How To File For Divorce In Massachusetts: With Forms (self-help Law Kit With Forms)

S E L F - H WRITTEN BY E L P L A W K I T W I T H F O R M S LAWYERS A SIMPLE ENGLISH EXPLANATION OF THE LAW FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED how to FILE FOR Includes • Property division IVORCE D in • Child support and custody • Explanation of Massachusetts laws ASSACHUSETTS M Sharyn T. Sooho Steven L. Fuchs 3RD EDITION Attorneys at Law HOW TO FILE FOR DIVORCE IN MASSACHUSETTS HOW TO FILE FOR DIVORCE IN MASSACHUSETTS with forms Third Edition Sharyn T. Sooho Steven L. Fuchs Attorneys at Law Sphinx® Publishing A Division of Sourcebooks, Inc.® Naperville, IL Copyright © 1997, 1998, 2001 by Sharyn T. Sooho and Steven L. Fuchs Cover design © 2000 by Sourcebooks, Inc.® All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. Purchasers of the book are granted a license to use the forms contained herein for their own personal use. No claim of copyright is made in any government form reproduced herein. Third edition, 2001 Published by: Sphinx® Publishing, A Division of Sourcebooks, Inc.® Naperville Office P.O. Box 4410 Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410 630-961-3900 Fax: 630-961-2168 Interior and Cover Design: Sourcebooks, Inc.® This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations This product is not a substitute for legal advice. Disclaimer required by Texas statutes. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sooho, Sharyn T. How to file for divorce in Massachusetts : with forms / Sharyn T. Sooho, Steven L. Fuchs.--3rd ed. p. cm. -- (Self-help law kit with forms) Includes index. ISBN 1-57248-128-5 (pkb.) 1. Divorce--Law and legislation--Massachusetts--Popular works. 2. Divorce--Law and legislation-Massachusetts--Forms. I. Fuchs, Steven L. II. Title. III. Series. KFM2500.Z9 S66 2000 346.74401'66--dc21 00--030764 CIP Printed and bound in the United States of America. HS Paperback — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS USING SELF-HELP LAW BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi CHAPTER 1: DIVORCE LAW AND PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Overview Fault Divorce No-Fault Divorce Tax Implications Summary CHAPTER 2: DIVORCE—WITH AND WITHOUT A LAWYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Do You Need a Lawyer? Finding and Assessing a Lawyer Your First Meeting Legal Fees and Retaining a Lawyer CHAPTER 3: DOCUMENTS AND FORMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Marriage Certificates Forms Filing Your Forms Tips on Using Forms Summary CHAPTER 4: SETTLING YOUR CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Mediation Negotiation Settlement Checklist and Sample Agreement<