Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: April 2023

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for updating your library with the latest version of Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Manual. This newly revised publication brings updated resources within your immediate reach—for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions in this highly challenging area of practice.

  Highlights from the 2023 edition include

  • amended procedures in the Probate and Family Court regarding virtual hearings and registries and interdivisional and interdepartmental case transfers;

  • discussions throughout the book of the Supreme Judicial Court's decision in Cavanagh v. Cavanagh , 490 Mass. 398 (2022), which addressed the calculation of alimony and child support and continues to be reviewed and implemented by the Massachusetts courts;

  • important amendments to the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines effective October 2021, including, for example, a specification of three options for parenting time ("shared," two-thirds, and "split"), adjustment of the benchmark child-care cost amount based on the number of children, elimination of the previous 15 percent cap on the health-care credit, and adjustments to the treatment of overtime and income from a secondary job;

  • caselaw addressing when to increase the duration of alimony to reflect a premarital period of cohabitation;

  • newly added guidance on the selection of guardians ad litem (GALs), discussing the importance of designating an alternate GAL, the distinction between Category E and Category F GALs, securing a GAL during periods when they are in short supply, and use of a special GAL to waive or assert the psychotherapeutic privilege of a minor child;

  • the preparation of financial statements and cross-examination on any discrepancies;

  • recent Appeals Court cases on the calculation of alimony;

  • guidance on e-filing procedures in the Probate and Family Court and variations in procedures among counties;

  • recent cases on improper coaching of witnesses during depositions;

  • an amendment to the Massachusetts General Laws bringing the state's taxation of payors and recipients of alimony in line with federal practice under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act;

  • inflation adjustments to selected dollar amounts in the Bankruptcy Code;

  • a Supreme Judicial Court decision on the allocation of postseparation debt;

  • the suspension of Standing Order 2-16, which required attendance at an approved parenting education course;

  • an Appeals Court decision addressing circumstances where a noncustodial parent living out of state seeks custody of a child and permission to remove the child from Massachusetts; and

  • Appeals Court decisions on the enforceability and interpretation of premarital agreements.

  The book's ethics commentary has been updated throughout to reflect recent changes in the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct and other developments in the area of professional responsibility.

  WWe trust you will find this updated version of the Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Manual an invaluable resource for your practice.

  Very truly yours,

  John M. Lawlor, Esq., MCLE Publications Attorney

Table of Contents

Chapter 01 expand

Practicing in the Superior Court

Buy Chapter

Michael B. Keating, Esq., Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, PC

Chapter 02 expand

Trial Advocacy

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Daniel K. Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP
Gail Kleven Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP
Richard M. Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP
Richard S. Loftus, Jr., Esq., Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP

Chapter 03 expand

Drafting Pleadings

Buy Chapter

Anne L. Josephson, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Eliza Lowry Presson, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP

Exhibit 3A

- Civil Action Cover Sheet Buy Form

Exhibit 3B

- Summons to Defendant Buy Form

Exhibit 3C

- Notice of Appearance with Certificate of Service Buy Form

Exhibit 3D

- Service of Summons by Publication Buy Form

Exhibit 3E

- Sample Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 3F

- Sample Answer to Verified Complaint Buy Form

Chapter 04 expand

Obtaining Pretrial Security

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Peter H. Sutton, Esq., Riemer & Braunstein LLP

Chapter 05 expand

Injunctive Relief

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Euripides D. Dalmanieras, Esq., Foley Hoag LLP

Exhibit 5A

- Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order Buy Form

Exhibit 5B

- Motion for Preliminary Injunction Buy Form

Exhibit 5C

- Verified Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 5D

- Motion for a Short Order of Notice Buy Form

Exhibit 5E

- Motion for Appointment of a Special Process Server Buy Form

Exhibit 5F

- Standstill Agreement Buy Form

Exhibit 5G

- Confidentiality Stipulation Buy Form

Chapter 06 expand

Dispositive Motions

Buy Chapter

Melanie Woodward, Esq., Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

Exhibit 6A

- Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Certain Counts of Plaintiff’s Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 6B

- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Certain Counts of Plaintiff’s Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 6C

- Defendant’s Notice of Motion to Dismiss Buy Form

Exhibit 6D

- Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment Buy Form

Exhibit 6E

- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment Buy Form

Exhibit 6F

- Defendant’s Statement of Material Facts as to Which There Is No Genuine Issue to Be Tried Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9A(b)(5) Buy Form

Exhibit 6G

- Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Buy Form

Exhibit 6H

- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Buy Form

Exhibit 6I

- Special Motion to Dismiss (Anti-SLAPP Statute) Buy Form

Chapter 07 expand

Other Rule 9A Motions

Buy Chapter

Barbara Hayes Buell, Esq., Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub LLP

