Massachusetts Attorneys for Property Division
How do you divide a house? What's the net worth of your spouse's business? How do you value a retirement account during an economic downturn? At The Massachusetts Family Law Group, our lawyers deal with questions like these. Our goal: to obtain the maximum financial settlement for our divorcing clients.
Get the Home-Court Advantage
Our law firm offers clients a home-court advantage. Because our attorneys appear in Worcester County Probate and Family Court almost every day, we know the preferences of each judge and understand the procedures that each follows when ruling on property division matters. We can anticipate how the court may respond to a particular motion or legal theory in our pretrial memo and structure our cases accordingly.
Issues Involving the Marital Home
The marital home is the subject of most disagreements about property value. Often, one spouse believes he or she should be compensated for lack of access to and use of the marital property. In other instances, one spouse offers to buy out the other spouse but makes that offer based on a low appraisal. Other issues around real estate include whether there are small children living in the house or whether neither spouse can afford the house. In the latter instance, the judge will probably order the house sold, with the parties receiving their share of the net proceeds. Similar questions arise when dealing with second homes and vacation property.
Dividing Businesses
It is often difficult to correctly estimate the fair market value of a business. It is relatively easy to hide income and assets in a closely held business. Other issues associated with divorce include the value of goodwill and tangible assets of the business and whether the business should be deemed an asset or a source of income. We consult with our statewide network of business appraisers to make sure the business is appraised at a fair value and present arguments on either side of the income stream or asset value argument.
Issues Related to Dividing Retirement Accounts
Valuing a retirement account depends on the type of plan. If the plan is a defined contribution account, then the value is relatively easy to calculate. However, defined benefit plans are considerably more difficult to value. Our attorneys work with experts in retirement plan valuation to arrive at an accurate and fair value.
Not Getting Results From Your Current Attorney?
If the property division process is not going the way that you want, or you have lost confidence in your current attorney, consider hiring The Massachusetts Family Law Group. One thing is for sure: When your spouse and his or her attorney hear that you have hired us, they will know, in an instant, that you are serious.
Questions About Dividing Homes, Businesses or Retirement Accounts?
Contact our Worcester property division attorneys to learn how we can help. Call us toll free at (800) 970-LAWYER.
