Best Divorce Lawyers in Brockton

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Brockton, Massachusetts?

  The Brockton police department’s non-emergency number is 508-941-0200.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Brockton, Massachusetts?

  You can request for a copy of the police report for incidents related to your case at the records department of the Brockton Police Department, with telephone number 508-941-0208 and contact email records@brocktonpolice.com.

• Who pays for the costs of a divorce case in Brockton?

  In divorce cases in Massachusetts, including Brockton, each side typically pays for costs. This “American rule” is widely applied and accepted in courts in the state. Judges, however, are not obliged to practice it, and can award expenses, costs, and lawyers’ fees to either of the couple. They often make one party pay all costs when said party obstructs the divorce process, causes undue delay, is dishonest, or fails to pay for court-ordered expenses and child support.

• What is the difference between a fault and no-fault divorce in Brockton?

  In Massachusetts, where Brockton is located, a divorce with "fault" grounds indicates that one of the spouses is supposedly to blame in ending the marriage, while a “no fault” divorce is the type where the spouses do not blame each other for causing the marriage to irreparably fail. The state calls the latter an "irretrievable breakdown of marriage."

• What are the requirements for filing a fault divorce case in Brockton?

  You may file for a divorce in Brockton if you have been residing in Massachusetts for at least a year, or the cause of the marriage’s failure occurred in the state and you have also been residing there as a couple. You should also prove your reason for filing the divorce. Acceptable reasons include adultery, intoxication habits, desertion, abusive treatment, impotency, non-support, and a sentence of at least five years in prison.

• What are the requirements for legal separation in Brockton?

  There is no such thing as a “legal separation” in Massachusetts and Brockton. The couple does not need the permission of the court to live apart. Separation agreements usually occur prior to a divorce to set the terms for debt and property division, child custody, and the fate of the couple’s home. Such agreements facilitate the finalization of a later divorce case since the procedure favors the fulfillment of the requirements for filing the divorce.

• What are some of the issues facing same-sex couples when they undergo divorce in Brockton?

  Massachusetts law, which governs Brockton, states that if the couple lived together prior to the legalization of same sex marriage, difficulties may arise in determining whether assets acquired at this time are marital or separate property. Calculation of alimony is based on how long the marriage lasted. As for child custody, biological and adoptive parents have equal rights to the child, while non-biological parents who did not adopt the child legally have lesser rights, although exceptions exist.