Divorce/Marriage Dissolution

Divorce And All That Goes With It

Divorce/Marriage Dissolution

Divorce — Chelmsford, MA — Kurland & Grossman PC

Since 1979, our divorce attorneys at the law firm of Kurland, Grossman, & Stramaglia, P.C., P.C., have offered high-quality legal services to men and women seeking divorce in Chelmsford and surrounding Massachusetts communities. We also have an attorney on staff that is licensed in New Hampshire. Our decades of experience and dedication to providing attentive personal service allow us to effectively negotiate, mediate, arbitrate and, if necessary, litigate in your best interests in a divorce dispute or related matters. We also have an attorney trained in collaborative law, if you are interested in an alternative method of settling your divorce if mediation is not working.

Comprehensive Representation, Attentive Personal Service

At Kurland, Grossman, & Stramaglia, P.C., you will work directly with one of our accomplished divorce attorneys who will act as the sounding board and loyal advocate you deserve in a time of personal and family upheaval.


We take the time to educate you as to your rights and what to expect at every stage of the process. Our goal is to protect your interests as we seek a timely and cost-effective resolution to any matters in dispute in your divorce, including:

  • Child Support and Alimony
  • Child Custody (legal custody and physical custody) 
  • Property Division or the equitable distribution of marital property and the division of complex marital estates. Equitable does not necessarily mean equal
  • Maintenance and provision of health and life insurance

Our divorce attorneys also provide productive representation in the enforcement or modification of custody, support or other matters when circumstances warrant.

Mediation

We act as a consultant and advisor to individuals participating in Mediation, whether throughout the process or prior to signing a final Agreement

Alimony

In as much as the Alimony Reform Act of 2011 brought significant changes to the alimony laws in Massachusetts, the considerations when establishing an alimony order are the statutory provisions as well as the recipient’s need and the payor’s ability to pay. There are now limits on how long alimony lasts and the amount of alimony that is paid, based on the income of the parties and the length of the marriage. Contact us so that we may discuss with you your rights and obligations.


In long-term marriages lasting more than 20 years, alimony payments can be indefinite. However, it may be possible to terminate or reduce alimony payments if the receiving spouse either remarries or cohabitates with a partner. This eliminates the possibility of an ex-spouse living with a partner as though he or she were married while still receiving the benefits of alimony.


The length of the marriage may include the time prior to a marriage where a couple lived as though they were married. This is particularly important in situations involving nontraditional marriages and same-sex couples who may have lived together for many years before they were legally married. Changes in the alimony laws in New Hampshire became effective on January 1, 2019.

Modifying Your Spousal Support

These changes not only affect clients who are going through a divorce now, but they also affect those people who are paying or receiving alimony from a past divorce. If you have existing alimony, sometimes referred to as spousal support or spousal maintenance, you may be able to modify it under the new law.


The law set out a schedule for modifications based upon the length of your marriage as well as defined several specific types of alimony available, such as Rehabilitative, Reimbursement and Transitional alimony. These adjustments are dependent upon a variety of factors and is something you should get further clarification on from an attorney.


If you have an existing alimony order, we can review it for you. We help clients who are looking to reduce or eliminate alimony payments as well as those who want to take steps to secure their alimony arrangement into the future.

Complex Property Division

Property Division — Chelmsford, MA — Kurland & Grossman PC

The longer a couple has been married, the more their property, assets and lives have been intertwined. These couples may no longer have young children whose custody and support are major issues. Rather, property division is more difficult to settle and often needs to be litigated in court.


Whether you are a mature couple or a younger couple who brought multiple homes and other wealth into your marriage, or whether you are in a long-term or short-term marriage, you need a divorce lawyer who knows the wide variety of assets that must be divided and who can protect your best interests, including your property interests, in court when necessary.

Property And Assets

Massachusetts law requires property to be divided equitably, though not necessarily equally. An almost unlimited variety of property must be located, identified as marital or separate, and evaluated. This includes:

  • Real Estate
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Investment Portfolios
  • Pension Benefits
  • Retirement Accounts
  • Family Businesses
  • Military Benefits

When appropriate we employ experts including forensic accountants, actuaries and business appraisers to accurately evaluate property. We seek out hidden assets and are prepared for issues such as the enforceability of prenuptial agreements, and tax consequences of dividing property in various ways.


The outcome of your property division settlement or litigation will have consequences for many years to come. Our firm is a broad practice with a high level of dedication to our clients. For over thirty-five years we have built a firm known for attentive and responsive service and high-quality advocacy.

Whether you want custody of your child or a simple divorce, Kurland, Grossman, & Stramaglia, P.C. in Chelmsford, MA, can help. Call us at (978) 256-2660 to schedule a consultation.

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