Blog

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  Anatomy of a Divorce Trial: Part 2 – Testimony

Anatomy of a Divorce Trial: Part 2 – Testimony

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:05:31-05:00July 22, 2022|Cross-Examination, Direct Examination, Leading Questions, Open-Ended Questions, Witness Testimony|

Few people have any direct experience with courtroom procedures.  Fewer have direct experience with giving testimony in formal court proceedings.  ...

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  Anatomy of a Divorce Trial: Part 1 – Organization of Information

Anatomy of a Divorce Trial: Part 1 – Organization of Information

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:05:43-05:00May 31, 2022|Anatomy of a Divorce, Organization of Information, Packets of Information, Trial|

I have been a litigator my entire legal career.  Trials are complicated and nuanced affairs.  Many people have been talking ...

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  Prenuptial Agreements and the Second Time Around

Prenuptial Agreements and the Second Time Around

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:05:56-05:00April 29, 2022|Accurate Financial Disclosure, Disclose, Fair and Reasonable, Income Assets Liabilities, Inequitable, Massachusetts Chapter 208 Section 34, Premarital Assets, Prenuptial Agreement, Prior Marriage, Second Time Around, Wedding|

Frank Sinatra famously crooned the lyrics, “Love is lovelier the second time around.”  Maybe that’s true, but divorce the second ...

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  Sharks, Sheep, Shepherds, and Wolves

Sharks, Sheep, Shepherds, and Wolves

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:06-05:00March 22, 2022|Advisor, Advocate, Anxiety, Counselor, Emotional Reserves, Family Law Attorney, Family Unit, Fear, Financial Resources, Hero, Judicial System, Metaphor, Opposing Counsel, Predators, Representing Clients, Sharks, Sheep, Sheepdog, Shepherd, Stable and Secure, Strategy, Tactics, Vindictive Spouse, Wolf|

I often reflect on my role as a family law attorney and how I, along with my team, fulfill that ...

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  Certainty in Uncertain Times

Certainty in Uncertain Times

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:17-05:00January 31, 2022|Advocacy, Asset Division, Child Custody, Conflicts, Current State of Affairs, DCF Workers, Divorce, Dumpster Fire, Family Law System, Family Transition, Judicial Case Managers, Leve-headed, Level-headed, Mental Health, Mental Health Professionals, Probate and Family Court, Probation Officers, Psychological, Second Line, Security Personnel, Shifting Priorities, Staffing Shortages|

The practice of family law in Massachusetts during these days of the ever-changing process and ever-shifting priorities can accurately be ...

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  Divorce Mediation and Using the Right Tool for the Job

Divorce Mediation and Using the Right Tool for the Job

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:26-05:00December 21, 2021|Child Custody, Child Support, Counselor, Counties, Court Judgment, Divorce, Divorce Medation, Dysfunctional Dyad, Emotional, Experienced Based Observation, Get What You Pay For, Incorporation, Legal Concepts, Legal Significance, Mental Health, Merger, Non-Attorney Mediator, Penny Wise and Pound Foolish, Private Mediator, Probate and Family Court, Psychiatric Issues, Psychological, Right Tool for the Job, Rule 8, Separation Agreement, Settlement Document, Substance Abuse, Survival, Therapist, Therapy|

I hesitated a little to write this blog because I support divorce mediation. I am a trained divorce mediator myself. ...

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  Mitigating Holiday Stress Through Self-Care When Divorcing

Mitigating Holiday Stress Through Self-Care When Divorcing

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:35-05:00November 20, 2021|Accountability Partner, Alcohol Abuse, Business Coach, Children, Commercial Airplane, Cortisol, Exercise, Friends, Gyms, Hobbies, Holiday Parenting, Holiday Season, Holiday Stress, Inflight Emergency, Lockdowns, Martial Arts, Mental Health, Mindfulness Meditation, Motions, New Normal, Oxygen Mask, Parent-Child Estrangement, Pattern, Petitions, Resistance Training, Self-Care, Sleep, Stamina, Yoga|

“In the event that there is a sudden loss of cabin pressure, place your mask on before assisting others.” Anyone ...

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  Changes Afoot for Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Effective October 4, 2021

Changes Afoot for Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Effective October 4, 2021

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:43-05:00September 20, 2021|Advocating Family Law, Alimony, Basic Necessities, Childcare Costs, Combined Income, Complicated, Divorce Proceeding, Emotionally Charged, Family Law, Health Insurance Costs, Income, Lipit-Ishtar, Manual Calculation, Massachusetts Law, Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Child Support Guidelines Task Force, Never Been Married To Each Other, Palimony, Parental Support, Parenting Time, Paternity, Physical Custody, Total Available Income|

Did you know that written laws requiring parental support date back to over 2,000 years before the birth of Christ? ...

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  The Role and Work of a Guardian ad litem in Divorce in Child Custody Cases

The Role and Work of a Guardian ad litem in Divorce in Child Custody Cases

John G. DiPiano2022-12-14T12:06:54-05:00August 23, 2021|Category E, Category F, Child Custody Litigation, Custody Cases, Domestic Relations, Evaluation, GAL, GAL Recommendations, Guardian ad litem, Investigation, Legal Custody, Parenting Time, Physical Custody|

In consultations with clients, I frequently have to explain what a Guardian ad litem (GAL) is, does, and how they ...

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