People in Massachusetts get divorced for a plethora of reasons, including financial disagreements. When people are fighting over asset distribution and property division, they may quickly turn to social networking sites to publicly share their feelings and find emotional support. However, according to research, this same outlet that divorcing people sometimes use to vent may be the very thing that caused them to get a divorce in the first place. A new study showed that using Facebook and other similar social media sites is linked to having trouble in relationships and pondering divorce. This may be because these sites let users reconnect with people they dated or were married to in the past. In addition, they easily allow people to privately and continuously maintain romantic relationships with people other than their spouses. The chance of having a marriage that lasts long-term is only 50 percent, and social media has not helped these odds. This is why it’s beneficial to discuss the use of social media with one’s spouse. The two parties can then come to an agreement on ground rules related to how they use these sites, such as whether it’s okay to reconnect with past boyfriends or girlfriends. However, even when taking steps to control social media usage in a marriage, marital unions sometimes fail despite how hard people try to make it work. The best way to protect oneself from the financial perils of divorce is to develop a prenuptial agreement that addresses how assets and income will

The financial repercussions of divorce in Massachusetts can affect all parties going through the process. Fees and other expenses related to the proceedings can at times be burdening for some parties, but the monetary implications do not end there. Property division decisions can continue to affect individuals’ finances after the agreements have been made and the ownership of assets determined. Taxes are a big reason why division of the assets can have a considerable financial impact. If taxes are not considered when dividing property, an individual may find that they did not come out as well as they may have imagined. Therefore, it is important to examine assets from an after-tax point-of-view that will allow the true worth of certain property to be determined along with how that could affect the receiving party. Determining who will maintain ownership of the home can also play a significant role in the division process and affect the finances of the parties involved. If one party maintains ownership of the house and the other moves to a different location, looking into the tax implications of such a transfer could be prudent. There are also different aspects to consider if both parties maintain ownership of the home while only one of the individuals remains living in it. The property division process can be a complicated one in some situations. As a result, understanding how the proceedings are handled in Massachusetts and what regulations could come into play may lead to a less stressful procedure. Many

When Massachusetts couples are planning their weddings, the idea of also planning for their divorce may not be on their minds. However, taking some precautions before a marriage could ease the process if a divorce does take place in the future. Property division can be a difficult process to work through, but if couples consider signing a prenuptial agreement, issues concerning assets may be less likely. By discussing a prenuptial agreement before marriage, an open line of communication about serious issues can already be established. As a result, the couple may feel more comfortable discussing other issues in the future, which could allow them to potentially have a stronger marriage. This discussion can also help a couple learn more about the other’s financial state of affairs and if there are any serious issues that need to be addressed before their accounts are joined. Because individuals are often opting to settle into careers and homeownership before marriage, there may be some assets that the parties would like to protect. A prenuptial agreement could protect certain property that an individual acquired before marriage and hopes to retain in the event of separation. By coming to these terms before marriage, preparation can be had for a situation that may not arise but that they will nonetheless be able to navigate more smoothly on the chance that it does come about. As mentioned, discussing divorce while planning a marriage may be unseemly to some, but it could also help potentially strengthen a marriage. Discussing

Fortunately, many Massachusetts couples are able to reach an agreement on their own as an alternative to prolonged litigation and court involvement. However, divorce can often produce such intense feelings of hurt and anger, which causes feuding during the litigation process. As one couple discovered, warring through litigation can be expensive, but it can also affect the amount awarded during property division. Reportedly, the petition for divorce followed a domestic dispute that became physical, ending a 19-year marriage in 2007. The parties share two children, and the divorce has lasted nearly seven years. The case began gathering public attention from the start, taking on increasing interest when the wife accused her estranged husband of squandering large amounts of money on his girlfriend while allegedly neglecting the financial needs of his hearing-impaired daughter. The negative exposure drastically affected the man’s ability to attract clients and reduced the value of his interest in the law firm in which he was a partner. Though the woman had a right to complain about her husband’s actions, the court ruled that, based on the level of negative attention surrounding the divorce — largely caused by the wife, his ability to earn money was adversely affected. As a result, she was only awarded 17 percent of his interest in the law firm. It is uncommon for courts to make such a seemingly inequitable award unless special circumstances are present. In this case, the wife’s actions negatively affected her husband’s livelihood; therefore, the court curtailed her right