Family Law is a legal practice area that focuses on issues involving family relationships, such as divorce, child custody or support, and other family matters in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in Hillsborough County and Middlesex County
Legal agreements between a couple in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, both before or during a marriage, can be highly personal and complicated. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can impact the lives of a couple immediately and in the future. Any couple venturing into a legal agreement before the wedding or after should have individual legal representation to ensure fairness and that both parties are respected.
Divorce in Hillsborough County, Middlesex County, and Surrounding Areas
Divorce is a difficult and emotional time that involves a great deal of upheaval for everyone. It affects finances, family dynamics, and personal relationships in an untold number of ways. Having a skilled and experienced divorce attorney, like Annutto Law by your side to manage your divorce will help protect your rights and ensure the process is as smooth as possible.
The Divorce Process in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Getting divorced entails a mountain of decisions, and each one is unique to the couple involved. Issues such as custody and property division can quickly grow contentious and complicated. If a trial is in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Family Division, a judge will hear both sides and ultimately decide issues, including property division, parenting, and alimony.
You need an attorney to outline all of the decisions and issues you have to make and point out any overlooked items. Everything from filing the appropriate paperwork, meeting Court deadlines, and understanding the current law are essential parts of the process. An experienced attorney can navigate the legal system and ensure all motions and petitions are correct for your Massachusetts or New Hampshire divorce.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts High Net Worth Divorces
There is a great deal of upheaval and change that follows the dissolution of a marriage. If the split is considered a high net worth divorce, it can be even more contentious and complicated to navigate without a Massachusetts or New Hampshire high net worth divorce lawyer.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire Mediation
Divorce does not always have to be a battle that leaves all parties involved in stressful, financial turmoil, nor must it become a public event that results in property and support information as public record. Seeking a mediation divorce lawyer can be the quickest, most cost-effective, and least contentious way to dissolve a marriage.
Child Support Disputes in Hillsborough County and Middlesex County
There may be no other family law area that is more emotional and life-altering than parenting and the issues involving child support. Our Nashua and Woburn family law attorneys understand the complexities and importance of any case involving children. We work diligently to protect our client’s rights and pursue the most fair and just resolution for any support case.
Once you’ve established the residential responsibility of children, the next question to address is child support. New Hampshire has a formula for calculating child support payments based on the number of children, the monthly gross income of both parents, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. The court will order child support as set by the formula unless particular circumstances exist that justify deviating from the child support guidelines.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire Parenting Time Agreements
“Parenting time” is the new term used in Massachusetts and New Hampshire instead of “visitation.” Obtaining or enforcing parenting time can require legal intervention. And while a parenting plan may be part of a divorce or earlier parenting agreement, later modification of parenting time may be appropriate. A Parenting Plan in Hillsborough County and Middlesex County may also include a non-residential parent scheduled to have parenting time with the child.
Parenting Time Issues
When it comes to the specifics of parenting time, the New Hampshire Family Division Courts typically encourage all parties to work together, believing that ongoing relationships with both parents are generally in the best interest of the child.
Some of the typical parenting time issues that arise include:
- Vacation schedules
- Transportation between homes
- Relocation and its impact on parenting time
- Parents’ schedules
- Children’s schedules
- One parent not abiding by a set parenting schedule
- Child removal and parent relocation
Alimony/Spousal Support Attorney in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
During a divorce, it is vital to take the necessary steps to protect your rights and also your finances. A skilled attorney who can negotiate and fight for a fair resolution can help both parties handle any alimony issues that may arise during a divorce.
Alimony Agreements in Nashua, NH, Woburn, MA, and Surrounding Areas
There is no set alimony formula in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. An alimony agreement in New Hampshire or Massachusetts gives the judge has a great deal of discretion in how much alimony is awarded based on the facts of that individual case.
Some of the common factors a judge may consider in determining the amount of alimony that is awarded include:
- Length of the marriage
- Age and health of each spouse
- Income and employability of each spouse
- The employment history of each spouse
- The lifestyle enjoyed during the marriage
- Amount of property and how that property is divided
- Economic contributions during the marriage
- Non-economic contributions during the marriage, such as staying home to raise a family
Collaborative Law in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and Middlesex County, MA
Collaborative law requires both parties to agree to participate in the legal process. After participation is agreed upon, the parties meet – together with their attorneys – to negotiate and solve the issues between parties. Both sides are heard and get to have their ideas considered in a dignified and respectful setting. New Hampshire and Massachusetts collaborative law attorneys utilize effective communication and negotiating skills to ensure the process goes smoothly and to explore workable solutions to the problems at hand.
New Hampshire Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) Attorney
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a legal document needed to transfer ownership of certain retirement funds from one spouse to the other and avoid tax implications. When a couple is divorced, and there are divisions of retirement accounts, a QDRO is often needed. Without a QDRO, one party may be giving up all rights to accounts he or she has a legal right to have split between both parties.
Property and Asset Division in the State of New Hampshire
New Hampshire is an equitable distribution state. This means all marital property is equally divided unless other factors exist that would make an unequal division more equitable. While the law may be clear, splitting actual property may be more complicated than you might imagine. Also, property divisions are often non-modifiable post-divorce, so if you are questioning a property currently being divided then now is the time to speak with an attorney – before the New Hampshire Court has issued the order and an agreement has been signed. If you are in the middle of a divorce, you need an attorney who can specifically address your unique property and asset division needs.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire Domestic Violence Attorney
Domestic violence and restraining orders are taken very seriously by the New Hampshire or Massachusetts family court system. Any incident of domestic violence and a restraining order that may follow can impact the lives of everyone involved in several ways. Because this type of incident can be emotionally challenging and distressing for all, it is essential to secure trusted and compassionate legal counsel who will help you during this difficult time.
Filing a Restraining Orders in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Restraining orders are a serious matter. If you need to file one or have one filed against you, you must have the guidance and support of a trusted and experienced attorney. The Law Office of Joseph Annutto can help you deal with a restraining order as you try to move forward from a difficult time.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire Divorces with Limited Representation
Legal assistance and guidance is essential for your ultimate success in virtually every legal situation . This representation is particularly essential when it comes to matters in the family law court system, although full-time representation may not be needed or affordable for some. In New Hampshire and Massachusetts, limited representation is an option when legal services are warranted but keeping an attorney on retainer isn’t feasible.
Annutto Law Office is here to support your Massachusetts and New Hampshire legal needs with estate planning, family law, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and personal injury representation. We offer legal advice with experience you can trust in Hillsborough County, Middlesex County, and surrounding area communities. Joseph Annutto and his expert legal team welcome you to contact us to learn more about how our Nashua and Woburn law firm can help meet your family law goals.