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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions Lynch & Owens are South Shore divorce attorneys and family law attorneys who practice primarily in Plymouth County and ...

Cape Cod

Cape Cod Divorce & Family Law Attorneys Lynch & Owens represents Cape Cod divorce and family law clients from Provincetown to Bourne in the Barnstable ...

Divorce Mediation

Massachusetts Divorce Mediators Amicable Resolution of Your Divorce Getting divorced is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be exhausting or crushingly ...

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Serving Plymouth County, Norfolk County, Cape Cod & the South Shore of Massachusetts Since 1995 Lynch & Owens is built on a foundation of prompt and ...

Appeals

Appeals Massachusetts Appellate Attorneys Representing Clients in Domestic Relations Appeals Lynch & Owens represents clients with domestic relations ...

Articles published by Jason V. Owens in the Suffolk Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy Now Available Online

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens provides online access to articles published in the Suffolk Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy. Lynch & ...

Ask Our Attorneys: How has the Coronavirus Impacted Family Law in Massachusetts?

The divorce and family attorneys of Lynch & Owens share their perspectives on how the pandemic has impacted courts, clients and their own work as ...

Hon. John D. Casey is New Chief of Probate Court and Revised Child Support Guideline Worksheet on Way

Jason V. Owens offers breaking news in advance of the MCLE Conference, including a new Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court and a new 2017 ...

MCLE Family Law Conference Panel to Feature Jason Owens, Esq. of Lynch & Owens, P.C.

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE) is hosting its 21 st Annual Family Law Conference 2018 in just a few weeks. Lynch & Owens, P.C. ...

The Slow Process of Changing a Temporary Order for Child Custody in Probate Court

Jason V. Owens reviews the difficult process of changing a temporary custody order in Massachusetts probate and family courts. A recent unpublished ...

Can a 16-year old Decide Which Parent to Live With in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts family law lawyer Jason V. Owens explores whether a 16-year old in Massachusetts can determine which parent he or she wants to live ...

The Dismal Treatment of Child Sex Abuse Victims in Massachusetts Probate & Family Courts

Massachusetts family law lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews a recent Boston Globe article detailing the dismal treatment of child molestation victims in ...

SJC Upends Alimony and Child Support in Dramatic Landmark Ruling

Click here for printer friendly PDF format In a decision sure to generate both excitement and controversy, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ...

SJC Decision Could Have Major Impact on Child Custody Cases Involving Domestic Violence

Jason V. Owens reviews a major upcoming decision affecting domestic violence in child custody cases in Massachusetts. Click here for print friendly ...

Massachusetts Legal Organizations Propose Changes to Child Support Task Force

Click here for printer friendly PDF format We compare suggestions submitted to the state’s Child Support Task Force by three leading Massachusetts ...

Massachusetts SJC: Lifetime Alimony Survives

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews three Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decisions weakening the Massachusetts Alimony Reform ...

Ashley Madison: 11 Million Men vs. 2,000 Women

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens comments on media reports that Ashley Madison members included 11 million men paired with as few as 2,000 ...

Fault vs. No Fault Divorce in Massachusetts

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the history of “no fault” divorce and reviews the practical implications of “no fault” divorce in ...

Alimony Reform Bill Faces January 20, 2017 Deadline for House Sponsors

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reports on a January 20th deadline affecting survival of the alimony reform bill. With the state’s new ...

Alimony Re-Reform Bill Gains Momentum for 2017 in State Senate

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reports on the growing list of potential co-sponsors for H 4427 in the state senate. In June , the Alimony ...

State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) Endorses Alimony Re-Reform Bill

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reports on the recent endorsement of H 4427 by State Senator Patrick M. O’Connor (R-Weymouth), who is up ...

Coronavirus News: County-by-County Info for Massachusetts Probate & Family Courts (With Updates)

We are posting each Massachusetts county’s orders and instructions for Probate & Family Court operations during the coronavirus as we receive them. ...

