Parent Education Programs & Covid-19

June 11, 2020: Before the era of Covid-19 (the good old days), the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court required that parents of children under 18 registers for a Parent Education Program within 30 days from when the original complaint was served on the defendant, or within 30 days from an order from the Court. When…

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Coronavirus Challenges and Solutions at NPL

Next Phase Legal & Dispute Resolution LLC of Norfolk, MA (and now several other locations!) remains ready to assist current and new clients. All meetings, including mediation sessions and consultations, are available by video-conference or telephone, and the office is staffed by one person. Let us know how we can help.

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Top Ten Considerations When Hiring a Special Education Lawyer

Parenting is challenging under the best of circumstances. Dealing with ongoing stress and conflict over issues related to your child’s schooling without someone on your side is more difficult. Once you decide that you need some help from a caring special education lawyer, how should you select one?  Here is our top ten list of…

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New 2018 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Released

Simplified Worksheet and Fixing Bugs Highlight June 2018 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Update On June 15, 2018, new Massachusetts child support guidelines went into effect. Not quite so new child support guidelines were just released in the Fall of 2017, and the Massachusetts child support guidelines typically follow about a three to four-year update cycle,…

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New MA 2017 Child Support Guidelines

New child support guidelines go into effect in Massachusetts on September 15, 2017. The new guidelines make some important changes, including how medical and childcare expenses are considered, and provide additional clarity (maybe) regarding child support and paying for college tuition and expenses.  Also introduced in the 2017 guidelines is an offset to lower child…

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Mansfield MA Divorce Mediator

Next Phase Legal LLC is pleased to announce our additional meeting location in Mansfield, MA. Mansfield is located in Bristol County, and is bordered by Sharon, Foxborough, Easton, Norton, and Plainville. Our Mansfield location is located at 20 Cabot Boulevard, Suite 300, within the Cabot Business Park, and provides area residents and those working in…

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McDonough Speaks at Mass Bar Conference

The Massachusetts Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section hosted their first Dispute Resolution Symposium at UMASS Boston on Friday, May 19, 2017. Titled Conflict Resolution: Advancements, Strategies, and Trends, the symposium featured keynote speaker NYPD detective, hostage negotiator, and crisis communication trainer Jeff Thompson, Ph.D. Attorney and Divorce Mediator Stephen McDonough of Next Phase Legal LLC in Norfolk, MA presented…

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A Divorce from Social Media: Avoid Creating a Messy Trial

Have you ever stopped to think how child custody, support, or property division could be affected by social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and various dating websites? Make no mistake – anything you post, tweet, or “snap” can and most likely will be used against you in settlement negotiations or in the courtroom. Statistics regarding time spent on…

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Family Business Mediation: Solving Legal Issues Without Going to Court

Mediation is often considered an excellent means of conflict resolution for personal or family disputes, but the benefits of mediation extend to more than just familial problems. In fact, mediation is oftentimes the best conflict resolution tool available for small and medium sized businesses. Unlike litigation, business mediation is a more affordable and faster problem solving process…

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