The termination of the marriage is rarely the most hotly contested aspect of a divorce. Chances are that by the time the decision has been made to file for divorce, neither party is prepared to spend a lot of time or money to keep the marriage together. Property division issues become important because they affect where each of the spouses will live, their standard of living, retirement plans and other post-divorce aspects of their lives. It is important, therefore, to understand how the courts in Massachusetts handle the division of assets in a divorce. Equitable distribution refers to the method by which Salem courts determine how property that the parties acquired during their marriage should be allocated in the divorce. There are several issues that must be dealt with, including how the property was acquired, when it was acquired and the contributions each of the spouses made to acquiring or improving it. One thing that is clear under the law is that equitable distribution does not impose any obligation on judges to order an equal property division. The law asks judges to consider a number of factors in deciding on a distribution that would be equitable under the circumstances. These factors include: How long the parties were married to each other The age and health of the parties Whether the parties are working and their incomes relative to each other The employability of the parties and their vocational skills The needs of dependent children Non-economic contributions by a spouse who

Massachusetts pet owners know that animals can, at times, feel like their children. Individuals may care for their pets much like they would care for children, from sending them to day care to buying them clothing. Unfortunately, in the eyes of most court systems, pets are considered property and, in the event of a divorce, pets may come under the jurisdiction of the property division processes. Pet ownership can become a point of contention for individuals who are going through divorce. Depending on when the pet was acquired, the court could have to decide which party maintains ownership of the pet. If the pet was given as a gift or was owned before the couple got married, the animal may be considered separate property, and this type of property cannot be divided by the court. In such a case, the original owner of the pet would maintain that ownership. However, if a pet was brought into the family together after the couple married, the situation may become more complicated. If the pet is considered community property, the court may decide which party may keep the pet. Though this may seem disheartening for the party that does not maintain ownership, the individuals may be able to create a visitation schedule similar to a child custody schedule that could allow both parties to see the pet. Property division is often a complicated endeavor when it comes to divorce, and when something so important to a party, such as a pet, is involved,