What do I need to know about divorce in Massachusetts?

What do I need to know about divorce in Massachusetts?

You do not have to file for divorce in the same state you were married. In Massachusetts, the party filing for the divorce must have lived here for one year. You may file in the county where you live or where you and your spouse last lived together.

How are pensions valued in divorce?

Normally, one of three methods is used to divide defined benefit pension plans: 1) present value or cash out method, “which awards the non-employee spouse a lump sum settlement – or a marital asset of equal value – at the time of the divorce in return for the employee’s keeping the pension”; 2) “deferred division’ or …

Why do husbands want separate bank accounts?

The common reason for each spouse wanting their own bank account is the desire for independence as all three examples demonstrate. There’s no greater feeling than being free to do whatever you want with your own money.

What are the disadvantages of joint account?

One of the negatives of a joint account is that you might not always know what is in the account. Since both spouses have unrestricted access to the account, you could end up overdrawn if your spouse makes purchases and fails to tell you.

Why you shouldn’t share a bank account?

One major drawback to sharing a joint bank account is that it can cause issues in a marriage when spouses aren’t communicating about their account activity, or worse, keeping financial secrets.

Should couples keep finances separate?

Many financial experts will say that maintaining separate bank accounts, or having a “yours, mine and ours” system is the best way to manage your money in a marriage. “If you have two working spouses, it reduces conflict,” Laurie Itkin, a financial advisor and certified divorce financial analyst, tells CNBC Make It.

Can I use my husband’s last name without legally changing it?

Anyone is free to keep their own name, hyphenate their name with a spouse’s name, take their spouse’s name, or come up with a completely different name altogether. As long as the name change isn’t done criminally or fraudulently, any of these options would constitute a legal name change.

Do you inherit your spouse’s debt when you get married?

You are not responsible for your partner’s debts just because of your relationship, whether you are married or not. However, you may have become liable for his or her debts because you signed a loan contract as a joint borrower or guarantor, or because you were a director of a family company or a partner in a business.

How do you separate finances when living together?

Figure Out Your Contribution Amount Then divide your gross pay by your household budget. Paying bills such as rent, utilities and grocery bills based on the percentage of what you and your partner make, not a flat 50%, makes the most sense when creating a fair cohabitation budget.