Exhibit 7A

- Motion to Dismiss Buy Form

Exhibit 7B

- Defendants’ Joint Certificate of Compliance Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9C Buy Form

Exhibit 7C

- Defendant’s Assented to Motion for Entry of Separate and Final Judgment Buy Form

Exhibit 7D

- Defendant’s Motion for Entry of Separate and Final Judgment Pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 54(b) (Medical Malpractice Case) Buy Form

Exhibit 7E

- Defendants’ Joint Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 33(a) and 54(b) Due to Failure to Answer Discovery Requests Buy Form

Exhibit 7F

- Plaintiff’s Motion to Vacate Judgment Buy Form

Exhibit 7G

- Plaintiff’s Notice of Motion Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9E Buy Form

Exhibit 7H

- Petition for Approval of Third-Party Settlement Buy Form

Exhibit 7I

- Petition for Settlement Approval Buy Form

Exhibit 7J

- Motion and Supporting Statement of Reasons to Sever Buy Form

Exhibit 7K

- Motion and Statement of Reasons to Bifurcate Buy Form

Exhibit 7L

- Motion to Consolidate Buy Form

Exhibit 7M

- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion to Consolidate Buy Form

Exhibit 7N

- Motion for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms and to Impound the Record Buy Form

Exhibit 7O

- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms and to Impound the Record Buy Form

Exhibit 7P

- Defendants’ Motion for Protective Order as to Notice of Deposition; Rule 9A Statement of Reasons; Rule 9A Request for Hearing; Rule 9C Certificate of Compliance Buy Form

Exhibit 7Q

- Motion to Quash Plaintiff’s Deposition Notices Buy Form

Exhibit 7R

- Defendant’s Motion for Continuance of Trial Date, Assented to by Plaintiff Buy Form

Exhibit 7S

- Motion for Protective Order Regarding Depositions of Nonparty Witnesses Buy Form

Exhibit 7T

- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for Protective Order Regarding Depositions of Nonparty Witnesses Buy Form

Exhibit 7U

- Third-Party Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave of Court to File Third-Party Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 7V

- Statement of Reasons in Support of Third-Party Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave of Court to File Third-Party Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 7W

- Motion to Withdraw as Counsel Buy Form

Exhibit 7X

- Motion to Compel Arbitration Buy Form

Exhibit 7Y

- Defendant’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents Buy Form

Chapter 08 expand

Preparing Discovery

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Stephanie Akoto Bamfo, Esq., Zucker Law Group LLP
Laura R. Studen, Esq., Zucker Law Group LLP

Checklist 8.1

- Deposition of Plaintiff Buy Form

Exhibit 8A

- Notice of Oral Deposition and Schedule A Buy Form

Exhibit 8B

- Notice of Video Deposition Buy Form

Exhibit 8C

- Assented-to Motion for Court Approval for Taking Audiovisual Expert’s Deposition for Use at Trial Buy Form

Exhibit 8D

- Plaintiff’s Interrogatories Propounded to Defendant Buy Form

Exhibit 8E

- Defendants’ First Set of Interrogatories Propounded to the Plaintiff (Personal Injury) Buy Form

Exhibit 8F

- Plaintiff’s Request for Admissions Buy Form

Exhibit 8G

- Plaintiff’s Request for the Production of Documents Propounded to Defendant Buy Form

Exhibit 8H

- Plaintiff’s Objection to Defendants’ Filing of Defendants’ Motion to Conduct Supplementary Discovery Buy Form

Chapter 09 expand

Discovery Motions

Buy Chapter

Gregory R. Browne, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP
Nicholas B. Carter, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP
Maria Davis, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP

Exhibit 9A

- Memorandum in Support of Motion to Compel Discovery Buy Form

Exhibit 9B

- Memorandum in Support of Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Order to Provide Discovery Buy Form

Exhibit 9C

- Defendant’s Motion to Compel Responses to Discovery by Defendant Buy Form

Exhibit 9D

- Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents Plaintiff Had Previously Agreed to Produce Buy Form

Exhibit 9E

- Memorandum in Support of Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Discovery Request Buy Form

Exhibit 9F

- Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant’s Renewed Motion for Costs and Sanctions Buy Form

Exhibit 9G

- Joint Motion to Extend Time for Discovery Buy Form

Exhibit 9H

- Joint Motion to Extend Tracking Order Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Alternatives to Litigation

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David A. Hoffman, Esq., Boston Law Collaborative LLC

