Thanks to the Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem (MAGAL) for inviting Attorney Jonathan Fields to speak at their annual conference on November 7 on high-conflict cases in litigation and mediation. The keynote speaker, Bill Eddy, was terrific. The title, too, was excellent– “I’m OK, You’re a X$!#@&%!!!: High-Conflict Behavior in Family Law Cases.”
Jonathan Fields Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Family Law
Jonathan E. Fields was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ® 2015 edition in the field of Family Law. The listing is based entirely on exhaustive peer-review surveys and, according to the publisher, “is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.” A Federal Court judge praised the list as “a shorthand way of knowing a person is possessed of all the skill, the integrity, and the qualifications to serve and meet the highest ideals of a lawyer.”
Indian High Court Grants Divorce in Unconsummated Marriage
In India, divorce law holds that couples seeking a divorce must spend a minimum of one year living separately before a divorce can be granted, but a recent case has highlighted a particularly interesting exception to this rule.
Although they had not been living apart for one year, Indian couple Deepak and Aswathy challenged the Alappuzha family court’s denial of their divorce. The couple was married on May 13, 2011 and had lived separately since June 30, 2011 – which was not a year from the date of their divorce filing, May 16, 2012. Yet, they ascertained that their marriage had suffered irreconcilable differences. Read more.
Case Law Updates from Family Mediation Quarterly, April 2014
Case Law Updates by Attorney Jonathan Fields from Family Mediation Quarterly, April 2014, including:
- Temporary Alimony Doesn’t Count.
What to Look for in a Divorce Attorney and What to Avoid
Divorce is a trying time for everyone who goes through it, but each divorce is also different. Whether the couple has been married for a lengthy span, if there are children involved, if the parting is amicable or the separation is wrought with hostility and resentment. With so many unique concerns to consider, there is not a “one size fits all” approach to divorce. Read more.
Jon Fields Presenting on Collaborative Family Law at MCLE Event
Jon Fields will be participating in a Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program presentation on January 22, 2014 in Boston. He will be a part of a panel presenting on Collaborative Family Law Practice.
Attorney Fields is passionate about the practice of collaborative law, which is continually gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional approaches. To learn more about the collaborative law process, the MCLE panel is a great opportunity to learn from leaders in the field who are excited to share their knowledge and experience. Read more.
Mediation for Families
Mediation is a tool that can be invaluable to families. At Fields and Dennis, we are well-versed in all aspects of Family Law, and we often turn to mediation as an agreeable and less distressing means to an end. There are many ways that mediation can benefit families at various stages of life. From divorce to estate planning and everything in between, mediation can be an indispensable tool to quell interfamilial tensions and disputes.
If this were a game of Family Feud (Instances a family may call upon a mediator…) ‘divorce’ and ‘estate planning’ may very well be the top two answers on the board, but there are a variety of times when the services of a mediator may benefit a family unit. Read More.
Fields and Dennis on the Road this October
October has been a busy month for Fields and Dennis, with both Sheryl Dennis and Jon Fields attending major conferences where they had the opportunity to keep apprised of the latest updates in their fields and share their own knowledge and experience with the legal community.
Jon Fields recently attended the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Annual Networking and Educational Forum on “The Power of Our Collective Wisdom.” The IACP is an international community of professionals working in law, mental health and finance who work toward creating client-minded ways to settle conflict and resolve problems collaboratively. Now in its 14th year, the Forum welcomes more than 5,000 members from 20 countries
Jon Fields is a proponent of collaborative law and sits as a Director on the Board of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council (MCLC). He is skilled in this relatively new form of dispute resolution, and was excited to be a part of the IACP forum, where he had the opportunity to share his expertise with others in the field.
Sheryl Dennis recently attended the Special Needs Trust National Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. Celebrating its 15th year in 2013, the conference provides an intensive discussion of the predominant concerns regarding special needs trusts. Events at the conference included a wide assortment of knowledgeable speakers presenting on a number of topics, both basic and advanced, of importance to lawyers working in the field.
From tax concerns to living arrangements, the conference is the go-to source for the latest information on estate planning for people with special needs, special needs trusts and trust administration. As one of the top Massachusetts estate planners, Sheryl Dennis makes it a priority to stay informed on the latest news in all aspects of estate planning. Fields and Dennis prides itself on their dedication and unique, compassionate approach to family law – and Sheryl surely benefited from, and enjoyed, her time at the recent conference.
Case Law Updates from Family Mediation Quarterly, October 2013
Case Law Updates by Attorney Jonathan Fields from Family Mediation Quarterly, October 2013, including:
- PC Agreement Held Enforceable.
- Post-Retirement Alimony Obligations.
Case Law Updates from Family Mediation Quarterly, July 2013
Case Law Updates by Attorney Jonathan Fields from Family Mediation Quarterly, July 2013, including:
- “Agreed upon Educational Expenses” and the Price of Silence.
- Probate Court has Authority to Allocate Federal Dependency Exemptions.
- New Child Support Guidelines.