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Boston Family Law Blog
4 tips for having a safe child custody exchange
As a parent, your primary objective in life is to keep your kids safe and healthy. If you share parenting duties, you expect the co-parent also to prioritize the safety of your children. Still, emotions often run raw in the aftermath of a divorce. As such, you may...
Instilling fear through stalking
In Massachusetts, domestic violence is taken seriously by the court system. Stalking is a component of domestic violence that is, often, punishable by time in jail, fines or probation. The act is typically comprised of actions that are unwanted by another person or by...
What to know about facing domestic violence charges
You may wonder what happens to you or your family if you're facing domestic violence charges. A domestic violence conviction is serious and can include jail time. Understanding the basics of these charges and the facts of your case is crucial in developing a sound...
What to do if your abuser violates your restraining order
A restraining order – sometimes called a personal protection order – is a document that makes it illegal for your abusive partner to come near or contact you in any way. In an ideal world, a restraining order would always do its job to protect you and your family....
What really happens when someone brings a false domestic violence claim
Many have heard the horror stories—suddenly, during a divorce or child custody case, a false domestic violence allegation destroys a person’s ability to get fair treatment. False abuse claims are a very serious matter and can cause irreparable harm to a person’s...
What about the men? Understanding domestic violence and male victims
An estimated one in four American men will experience domestic violence and abuse at some point in their life. Far fewer will report their abuse. Over the course of the past decades, researchers have seen a major increase in men who report domestic violence. As...
Restraining orders protect domestic violence victims
If your spouse or partner has harmed you, protecting yourself is crucial. You may have a place to go and a way to end the relationship. Yet, you have no guarantee that your abuser won’t track you down and try to hurt you again. By filing a restraining order against...
Know the signs of child abuse
Millions of children witness domestic violence and abuse every year, many of those children are or will be victims of abuse themselves. Because abused children often do not or cannot speak out about their abuse, vigilant adults are a critical part of protecting them...
What a 209A order means for your gun rights
A domestic violence protective order, also called a restraining order or a 209A, has many implications, especially for firearms owners. Massachusetts has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the country, and a domestic violence allegation may mean you are...
What Massachusetts is doing to stop domestic violence
Each month in Boston, police receive thousands of domestic violence calls. This is in addition to the thousands of calls made to hotlines and women’s shelters. And, if left unattended, domestic violence can easily escalate, at times leading to homicide. In March this...