PPP Loans Create Confusion in Child Support and Alimony Cases

Click here for printer friendly PDF format PPP Loans Create Confusion in Child Support and Alimony Cases Involving Self-Employed Parties Government ...

Massachusetts Practice: Motions to Withdraw and Informed Consent

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews how informed consent rules under the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct can affect ...

Shared Physical Custody Bill Faces Voting Bottleneck in MA House Committee

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens checks in on the “child-centered family law”, which is awaiting a full vote before the Massachusetts ...

Three SJC Justices Blast DCF in Recent "Spanking" Decision

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision criticizing DCF for the Department’s ...

Should Massachusetts Join Arizona by Shaming “Deadbeat Parents” over Twitter?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews a new Arizona measure posting names and photos of “deadbeat dads” on Twitter. Should Massachusetts ...

Appraising the Value of a Small Business in a Divorce

Attorney Jason V. Owens reviews valuing business interests for the division of assets in divorce cases. Click Here for print friendly PDF format. ...

The Broad Impact of the Massachusetts Wiretapping Statute

Attorney Owens explores the sweeping protections under the Massachusetts Wiretapping Statute. Click here for Printer Friendly PDF format Massachusetts ...

How Do Courts Decide Child Custody Cases?

Family Law Attorney Jason V. Owens explores how family court judges analyze and decide cases involving child custody and parenting time. Click here ...

Divorced and Unmarried Parents: How New Tax Law Impacts Child Tax Deductions and Child Tax Credits

Divorce attorney Jason V. Owens reviews how changes to child tax benefits under the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) may impact divorced, separated and ...

Are You Ready for a Divorce?

Massachusetts attorney Jason V. Owens explores the many considerations that spouses face when deciding whether it is time for a divorce. Click here ...

Big Appeals Court Decision Impacts Child Support and Alimony in Massachusetts

Click here for printer friendly PDF format Big Appeals Court Decision Impacts Child Support and Alimony in Massachusetts June 21, 2021 (updated ...

Are Stock Options and RSUs Income or Assets in a MA Divorce?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens analyzes a recent Appeals Court case that presents stock options and RSUs as both income and assets. An ...

Boston Globe Magazine Urges Passage of Alimony Reform Bill in MA House

The Boston Globe Magazine is advocating for the passage of an alimony reform bill now pending in the Massachusetts House. The Boston Globe Magazine ...

Big Changes Under the 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens explores the biggest changes under the 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines released on July ...

Should Alimony Start After Child Support Ends?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens discusses whether the termination of child support following a divorce is grounds for an increase in ...

You only Hear about Divorce Mediations that Fail

Massachusetts divorce lawyer reacts to a recent blog about divorce mediation by Justin L. Kelsey. Massachusetts divorce mediator, Justin L. Kelsey of ...

E-Filing Largely a Failure in Massachusetts Probate & Family Courts

E-Filing System Failing in Massachusetts Probate & Family Courts Six years after investing in statewide e-filing system, only a fraction of domestic ...

State Senate Declines Vote on Alimony Reform and Child Custody Bills in 2016

Massachusetts Divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens recaps the defeat of “an act reforming alimony in Massachusetts” and the “Massachusetts Child-Centered ...

Order for “Reasonable” Parenting Time Too Vague for Contempt in Probate & Family Court

Click here for printer friendly PDF format Order for “Reasonable” Parenting Time Too Vague for Contempt in MA Probate & Family Court Appeals Court: ...

Mediating Shared Physical Custody Agreements in Massachusetts

Click here for printer-friendly PDF format Massachusetts mediator Jason V. Owens explores how parents use mediation for shared physical custody ...

How to Use Financial Experts in Divorce Mediation

Click here for printer friendly PDF format Massachusetts Mediator Jason V. Owens explores how financial experts can assist the mediation process for ...

Complaints for Contempt for Violations of Visitation and Custody Orders in Massachusetts

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews Complaints for Contempt pertaining to custody, visitation and parenting time in Massachusetts. ...

