Monthly Archives: July 2009

Collaborative Divorce to the North

OK, I have to admit it.  I almost used the words “Great White North”  in the title, but decided against it.   The law firm of Niren and Associates in Toronto has a good post about collaborative divorce today on their blog.   Good to see Collaborative Divorce gaining momentum around the globe, as it appears to be in Massachusetts.  A new practice group of collaborative professionals recently formed in Norfolk County, MA – another good sign that the collaborative process is becoming more popular with clients and practitioners alike.    You go, Collaborative Divorce!

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Retirement Plans – Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution

An important part of a divorce case is identifying and dividing up a couple’s marital property.  Within the marital estate, retirement plans frequently are one of the most valuable asset classes.   A qualified retirement plan is one that satisfies numerous requirements set forth by the IRS and ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of  1974.  Qualified plans take advantage of a number of tax benefits.  The two main categories of qualified plans are the defined contribution plan and the defined benefit plan.

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