept Up With Custody
Q: Visiting parent who hasn’t kept up with custody, what happens? Does he or she lose rights? Normally and then in today’s COVID days? A parent who is awarded parenting time has the choice to exercise his/her time. If he or she does not exercise awarded time, she is...
Is It Contempt?
Is it contempt if one parent does not pick up children on assigned day It is not necessarily a “contempt” if a parent does not exercise parenting time. However, if the parent does not present for parenting time and it costs the other parent financially (ie time off...
Can Child Support Get Money from A Second Job?
If I Get a Second Job or Have Additional Income, Will Child Support Be Changed to Include It? In Massachusetts, the court determines whether to consider income from a second job after examining the history of the income (for how long it has been received, whether it...
In MA Is child support based on 2nd income?
Q. In MA Is child support based on 2nd income? In MA, child support is based upon the income of the parties. “Income is defined as gross income from whatever source, regardless of whether that income is recognized by the Internal Revenue Code or reported to the...
Is parent required to pay child support before being ordered by court to do so?
Q. Is parent required to pay child support before being ordered by court to do so? If so, how do we determined the amount? Every parent should provide financially for his or her child. Therefore, yes, a parent should support a child even if not ordered to do so by...
Parent doesn’t arrive at pickup location on time
Q: Parent doesn’t arrive at pickup location on time. Do I have to give child to her? This is very fact dependent. But my advice is always to take a reasonable approach. If a parent is scheduled to begin parenting time at 3PM and shows up at 3:30PM, you should...
Court Closure Questions
We finally agreed on terms for modification of our parenting plan. Where the court is now closed, does this mean that we can’t sign an agreement and submit it for approval? Answer: If you are working toward a resolution of a case, always keep trying! If you can...
