Middlesex County Divorce Law Blog

Within the first eight years of marriage, approximately 50 percent of couples in the U.S. split with their partners. As the average age of couples entering into their first marriages continues to rise, so does the average amount of assets couples bring into their relationships. It may be an uncomfortable subject for many couples to consider, but thinking about how to split assets in the event of a divorce is an important part of planning for the future. 

In many cases, couples choose to sign prenuptial agreements that outline each person's financial responsibilities in the event of a split. Discussing these agreements can be unpleasant, however, and some couples are reluctant to bring them up at all. Although prenuptial agreements are one of the best ways for people to protect their premarital assets, some forms of trusts may also be a possiblity. 

Women across the country have long been fighting for equal rights, equal pay and recognition that they can work in any profession. While there have been great strides over the past few decades, the increased professional responsibilities and pay for women has led to the degenderization of alimony and divorce.

In the past, many ex-husbands found themselves having to send their ex-wives a check every month. Now, the opposite situation is true, where many women are out earning men, and after divorce might be forced to pay alimony to their ex-husbands.

College is a major life decision that many parents encourage for their children to make. Whether it is for four years of additional schooling, or a one year certification program, parents are increasingly interested in sending their children to college. Because of the increasing cost of a college education, many parents start saving for their child's education from the time they are born.

Parents can save in various ways. They could do a traditional savings account, or they could invest in a 529 plan, which is an investment account that only allows for distributions for specific educational expenses. Whatever way parents choose to save, it might be important that parents that decide to divorce, also include college savings in their discussions.

We live in a very digital world. There is no doubt about it. As aspects of our life become more digital and sharable, we must constantly pay attention to privacy settings and work to keep our digital presence out of the public eye. When a person goes through a divorce, their entire lives might seem open for scrutiny. Because divorce is such a sensitive time for a family, their lives will be subject to review from finances to their social media platforms.

While people should always be cautious of what they post under their name online, they should be especially restrained in their online presence during a divorce. Anything that a soon-to-be ex-spouse can find online about one person might be considered public information and end up being used against them in child custody proceedings and other aspects of their Massachusetts divorce case. Any information online might be used to persuade a judge that one parent isn't fit to take care of children.