Articles - Aarons Law

Should you Designate a Guardian in your Divorce Agreement?

Many divorcing parents put their estate planning issues on the back burner as part of their post-divorce “to do” list. Divorcing parents with minor children or children with special needs, however, ma...

What is the role of a Guardian Ad Litem?

Literally, a Guardian Ad Litem is a "guardian for the suit." The specific role of a Guardian Ad Litem in a case depends on the nature of the Court appointment. In the Massachusetts Probate and Family ...

Choosing Guardians for Minor Children – Part 3: In the Context of Divorce

Sometimes my estate planning clients are divorced with minor children and are not on friendly terms with their former spouses. These are four frequently-asked questions about choosing guardians which ...

Choosing Guardians for Minor Children – Part 2: Factors to Consider

There are a host of factors that might be considered in choosing guardians for a minor child. Not all of the factors and questions raised below will apply to all families or be given the same weight,...

Choosing Guardians for Minor Children – Part 1: How and When to Nominate

I am often contacted by first-time parents looking to set up an estate plan who have not yet considered or nominated legal guardians for their minor children. These are some of the common questions t...

Why should I have a Will?

"Why should I have a Will?" I am frequently asked this question. While no one is required to have a Will, there are many reasons it is advisable to have one in place. But first, let's back up. What ex...

What is a “Self-Proving Affidavit” and why should I have one?

A Self-Proving Affidavit is a sworn statement attached to a Will that makes the Will a “Self-Proved Will,” where the execution of the Will is proven. In order for the execution of a Will to be valid i...

The Issues with Do-It-Yourself Wills

Clients have come to me bearing copies of their Last Will and Testament documents, which they created through do-it-yourself software kits or on-line estate planning services. They offer these Wills t...

What is Collaborative Law or Collaborative Practice, and How is it Different from Traditional Mediation?

Collaborative Law, or Collaborative Practice, is a method of alternate dispute resolution using a multi-disciplinary team approach to resolve a legal issue. The Collaborative Practice model can be app...

Divorce: Mediation or Litigation?

Many people anticipating an uncontested divorce ask me which divorce process is faster, easier, and less expensive: mediation or litigation? Most people believe mediation is the automatic winner in al...

Can an individual under a guardianship marry?

Can an individual under a guardianship marry? A prior column focused on some of the different life situations that translate into different definitions of legal intent in the application of certain ac...

Estate of Confusion: What is in the Marital Estate and how is it Divided?

First, what is the marital estate? The marital estate is the collection of all property, assets, and liabilities which are subject to division during a divorce. In Massachusetts, the marital estate in...