- DivorceUsually within a year the case should be disposed of. Again, this cannot be predicted with certainty because much will depend on the behavior of your spouse (and you, of course). If one or both of you is unreasonable or litigious, the case will take longer. Unfortunately, the behavior of the spouses’ lawyers may also lengthen the process. An uncontested divorce may take a month, a contested divorce regarding assets or child custody may take a year or two.
- Child SupportMany people are either out of work, or at a reduced level and either are not paying child support or are finding it impossible to pay child support. If you cannot pay, you need to file a Complaint for Modification. If you are not receiving child support, you need to file a Complaint for Contempt. Since the Courts are closed to the public, the need to be able to file the paperwork is essential and if you mail it in and it’s not done correctly, it will not be accepted as a filing in the Court. Email me or call me to go over your questions on this. In troubled times, get some professional advice.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Spousal SupportThe children will remain covered by present health insurance. The divorced spouse also is covered at no extra cost until such time as the insured remarries. At that time, the divorced spouse may continue on the plan, but it is usually specified that the additional cost will be paid for by the divorced spouse. However, this statute, G.L.c. 175, § 110I, does not apply if the employer is a self-insurer. In that case, the federal COBRA regulations apply. They provide short-term coverage, usually 18 months, at an immediate and substantial cost to the divorced spouse. (Health insurance is an increasingly important issue: the cost is escalating, and fewer parties have low-cost, continued coverage.) If alimony is awarded, judges must also require that the obligor obtain or reimburse the spouse for the cost of health insurance without reducing the alimony award. G.L. c. 208, § 34.
- Business Formation
- Business DisputesS cott J. Fishman was born and raised in Randolph. He graduated Boston University with a degree in business administration. After graduation he worked for several years in the real estate industry. In 1995 Attorney Fishman was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and in 1998 co-founded Jennings, Jennings & Fishman in Weymouth. Attorney Fishman specializes in all aspects of business law including litigation, bankruptcy and real estate as well as estate planning and estate administration. He has litigated numerous business, family and real estate disputes as well as complex commercial collection cases.
- Workers Compensation
- Sexual HarassmentWe have represented plaintiffs and defendants in all sorts of cases, such as disputes between landlords and tenants, car accidents and personal injuries, sexual harassment cases, collections, divorce and child custody, construction disputes, will contests, real estate disputes, business disputes and others.
- Real Estate LitigationHe has conducted trials on subject matters ranging from landlord-tenant disputes to auto accidents, real estate disputes, fraudulent conveyances and more. He also has experience in worker’s compensation, estate planning and administration, real estate closings, and business transfers and sales.
- Construction Litigation
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesM ark J. Gardner was born in Woburn, Massachusetts and raised in Northwood, New Hampshire. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Political Science in 1990. He attended the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover, Massachusetts and graduated with a JD in 1995. Attorney Gardner was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and New Hampshire Bar in 1996. He specializes in Divorce and Family Law. He also handles Real Estate, Landlord Tenant and SSI/SSDI matters. He was a title insurance agent for Chicago Title Insurance Company and performs numerous real estate closings for various local and national lenders. He also has a vast referral network of attorneys in most areas including Criminal, Bankruptcy and Personal Injury/Civil Litigation. He has been involved with the Parent Advisory Council for Special Education for Cambridge as a Co-Chairman and Treasurer. He has also served on the Board of the Cambridge Girls Softball League and coaches his daughters’ teams.
- Personal InjuryMedical payment insurance is probably the best deal in insurance. Most people can get $5000.oo in coverage for about $20.00 a year! When you consider that you are most likely to suffer physical trauma from an auto accident, that is a really good deal. Also, your health insurer is going to try to put a lien against any personal injury settlement you receive, if you have Med Pay, that will offset any potential lien and you will put more cash in your pocket.
- Auto Accidents
- Social Security DisabilityThe Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide benefits based on disability: the Social Security disability insurance program (title II of the Social Security Act (the Act)) and the supplemental security income (SSI) program (title XVI of the Act).
- Estate PlanningWe would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly.
- Wills
- Trusts
- Power of AttorneyA Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to choose a person to manage your financial affairs in the event that you become incompetent to handle your own affairs. Without this document, the family will have to go to Court to have a person appointed to administer your affairs. This is costly and needless.
- Probate
- Bankruptcy
- Foreclosure