-
Recent Posts
-
Subscribe
-
Categories
- Uncategorized
- Events
- Child Support
- Divorce
- Parenting
- Collaborative Divorce
- Child Custody
- Divorce Health & Wellness
- Divorce Mediation
- The Business of Law
- Property Division
- Family and Divorce Financials
- Massachusetts Alimony
- Mediation to Stay Married
- News & Updates
- Post-divorce Issues
- Divorce Legal Information
- Divorce and Kids
- Spousal Support
- Debt and Divorce
- Marriage
- Alimony
- Paternity
- Same-sex Marriage
- Gay Marriage
- same-sex divorce
- Special Education
- Education
- Domestic Violense
- Real Estate
- Domestic Violence
- Divorce Procedures
- Litigation and Court -based divorce
-
Blogroll
Category Archives: The Business of Law
The Wrong Way to Find a Collaborative Divorce Lawyer in Massachusetts
By Stephen McDonough, Esq. Before I continue with explaining the wrong way for you to find a collaborative divorce lawyer in Massachusetts, you may be asking yourself this question: “Self, just what is collaborative divorce?” Collaborative divorce is an out of court process involving a cooperative, team-based approach. Both parties have their own attorney that received special training in the collaborative dispute resolution process. For more information on collaborative divorce, please click here to be transported through the interweb to our section about collaborative divorce. Although the collaborative process is definitely more cooperative than a court-based divorce, each party [...]
Massachusetts Divorce – Don’t Try This At Home!
By Stephen McDonough, Massachusetts divorce lawyer and mediator serving the Lexington, Medfield, and Worcester areas. The September 2012 issue of the trusted Consumer Reports magazine did an interesting piece about some of the web-based do it yourself services that claim to allow people to complete their own legal documents. To read the article, click here. So what did Consumer Reports think about service such as Legal Zoom, Nolo, Quicken’s WillMaker and Rocket Lawyer? In a nutshell they were not impressed and concluded that many consumers would be better served by consulting with their own lawyer. Yeah, I know. I am a lawyer so you [...]
The $199.00 Massachusetts Divorce…or Not!
Didn’t your parents always tell you…? “You get what you pay for!” There’s nothing worse than scoring a seemingly great deal, only to have something fall apart 20 minutes after you bought it. When it comes to professional services, nothing could be more accurate. I recently helped a couple mediate their divorce after the Judge REFUSED to accept their divorce separation agreement they purchased online. Their court financial statements were not completed properly and were not allowed by the court. This was an educated couple with good jobs and income. Some of us appear in court for a living, but [...]
Massachusetts Divorce & Limited Assistance Representation
Are you thinking about a Massachusetts divorce or do you have a post-divorce issue, such as a child support case before the probate and family court? Are you asking yourself these questions: Do I really need an Attorney? Can’t I represent myself? The short answer is, technically you are allowed to represent yourself. Technically, you could also remove your own tonsils. Alas, consider this quote… “A man who represents himself has a fool for a client.” Abraham Lincoln Abe Lincoln was a wise man and of course a lawyer too! Arguably, things have not changed much since 1865, [...]
Want to become a lawyer?
A link to this video was on the MILO (Macs in Law Offices) group that I belong to. It is very funny if you are a lawyer, live with a lawyer, or are thinking about becoming one. Hope you enjoy it. Click here Share: Recommend on Facebook Share on google plus Share on Linkedin Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post
Posted in The Business of Law
Leave a comment
Reduce Your Massachusetts Divorce Legal Fees
I have yet to meet a client who is excited about paying lots of money for their Massachusetts divorce. If you are one, please call me right away! As consumers, we like to know how much something will cost. It is difficult to plan otherwise. Let’s compare divorce legal fees to another relatively unpleasant task – car shopping: Chuck, a Car Shopper: “So, how much will this car cost me?” Salesperson: ”Well, tough to say. Could be $30,000.00. But it could be a lot more.” Chuck: “Why is that?” Salesperson: ”Well, there are a lot of variables. I am [...]
Where’s Steve-O? by Steve McDonough, Esq.
Well, first I would like to report that I have not been living in District 9 with the alien prawns or anything like that. It has been quite sometime since my last post, and I apologize to my readers – both of them (just kidding). Although not much blogging has been going on, plenty of other good stuff has been, including: The Divorce Collaborative LLC expanded in January, and has moved to the top floor of the Law & Financial Center at 77 Main St. in Medway, MA. This is the same location we have been in, we just moved [...]
Posted in Events, News & Updates, The Business of Law
Leave a comment
Part 2 – How Much Will My Divorce Mediation Cost? by Steve McDonough
If you did not have a chance to read Part One about the range of fees for divorce mediation, please do so or be prepared to be confused. The answer is X-Rays. Yes, that is right, X-Rays. My dentist can see what is going on underneath the surface of my tooth and has a clear picture of what is involved. The roofing contractor can only see the outer layer of shingles, but cannot tell what lurks beneath the surface. Perhaps there is rotten plywood that needs replacement, or perhaps not. Either way, the roofing contractor needs to let his customers [...]
How Much Will Divorce Mediation Cost? (Part One) by Steve McDonough, Esq.
I just flew back from a conference at Walt Disney World and boy are my arms tired (please stop groaning, I know that is a very old joke)! One of the sessions was about blogging topics, and writing about frequently asked questions was encouraged. Thus, I am embarking on some blog posts that address questions that are asked, well, frequently. The answers to some FAQs may not be as straightforward as one might think or as prospective clients might desire. For example, people always ask where I get my good looks from and if I would be able to fix [...]
Plumber. Flowers. Candy-Gram.
I am a proponent of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as divorce mediation, the collaborative divorce process and a good old-fashioned duel with flintlock pistols. OK, I am just kidding on ADR method number three, flintlock pistols are unreliable and inaccurate. Some couples are more suited to mediation than others. When I first meet with a couple for a mediation consultation they are evaluating what I have to say and how I say it, my personality, if they like my tie, etc. Perhaps they also realize that I am evaluating them and listening for any “red flags” that signal possible [...]
