NORFOLK COUNTY , MASSACHUSETTS PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT ATTORNEYS
The Massachusetts Family Law Group handles Norfolk County divorce and family law related matters out of our corporate headquarters in Norwood, or in other offices. To schedule an appointment, call (800) 763-1030 or contact us for a no-obligation consultation. We meet clients early in the morning, late at night, or over the weekend.
The Norfolk County Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over all Canton divorces and paternity matters, Dedham divorces and paternity matters, Quincy divorces and paternity matters, and Needham divorces and paternity matters.
Additionally, any domestic relations matters (alimony, child support, custody, modifications, parenting plans, or temporary orders) in the following towns also fall within the court's jurisdiction: Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Dover, Foxboro, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth, and Wrentham.
Meet the Norfolk County Probate & Family Court Judges
The family court judges assigned to the Norfolk Division of the Probate and Family Court Department are: First Justice Robert W. Langlois, Judge John D. Casey, Judge Christina L. Harms, and Judge Angela M. Ordonez.
The courthouse, originally in Dedham, is now located at 35 Shawmut Road in Canton. Each of the judge's courtrooms is on the second floor (Judge Langlois - Courtroom 1, Judge Harms - Courtroom 2, Judge Casey - Courtroom 4, Judge Ordonez - Courtroom 5), and the family services office is on the third floor.
Like all other courthouses, Norfolk County has implemented the individual calendar system whereas the judge assigned to a new case will hear all matters on that case, including post-divorce matters such as Complaints for Modification and Contempt, between the same parties. This system allows the same judge to keep your case in front of him or her, rather than wasting another judge's time getting up to speed on the facts of your case. Judicial assignments are normally made based on the last two digits of the four-digit numerical series in the middle of your docket number:
- First Justice Langlois - 26-30, 46-50, 56-60, 66-70, 86-90
- Hon. Justice Casey - 31-35, 51-55, 71-75, 91-00
- Hon. Justice Harms - 21-25, 36-45, 61-65, 81-85
- Hon. Justice Ordonez - 01-20, 76-80
You can get divorced before any of these judges without having a lawyer represent you, but anybody who has gone through it would likely advise you against it. The paperwork is complex and could be overwhelming; moreover, you are taking an important step that has legal consequences that could affect you years later. This is not a time to be "penny wise and pound foolish."
You also need a lawyer who is local - one who will know and be familiar with the individualized preferences of these four judges. While your objective is to find the best Massachusetts divorce lawyer you can afford, you also need to consider the benefits of a local attorney's expertise.
If You Could Choose Any Court to Handle Your Case, You'd Likely Choose Norfolk County!
Norfolk County has devised one of the better systems to keep its huge caseload moving. Among the unique procedures the Court has in place: case management conferences are scheduled by the court approximately six weeks after a new complaint is filed, the use of tele-conferences have been put into place amongst judges, counsel, and the parties for the most common hearings and procedures, and a mandatory "next event" scheduling policy if the proceeding before the Court does not result in the matter being brought to final judgment.
Once Divorce Begins, an Automatic Restraining Order is in Effect
Once your case begins, Norfolk County divorce judges hold litigants accountable to a 2010 version of Rule 411 - the automatic Asset Restraining Order. Accordingly:
(1) Neither party shall sell, transfer, encumber, conceal, assign, remove or in any way dispose of any property, real or personal, belonging to or acquired by, either party, except: (a) as required for reasonable expenses of living; (b) in the ordinary and usual course of business; (c) in the ordinary and usual course of investing; (d) for payment of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in connection with the action; (e) written agreement of both parties; or (f) by Order of the Court.
(2) Neither party shall incur any further debts that would burden the credit of the other party, including but not limited to further borrowing against any credit line secured by the marital residence or unreasonably using credit cards or cash advances against credit or bank cards;
(3) Neither party shall directly or indirectly change the beneficiary of any life insurance policy, pension or retirement plan, or pension or retirement investment account, except with the written consent of the other party or by Court order.
(4) Neither party shall directly or indirectly cause the other party or the minor child(ren) to be removed from coverage under an existing insurance policy, including medical, dental, life, automobile, and disability insurance. The parties shall maintain all insurance coverage in full force and effect.
The purpose of the rule is for parties to a divorce action not to hide or spend down marital assets beyond what would be considered reasonable. It is not intended to prevent the spouse who had been managing the couple's finances from continuing the status quo, but rather to curtail disingenuous activity or transactions.
When You Divorce in Norfolk County, Your Case is Referred to as Either a 1A or 1B Divorce...
In Norfolk County, divorces are filed as either uncontested (1A) divorces, or contested (1B) divorces. Often people claim that their divorce is not being contested because they both agree to the divorce. Whether or not a person disputes the obtaining of a divorce is immaterial because Massachusetts is a no fault state. If one party wants to terminate the marriage and meets the residency requirements, he or she can obtain a divorce whether or not the other party agrees to it or not.
In an uncontested divorce, the parties must both agree to all of the issues, terms, and conditions of their Separation Agreement including, if applicable, issues of property division, child support, child custody, child visitation, alimony, automobile issues, real estate issues, debt issues etc. Each of our attorneys offers a flat-fee in handling this type of divorce. Go to our sister firm, FlatFeeDivorceAttorney.com to learn more.
Massachusetts Divorce Law Is Applied Locally
Divorce, paternity, custody, child support, alimony, and the laws of property division are the same everywhere in Massachusetts. The key difference is that each county handles cases a little differently, and each judge has his or her own customs, policies and procedures. For that reason, it is very important that you get good information from an experienced divorce attorney who practices day-in and day-out in Norfolk County.
Put Our Home-Court Advantage to Work For You
With our corporate headquarters on Route 1 in Norwood, The Massachusetts Family Law Group truly offers its clients the benefit of our home-court advantage. Our attorneys are before the different judges two, three, sometimes even four days in any given week.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call (800) 763-1030 or contact us. We meet with clients 7 days a week, and each of our attorneys carries a Blackberry which avails us to answer your questions by phone or e-mail anytime - not just during office hours.