Correcting the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act: New Bill Filed

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews a new bill that seeks to make the Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act applicable to orders entered ...

Judicial Roundup: New Judges at the Plymouth and Norfolk Probate & Family Courts in 2016

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the latest changes to the lineup of judges sitting at the Plymouth Probate and Family Court and ...

I am Getting Divorced: When Can I File a “Single” Status Tax Return?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews how the “90-day Nisi Period” following a Massachusetts divorce affects state and federal tax ...

SJC: Free Lawyers for Parents (but not Guardians) in Massachusetts Guardianship Cases

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens reviews a recent court decision that increases the burdens faced by non-parent guardians in ...

New Alimony Reform Bill Filed Ahead of January 20, 2017 Deadline

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reports on a new alimony reform bill filed in the MA House before a January 20, 2017 deadline. Last week, ...

Feds: Massachusetts has Highest Child Abuse and Neglect Rate in Nation

Massachusetts family law lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews new federal data indicating that Massachusetts has the highest rate of child abuse and child ...

Comments Now Open on 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens discusses the open comment period for the 2017 changes to the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. ...

SJC Decision Deals Blow to Domestic Violence Victims in Child Custody Cases

Attorney Jason V. Owens reviews an important decision that limits the impact of past domestic abuse in child custody cases by the Massachusetts ...

Alimony Reform Effort Continues Despite Two Years of Inaction in Massachusetts Senate

Massachusetts divorce attorney Jason V. Owens checks in on alimony reform, which has been stymied for two years in the Massachusetts Senate. When last ...

Mass Lawyer's Weekly: Fixes for MA Child Support Guidelines on the Way Thanks to Blogosphere

Jason V. Owens reviews a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article covering errors in the 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. Earlier this month, ...

Ask a Divorce Lawyer: How much will Johnny Depp Regret not having a Prenuptial Agreement in his Divorce from Amber Heard?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the impact of prenuptial agreements on divorces involving public figures through the lens of ...

“Alimony Re-Reform Act” Inches Closer to Passage in Massachusetts House

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens provides an update on a Massachusetts bill that would revise the Alimony Reform Act to expand its ...

Time Nearly Out for Massachusetts Senate to Pass Alimony Re-Reform Bill in 2016

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens checks the pulse of the Massachusetts Alimony Re-Reform Bill, which is mired in the state senate as the ...

New Form: Affidavit of Filing Certified Copy of Child Custody Judgment c. 209B

Lynch & Owens is pleased to make available a new Massachusetts Probate and Family Court form. The Affidavit of Filing of Certified Copy of Child ...

Google Scholar Makes Case Law Available to the Masses

Pricey content providers Westlaw and Lexis-Nexus (and to a lesser degree Loislaw and Fastcase ) have held a stranglehold over internet-based legal ...

SJC: Ex-Husband Entitled to Share of Future Royalties for Best-Selling Novel, Night Circus

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reacts to a recent case awarding a former husband a share of future royalties in divorce from author wife. ...

Public Hearing on Proposed Alimony Reform Law Scheduled for May 15, 2017

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens checks in with an update on a public hearing o n the Alimony Re-Reform Act scheduled for May 15, 2017 in ...

Boston Globe Urges End to Lifetime Alimony in Massachusetts

Massachusetts divorce attorney Jason V. Owens reports on a Boston Globe editorial calling for an end to “lifetime alimony”. The Boston Globe has ...

Appealing Child Custody Decisions in Massachusetts

Click here for printer-friendly PDF format Appealing Child Custody Decisions in Massachusetts Appellate attorney Jason V. Owens reviews the difficult ...

Does an Unmarried Parent Need a Court’s Permission to Move Outside of Massachusetts?

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens reviews Massachusetts law for unmarried parents seeking to move out of state . Does an unmarried ...

A Massachusetts Problem: Parental Discipline vs. Child Abuse

Massachusetts family law lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the growing confusion between “child abuse” and “parental discipline” in Massachusetts. In ...