Exhibit 10A

- Joint Motion for Appointment of Master Buy Form

Exhibit 10B

- Agreement to Mediate Buy Form

Exhibit 10C

- Application for Stay of Arbitration Buy Form

Exhibit 10D

- Petition to Compel Arbitration Buy Form

Chapter 11 expand

Pretrial Preparation

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David S. Lawless, Esq., Robinson Donovan, PC

Exhibit 11A

- Joint Pretrial Memorandum Buy Form

Exhibit 11B

- Notice to Appear for Final Pretrial Conference Buy Form

Chapter 12 expand

Presenting Evidence

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John J. Egan, Esq., Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, PC
Lauren F. Olanoff, Esq., Clients' Security Board Member Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, PC
Russell X. Pollock, Esq., Bergstresser & Pollock, PC

Exhibit 12A

- Motion for a View Buy Form

Exhibit 12B

- Opposition to Motion for a View Buy Form

Exhibit 12C

- Defendant’s Motion in Limine to Exclude Introduction of Photographs of Accident Victim (Dram Shop Case) with Memorandum of Law Buy Form

Chapter 13 expand

Trying the Case

Buy Chapter

Ellen Epstein Cohen, Esq., Adler, Cohen, Harvey, Wakeman & Guekguezian LLP

Exhibit 13A

- Motion in Limine to Preclude Testimony of Expert Buy Form

Exhibit 13B

- Motion in Limine to Exclude Testimony of Expert on Business Ethics Buy Form

Exhibit 13C

- Motion in Limine to Exclude Certain Proposed Trial Exhibits Buy Form

Exhibit 13D

- Motion in Limine to Exclude Settlement References Buy Form

Exhibit 13E

- Motion to Submit Jury Verdict Questionnaire Buy Form

Exhibit 13F

- Motion for a Directed Verdict Buy Form

Exhibit 13G

- Plaintiff’s Motion for a New Trial Buy Form

Chapter 14 expand

Jury Issues

Buy Chapter

John O. Mirick, Esq., Mirick, O'Connell, DeMallie & Lougee LLP
Kenneth C. Pickering, Esq., Pickering Legal LLC

Exhibit 14A

- Confidential Jury Questionnaire Buy Form

Exhibit 14B

- Superior Court Rule 6 Buy Form

Exhibit 14C

- Jury Empanelment Diagram Buy Form

Exhibit 14D

- Special Jury Verdict Buy Form

Chapter 15 expand

Judgment

Buy Chapter

Jeffrey G. Thorn, Esq., Adkins, Kelston & Zavez, PC

Exhibit 15A

- Request for Default Buy Form

Exhibit 15B

- Judgment by Default (Mass. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1)) Buy Form

Exhibit 15C

- Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment with Affidavit as to Military Service (Mass. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2)) Buy Form

Exhibit 15D

- Agreement for Judgment Buy Form

Exhibit 15E

- Stipulation of Dismissal (With Prejudice) Buy Form

Exhibit 15F

- Notice of Settlement and Request for Entry of Nisi Order Buy Form

Exhibit 15G

- Proposed Judgment Buy Form

Chapter 16 expand

Posttrial Motions

Buy Chapter

Andrea Peraner-Sweet, Esq., Fitch Law Partners LLP

Exhibit 16A

- Plaintiff’s Motion for a New Trial Buy Form

Exhibit 16B

- Plaintiff’s Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for a New Trial Buy Form

Exhibit 16C

- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict or for a New Trial Buy Form

Chapter 17 expand

Posttrial and Appellate Rights

Buy Chapter

Felicia H. Ellsworth, Esq., Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Peter Daniel Kalicki, Esq.,
Kerry Grace Matlack, Esq., WilmerHale
Denise Wei-Hua Tsai, Esq., Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Exhibit 17A

- Verification of Bill of Costs Buy Form

Exhibit 17B

- Defendant’s Motion for Taxation of Costs Buy Form

Exhibit 17C

- Affidavit of Defense Counsel in Support of Bill of Costs Buy Form

Exhibit 17D

- Notice of Appeal Buy Form

Exhibit 17E

- Petition for Interlocutory Review Buy Form

Chapter 18 expand

The Jury Selection Process and Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire

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Charlotte E. Glinka, Esq.,

Chapter 19 expand

Electronic Discovery

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Ronaldo Rauseo-Ricupero, Esq., Nixon Peabody LLP

Exhibit 19A

- ESI Plan Buy Form

Exhibit 19B

- Confidentiality Agreement Buy Form

Editor(s)

Ethics Editor(s)

ADR Editor(s)

Judicial Commentator(s)

Author(s)