Woburn Divorce Lawyer

Woburn Divorce Lawyer

Dissolving a marriage is no easy feat, as it requires couples to contend with a host of related legal issues, including property division, alimony, and child support. To ensure that your own divorce is handled properly, it is strongly recommended that you contact a Woburn divorce lawyer who has the resources and experience to represent your interests. 

Filing for Divorce

Under Massachusetts law, couples are only permitted to file for divorce if at least one of the parties has lived in the state for one year. To begin the process, one or both spouses will need to file the required paperwork with the circuit court in the county where they reside.

If a couple is able to agree on all issues, they might wish to file an uncontested or simplified divorce petition. This can often be a faster and less expensive process. However, if there are disagreements over any issues, a contested divorce complaint will need to be filed. In most cases, a skilled Woburn divorce lawyer can negotiate a settlement outside of court.

Property Division

One of the most complicated issues divorcing couples must cope with is property division. In Massachusetts, all assets owned by a couple are considered marital property, without regard to when they were acquired or whose name is on the title or deed. A couple’s marital assets must be divided equitably upon dissolution of the marriage. If a couple is not able to agree on the division of property and the case goes to trial, the court will use several factors to determine how the assets should be divided. These may include, among other things:

• The length of the marriage
• Each spouse’s age, health, and station
• Each spouse’s vocational skills and employability
• Conduct of each spouse during the marriage

To ensure that your assets are divided fairly upon divorce, it is important to speak with an experienced Woburn divorce lawyer who can help you account for, list, and assign proper value to your assets. 

Spousal Support

In some cases, if one spouse lacks the financial resources to sustain themselves during or after the divorce, courts may award spousal support, otherwise known as alimony. This is a payment from one spouse to the other intended to help the lower-earning spouse until they can become self-sufficient. When making this determination, courts assess a variety of factors, including:

• Each party’s income and assets
• Each party’s financial needs
• Each spouse’s age and physical health
• The standard of living enjoyed by the couple during the marriage
• The length of the marriage
• The employability of the spouse who is requesting support
• The earning capacity of the party that would pay maintenance
• Any other factor the court finds just and equitable

In the event that a spousal maintenance award is deemed appropriate in a particular case, the court will assign the amount and duration of future payments based on a series of predetermined guidelines. 

Schedule a Consultation with an Experienced Woburn Divorce Lawyer

To speak with a dedicated Woburn divorce lawyer about filing for divorce in Massachusetts, please call Wright Family Law Group today. You can also reach us by completing one of our brief online contact forms.