When Can a Judge Extend Alimony Beyond Federal Retirement Age Under the Alimony Reform Act?

Massachusetts divorce attorney Jason V. Owens reviews deviations from the federal retirement age “cap” under the Alimony Reform Act. This blog has ...

How is Child Support Calculated for Unemployed Parents in Massachusetts?

Click here for printer-friendly PDF format How is Child Support Calculated for Unemployed Parents in Massachusetts? A recent Appeals Court decision ...

Alimony is Still Tax Deductible in Massachusetts for State Income Tax Purposes

Divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews how alimony is still tax deductible in Massachusetts and other states even after the change in federal ...

Mass. Probate & Family Courts to Re-Open in July and August

Massachusetts Probate Courts are scheduled to slowly begin re-opening to the public for limited matters in July and August of 2020. Click here for ...

How to Prepare for Divorce

Divorce attorney Jason V. Owens reviews commonsense steps for preparing for a divorce. Once you realize that divorce is the only option—preferably ...

Multiple Errors Distort 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines, Fixes Reportedly Coming (UPDATED 10/6/17)

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens discusses multiple errors affecting the 2017 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. As the product ...

Admissibility of GAL Reports in Child Custody Cases Growing Murky

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the admissibility of GAL Reports in custody cases, including a recent decision that muddies the ...

Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO): What They Do and When They Do It

What Does a QDRO Mean for Your Divorce? Divorce attorney Jason V. Owens examines Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) and the unusual timing ...

Shakeup at DCF: 10 Workers Fired

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens comments on the recent firing at DCF. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) ...

Gov. Baker Nominates Two Boston Attorneys to the Probate and Family Court

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews Charlie Baker’s recent judicial appointments and lineup changes at the Plymouth and Norfolk ...

SJC Considers Court-Appointed Lawyers for Child Support Cases

Attorney Jason V. Owens discusses whether the SJC will rule in favor of court-appointed attorneys for child support defendants facing incarceration. ...

Netflix’s Marriage Story Shows the Price of Divorce Litigation

Click here for printer-friendly PDF format Massachusetts mediator Jason Owens draws lessons from the Netflix movie, Marriage Story, about divorce ...

Obara v. Ghoreisha (2016): a Rare Massachusetts Appeals Court Reversal of a Division of Assets Decision

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews a rare Massachusetts Appeals Court decision vacating a Probate & Family Court judge’s division of ...

With Time Running Out, Alimony Reform Advocates Face Desperation in MA Senate

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens writes on Sen. William Brownsberger’s efforts to block bill to end lifetime alimony. Time is running out ...

What Happens when a Former Spouse Discovers an Undivided Marital Asset Following a Divorce?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews Appeals Court decision that suggests incorrectly valued assets may be subject to “re-division” ...

What is the 90-Day “Nisi Period” in a Massachusetts Divorce?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the “90-day Nisi Period”, which prevents Massachusetts residents from remarrying for 90 days after ...

Coming in January: Public Forums for 2021 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Task Force

Click here for printer friendly PDF format Virtual public hearings on the 2021 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines are scheduled on January 21, 22 ...

Amended 2018 Child Support Guidelines Will Change Massachusetts Child Support on June 15, 2018

Trial Court Department debuts new Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Worksheet six months after the 2017 Guidelines released. MAY 18, 2018 - ...

Do Wives Ever Pay Alimony to Husbands in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts divorce attorney Jason V. Owens flags an Appeals Court case while noting a recent increase in wives paying alimony to husbands in MA ...

MA Appeals Court: When Child Support Ends, a Lifetime of Alimony (for Some) Begins

Jason V. Owens reviews a recent Appeals Court decision that confirms that lifetime alimony is alive and well in Massachusetts for spouses divorced ...

SJC: Some Guardians of Minors Entitled to Court-Appointed Attorneys

Massachusetts family law attorney Jason V. Owens reviews a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision finding that some guardians of minors ...

