Boston Family Law, Divorce, and Estate Planning Lawyer

Infinity Law Group

60 State Street
Suite 700
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
USA

(617) 273-5110

(617) 273-0136

www.infinlaw.com

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Law Firm Overview FREE CONSULTATION

Infinity Law Group provides thorough and effective legal representation and personalized service in the areas of Family Law, Divorce, and, Estate Planning. At our firm we focus on these three specific areas of law because they are so closely related, and can impact an entire family – from its humble beginnings, to raising children, to eventual retirement and planning for the inevitable.

It’s no secret that family law, divorce and estate planning can be some of the most emotional areas you, as a client, will ever face. This is because all three areas affect and relate to the family. So, here’s what we promise to do for you. We will bring compassion, focus, dedication and professional legal skills for any legal matter you have.

And in some respects, we become a true partner with our clients and their families. We have to because it is the only way your legal needs can be met in a timely and professional manner. We are committed to providing personal service to each and every client.

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Same-Sex Divorce; Power of Attorney; Health Care Proxy; Health Care Directive or Living Will; Child Support Contempt; Cohabitation Agreements; Civil Union; Power of Attorney; Modifications; Restraining Orders; Civil Unions.

Areas of Law Description

- Family Law

My firm helps families in many areas of family law including divorce, child custody and support, modifications, contempt’s and restraining orders. As with most law firms that focus on family legal matters, a significant portion of my practice is dedicated to handling Boston area divorce cases.

* Divorce
As a Boston Divorce Lawyer, I can tell you that if you are contemplating a divorce, it will be one of the most emotionally charged events a couple will ever face. And it’s even worse when children are involved. Very few families have an easy time with it. Most ride an emotional roller coaster as they work through a divorce. And these emotional highs-and-lows can impact your ability to think clearly and make rational decisions.

* Same-Sex Divorce
For more than five years, same-sex couples have had the right to marry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And as part of that legislation, the Commonwealth declared that these marriages be treated exactly like heterosexual marriages. Unfortunately, a large number of these marriages are ending the same way as well – in divorce. The Commonwealth did the right thing though – they gave same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples for divorce proceedings.

* Child Custody
When children are involved in a divorce, the couple should jointly determine where the children should live, what person will make major decisions on behalf of the children, and the amount of time each parent will have with the children on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis. And that is why I spend so much time working with my clients, urging them to come to an amicable agreement with their spouse.

* Restraining Order
A restraining order (sometimes referred to as a protective order or abuse protection order) is a legal order issued by a Massachusetts state court and provides protection from physical or sexual harm. And based on my experience, most restraining orders are typically put in place against a member of the immediate family for domestic violence.

* Child Support
As a Boston Child Support Lawyer, I understand that in a divorce, one party wants more support – while the other wants to minimize it. I know that neither parent wants to short-change the children. But the parent that is going to have to pay the support is usually thinking only one thing – they don’t want the other parent to get anything “extra”. So the state of Massachusetts has made it a bit easier on all parties involved – they use a mathematical formula to calculate the amount of child support.

* Modifications
I realize that agreements made as a result of a divorce or custody agreements sometimes need to be altered. The courts do too – as long as the agreement is fair. Sometimes a special financial need, medical condition, change of residence or other circumstance requires an existing agreement to be modified.

* Child Visitation
Child visitation rights are vital to any divorce agreement. Along with negotiating monetary agreements, the relationships you have with your children are one of your top priorities. That’s no surprise – every parent wants to spend as much time as possible with their children. In Massachusetts, child visitation agreements are part of a normal divorce process when children are involved – but also with unmarried couples as well.

* Paternity
Actual proof of paternity is done by DNA testing that is managed by the Massachusetts courts. The court has outsourced the DNA collection to a medical clinic – and all that needs to be done is a simple mouth swab. And because DNA testing is so reliable, the results will almost always influence the court’s decision. That being said, here’s a couple of recommendations to think about before you initiate a paternity action.

* Prenuptial
With almost 50% of all marriages ending in divorce, I’m not surprised by the number of people researching prenuptial agreements. In my opinion, every couple planning a marriage should also add a prenuptial agreement to their to-do list. It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of money, a little money, or have a mountain of debt – my advice is to have a prenuptial agreement prepared prior to your marriage.

* Civil Union
As an attorney that regularly assists same-sex couples, I field questions about civil unions quite often. So I thought I’d take a few minutes and detail what’s been occurring across the country in regards to civil unions. A civil union gives a same-sex couple the same rights that a heterosexual couple enjoys – without calling the union a “marriage.”

* Cohabitation Agreements
In the last decade, cohabitation has expanded and is now generally accepted to mean two partners who live together and share their property. Many times it is a starting-point of sorts for a couple planning to get married. But it can also be an alternative for couples that don’t want the commitment that marriage brings. However, when couples choose cohabitation, they give up certain rights and protections that married couples enjoy. Even though you may feel that your partner is part of the family, the law does not.

- Estate Planning

When I’m in a social setting, and I introduce myself as a Boston Estate Planning Attorney, one of the comments I always hear is, “Isn’t estate planning only for the wealthy and those subject to estate taxes.” While it’s true that wealthy individuals and families require complex estate planning, all individuals over the age of 18 should have basic estate planning documents in place.

* Will
A will is the bedrock or first-step of any estate plan. It is simply a written document that has clear instructions on how your assets should be divided after your death. And it often includes information such as how you are to be buried, and the appointment of an executor of your will. A will is usually in typewritten form, written by an attorney and signed in front of several witnesses who are not mentioned in the will.

* Trusts
The amount of your personal or family wealth is different than your neighbors. And where one individual or family might only need a will to address distribution of assets such as property, another will need a trust. It really depends on the total amount of the assets and the responsibilities of you and your family. If your assets are substantial enough where the state and Federal Government get to collect significant taxes – you really should investigate a trust.

* Living Will
Health Care Directives, more commonly referred to as Living Wills, give instructions on what medical treatment you wish to have if your health is at a point where you are incapacitated and are unable to communicate. You typically see these directives utilized when there is a terminal illness or injury. With a living will, some individuals want it made clear they do not want any life-support treatment that prolongs their eventual death, while others want every treatment available to extend their life.

* Power of Attorney
Most people are familiar with what a will is, and how it works. It’s a common legal document that instructs your heirs what to do after your death. But many are not so familiar with power of attorney. A Massachusetts power of attorney enables you to continue your financial affairs when you are disabled or incapacitated by giving someone else complete control of your affairs. A power of attorney (POA) is used to avoid the expensive process of conservatorship or guardianship should you ever become incapacitated.

* Estate Tax Planning
Many people don’t think about estate taxes because they believe it doesn’t apply to them. Although it’s true that the wealthy have to plan more carefully, you’d be surprised at how many people actually face harsh tax burdens – even those that consider themselves “middle-class”. And with the Federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts estate tax combine for a 50% tax on your estate, it’s a good idea to find out where you really stand and how to minimize half of your estates value going to the tax man.