Wellesley Divorce Lawyer

Wellesley Divorce Attorney

The decision to end a marriage is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and the outcome of your divorce could impact your life in various ways for years to come. If you believe your marriage has fully run its course and you and your spouse are beyond hope of reconciliation, dissolution of your marriage will be much easier when you have an experienced Wellesley divorce lawyer representing you.

Wellesley Divorce Counsel You Can Put Your Trust In

Farias Family Law, P.C., offers experienced, responsive, and compassionate legal counsel for your impending divorce in Wellesley. Our firm has successfully resolved many complex divorce cases for our clients, and we know the various legal challenges you might encounter as you seek to end your marriage contract. With our assistance, you can reach better results more quickly than you could otherwise manage alone.

Our goal for every client is to turn a seemingly negative experience into something positive. Your divorce could be expensive, stressful, and emotionally draining, but it can also be a springboard to a new chapter of growth in your life. You can rely on our firm to provide ongoing support through every stage of your case until you reach the result you hope to see.

What Does Divorce Entail?

Divorce is the ending of a marriage contract, but it is much more than just ending a marriage. The divorcing spouses will need to resolve several issues to complete the divorce process, and their willingness to compromise and negotiate will determine how long this process takes. Every divorce is different, but the core elements of most divorce cases in the Wellesley family court system include:

• Child custody. When parents divorce, determining custody of their children will likely be the focal point of their divorce proceedings. The court must rule in favor of the best interests of the children, and a custody order will dictate physical custody and a child’s residence as well as legal custody or the ability of the parents to make decisions for their child.
• Child support. Every child custody order is accompanied by a support order. Both parents are expected to contribute to the financial cost of raising their children. When one parent assumes more parenting time than the other, the noncustodial parent may be required to pay child support to the custodial parent until the child is emancipated, which may not be until age 23.
• Property division. The state upholds the equitable distribution law for property division in divorce. This means that divorcing spouses must divide their marital property as fairly as possible, but this does not mean each spouse receives an equal share of the marital property. A financial disclosure is required from each spouse to ensure the fairest possible division of assets.
• Spousal support/alimony. When one spouse earns more than the other, spousal support or alimony may be awarded to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living. The amount paid is based on the difference in their earnings, and the time that payments must continue depends on how long the marriage lasted.

These issues may seem straightforward enough, but it is vital that you prepare accordingly for your divorce proceedings. The process is likely to be more challenging than you might initially expect, and an experienced Wellesley divorce lawyer can be an invaluable asset as they guide you through the initial stages of the dissolution process.

You will need to gather various forms of evidence and all types of documentation to submit to the court. Your financial disclosure statement must be complete and accurate, and if you are fighting for child custody, you can expect this aspect of your divorce to command most of your attention during the proceedings ahead. Your Wellesley divorce lawyer can help meet your procedural obligations and resolve your divorce as smoothly as possible.

How to Resolve Your Divorce in Wellesley

It is possible for divorcing spouses to resolve divorce through private negotiations or mediation and/or litigation. If the couple is willing to compromise on the various aspects of their divorce, negotiations or mediation may take only a fraction of the time that litigation would require. However, some issues cannot be resolved privately, and it is possible for private negotiations between attorneys and mediation to fail for many reasons. In these situations, the case goes to litigation.

The main goal in every divorce case is to move the case from a contested state to an uncontested state. Simply put, when a divorce is contested, it means that the couple does not agree on some or all elements of the divorce. If the divorce is uncontested, it means the couple has reached mutually acceptable terms for their divorce order.

The couple may begin their divorce proceedings in private negotiations or mediation, resolving what they can before taking their remaining issues before a family court judge. In divorce litigation, the judge considers evidence and testimony from each spouse before making important decisions regarding each aspect of their divorce, from property division to child custody. It is important to remember that some aspects of your divorce order can be modified later if necessary.

How Does Mediation Work in Wellesley?

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution approach in which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps divorcing spouses reach a mutually agreeable solution to key issues. In mediation, the mediator helps guide both parties to collaborate on an agreement. The mediator does not make any decisions.

While cost efficiency is one of the major advantages of mediation, this approach also offers other unique benefits during divorce cases. Mediation provides a level of confidentiality, often lacking in cases that go to court, which can help keep personal matters private. This is particularly beneficial for high-net-worth divorces, as finances can become public records when presented to a court for division.

Most importantly, mediation allows couples more control over the outcomes and eliminates much of the stress induced by litigation and court proceedings. Mediation emphasizes communication, cooperation, and compromise, which can ultimately help couples reach a favorable solution and preserve civility in their future relationship. This is especially important for couples who will be co-parenting following their divorce.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Cost for a Divorce Lawyer in Massachusetts?

A: The average cost for a divorce lawyer in Massachusetts can be difficult to determine. The cost of hiring a divorce lawyer varies based on several factors, including the complexity of your case and the attorney’s experience. While contested divorces will cost, on average, significantly more due to the extensive court proceedings and litigation involved, mediation with the assistance of a skilled attorney is an alternative dispute resolution that can be a much more cost-efficient process.

Q: How Much Is a Wife Entitled to in a Divorce in Massachusetts?

A: In Massachusetts, both parties are entitled to an equitable share of all marital assets and debts. This means that the law does not specifically entitle a given portion to the wife but instead evaluates the unique circumstances of the marriage when dividing the property. This attempt at a fair assessment can be based on factors such as each party’s health, income, and needs.

Q: Who Should File for Divorce First in Massachusetts?

A: Because the Massachusetts court system emphasizes fairness in its proceedings and determinations, there is generally little advantage or disadvantage to filing for divorce first. However, depending on the circumstances, filing first may give one party the opportunity to set the tone of the proceedings, especially if pursuing a fault divorce. When filing a no-fault divorce, couples have the option of filing jointly, meaning that both parties agree on the terms and have settled related issues in advance.

Q: How Long Do You Have to Be Separated Before Divorce in Massachusetts?

A: There is no mandatory separation period required before filing for divorce in Massachusetts. Instead, once the divorce proceedings have been initiated, there is a waiting period imposed by the court before the divorce is finalized. If one spouse files the petition, the court gives the other spouse time to respond, usually about 20 days. After all hearings, negotiations, mediations, and court proceedings have taken place, there is a 90-day waiting period to allow the couple time to reconsider.

What to Expect From Your Wellesley Divorce Lawyer

The team at Farias Family Law, P.C., offers compassionate and responsive legal counsel for your impending divorce case in Wellesley. It’s common for people facing divorce to make emotionally charged decisions they later regret, and sometimes the desire to get it over with overtakes rational decision-making, leading to very complex problems later that are difficult to resolve.

When you hire our firm to represent you in your divorce, you are investing in a seasoned legal advocate who has the experience and resources necessary to help you reach the result you hope to see in the most efficient manner. We leverage the latest technology and develop individualized strategies for all clients we represent. The earlier you contact our firm, the more time we will have to work on your case.

Contact Farias Family Law, P.C., today and make your appointment for a assessment with our team. We can review the details of your impending divorce, help determine the optimal strategy for reaching your goals, and prepare you for the challenging proceedings ahead.