How Do Massachusetts Courts Treat Out-of-State Prenuptial Agreements in a Divorce?

Attorney Jason V. Owens reviews how courts review prenuptial agreements that were entered in different state in a divorce. The law of marriage and ...

Official Divorce and Family Law Forms Now Available at lynchowens.com

Lynch & Owens providing Massachusetts divorce and family law forms. As part of our efforts to provide enhanced web content for our Massachusetts ...

Determining Self-Employment Income for Child Support Purposes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens presents his recently published article on self-employment income in Massachusetts child support cases. I ...

Are you a High Net Worth Divorce Client?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens considers what makes a High Net Worth Divorce client in a Massachusetts divorce. We define high net worth ...

Can a Parent seek Retroactive Child Support in Massachusetts Back to the Birth of a Child?

Massachusetts family law lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the significant differences in availability of retroactive child support for married versus ...

MA Appeals Court: Definition for “Length of Marriage” Different for Alimony vs. Property

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens examines a recent case that defined the “length of a marriage” in Massachusetts differently for alimony ...

New Alimony Law in New Hampshire Similar to Massachusetts Statute

Massachusetts attorney Jason V. Owens sees similarities between a newly enacted alimony law in New Hampshire and the Massachusetts law passed in 2011 ...

Alimony Reform Effort Roles On, Despite Hurdles on Beacon Hill

Jason V. Owens reviews how alimony reform advocates keep pushing for changes in Massachusetts law that permits lifetime alimony to continue. In June ...

Weinstein Divorce Agreement Shows How Scandal Impacts Prenuptial Agreements

Divorce attorney Jason V. Owens explores how celebrity prenuptial agreements often unravel in the face of public scandal. Media reports on the divorce ...

Complaints for Contempt for Violations of Child Support, Alimony and Financial Orders in Massachusetts

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews Complaints for Contempt for the violation of financial orders, including child support, alimony ...

When Increased Parenting Time Causes Lower Child Support

Massachusetts attorney Jason V. Owens reviews when increased parenting time can result in a reduction in child support for non-custodial parents. One ...

Will a Massachusetts Judge Approve a Divorce Agreement with One Party Present?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens discusses whether a probate and family court judge will approve a final Separation Agreement at a hearing ...

Drafting QDROs Presents Challenges for Divorce Attorneys

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews the challenges faced by attorneys drafting Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). Michael ...

Sen. Brownberger Prevents Vote on Alimony Bill, Dismisses Three-Year Reform Effort as "Chaff"

Jason V. Owens reports on the defeat of alimony reform bill by Sen. William Brownsberger, who prevented a vote in Massachusetts before insulting ...

Jared Remy Case: What Guardianship May Mean for Remy’s Daughter and the Martell and Remy Families

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens examines the troubling guardianship case for the daughter of Jared Remy. March 26, 2014 – Lynch & Owens ...

How Does a Fraudulent Conveyance Affect the Division of Assets in a Massachusetts Divorce?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens reviews how fraudulent conveyances can affect the division of assets in a Massachusetts divorce. A recent ...

Is a Final Division of Assets Modifiable Under Massachusetts Divorce Law?

Massachusetts divorce lawyer Jason V. Owens discusses the rare times when a final division of assets may be modifiable after a Massachusetts divorce. ...

Calls for Changes to Massachusetts Alimony Law to Address Federal Tax Change and Close “Lifetime Alimony” Loophole

Divorce attorney Jason V. Owens reviews proposals that would reduce alimony payments and eliminate “lifetime alimony” in Massachusetts. Many alimony ...

New Tax Bill Kills Alimony Deductions, Hastens Societal Changes

Jason V. Owens examines how the recently passed tax bill will eliminate alimony tax deductions starting in 2019. Following the passage the Tax Cuts ...

Meet Jason V. Owens

Jason V. Owens

Partner & Senior Counsel