Massachusetts Collaborative Law

1

Kelly Andrea vs. Ralph Andrea, Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P1526 (December 3, 2020)

Comment:  Health Insurance.  Always address “Discontinuance of health insurance upon remarriage and payment of additional cost!  Trap for the Unweary. 

2

D.B. vs. J.B., Appeals Court, Docket No. 18-P-600 (April 2, 2019 – March 17, 2020)

Comment:  All temporary MA Stipulations for Alimony MUST INCLUDE temporary alimony shall be credited against durational limits!  Trap for the Unweary.

3

Kathy Stacy vs. Barry Stacy, Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P-109 (November 4, 2019 – March 13, 2020)

Comment:  Veteran’s Disability Benefits are NOT subject to property division!

4

Jacqueline Rae Callahan vs. Jonathan Alden Bedard, Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P-1826 (December 3, 2020)

Comment:  C.S. Modification Standards:  1)  Material change in circumstances OR 2) Inconsistency Standard.

5

R.N. vs. S.P., Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P-939 (November 2, 2020)

Comment:  Alimony:  Basis for Deviation in presumptive durational limits.

6

Marjorie Eiref vs. Daniel Eiref, Appeals Court, Docket No. 18-P-797 (January 9, 2020)

Comment:  Note:  We should consider a provision which is an enforceable ceiling for alimony in a given year.  This provision could survive.

7

Alison J. Voorhis vs. Paul B. Relle, Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P-139 (November 1, 2019 – February 10, 2020)

Comment:  Standard to Modify Presumptive Alimony Durational Limits:  In the Interest of Justice and Retroactive Modification.  (Very sad case)

8

Richard E. Savoy vs. Geraldine S. Savoy, Appeals Court, Docket No. 19-P-1076 (July 8, 2020)

Comment:   The question of if a trust is a marital asset is a question of law.  Is the interest in the trust a fixed and enforceable property right?

9

Jozef Warnajtys vs. Janet E. Warnajtys, Appeals Court, Docket No. 18-P-1566 (September 13, 2019 – June 16, 2020)

Comment:  Note:  Worker’s Compensation settlement for injuries during the marriage and settled before divorce are marital property.

10

E.K. vs. S.C., Appeals Court, Docket No. 18-P-1650 (January 3, 2020 – May 12, 2020)

Comment:  Relocation Standard.

11

Sherry M. Parente, f/k/a Sherry M. Phillips vs. Stephen C. Phillips, Personal Representative of the Estate of Mark J. Phillips, Middlesex Superior Court, Docket No. 1981-CV-00502-B (July 17, 2020)

Comment:  The estate is responsible for the decedent’s failure to name his ex-spouse as beneficiary of his IRA and the ex-spouse is entitled to legal fees under divorce agreement.

12

Barbara J. Krock vs. Richard H. Krock, Appeals Court, Docket No. 97-P-1262 (November 16, 1998 – March 25, 1999)

Comment:  Probate and Family Court’s authority to award legal fees.  Older decision to be shepardized forward. 

13

Masha M. Shak vs. Ronnie Shak, Supreme Judicial Court, Docket No. SJC-12748 (November 4, 2019 – May 7, 2020).

Comment:  Note:  Nondisparagement orders operate as an impermissible prior restraint on speech, absent exceptional circumstances.