Monthly Archives: January 2019

When Can I Modify My Spousal Support Agreement?

The decision to dissolve a marriage is usually a difficult and painful one for all parties involved. Beyond the emotional issues, financial issues can compound the stress of the process. Often, one of the partners to the marriage will be facing financial obstacles after the dissolution. Under such circumstances, a spousal support agreement is in order.

Assisted by a family law attorney, the couple can reduce court costs and time in court if they can reach a spousal support agreement prior to going into court. Of course, the agreement for spousal support, often referred to as alimony, must be approved by the judge prior to the dissolution of the marriage. The judge will look at the financial status of both parties and decide if the agreement is fair to both parties. But, can you change your alimony plan?

Spousal Support Modification

For whatever reason, for better or worse, financial conditions of most of us change over time. Whether due to a promotion, loss of job, or disability affecting the ability to work, any significant change can be the basis for a spousal support modification. If such a change in your financial situation occurs, you should consult an expert divorce lawyer right away regarding an alteration to the support agreement. Laws governing these agreements can be changed at any time and a delay in requesting a modification could have negative financial repercussions. When it is time to modify, the alimony plan should be considered right away.

Modify Alimony Plan

When a spousal support modification (modify alimony plan) is in order, consult a family law attorney at the Shapiro Law Group regarding how to change spousal support under the divorce laws of the state. Sometimes even temporary significant changes, such as a short-term disability or other financial emergencies, can be the basis to modify the spousal support agreement. Even if both parties agree to the acceptable amount of support on their own, court approval should be sought in order to make the agreement legally enforceable.

Can You Change Your Alimony Plan?

Can you change your alimony plan? The answer is yes. Massachusetts state laws in this regard review some of the circumstances under which such a modification can occur. Beyond changes in income of one or both parties, other material changes such as a disability, remarriage of the partner receiving the support, or the retirement of the paying former spouse, there may support a request for modification of the original agreement. Due to changes in the applicable laws over the past several years, the date the original agreement was signed has some bearing as to the ability to modify the agreement and the extent of any such modifications.

Need A Support Modification? Consult the Shapiro Law Group

Spousal support modifications are serious business and present a multitude of issues that need to be reviewed. Ensure a fair modification that meets your needs. Consult a Family Law Attorney at the Shapiro Law Group to help you sort through the plethora of factors that need reviewing. We are here to help. Call 339-298-2300 today for a free consultation.

What Is a Myocardial Contusion?

Injuries from automotive accidents can be debilitating. From broken bones to injured nerves, the long-term health ramifications from a crash can have a huge impact on the lives of those affected. But what happens when you injure your chest? In serious cases, the injuries to the chest can be far worse than merely broken ribs. You can even suffer a myocardial contusion. What is a myocardial contusion?

What Exactly Is a Myocardial Contusion?

A myocardial contusion, put simply, is a bruise to the heart muscle (or cardiac muscle), which can happen when the body is subjected to severe blunt force trauma. The most common causes of myocardial contusions are:

Head-on car accidents
Falling from a height of greater than 30 feet
Receiving chest compressions after a cardiac event (receiving CPR)

Myocardial contusions are often misidentified with myocardial contusions (also known as heart attacks). This is because they present similar symptoms, especially chest pain. Myocardial contusions are the result of a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, as opposed to blunt force trauma.

Common Symptoms of Myocardial Contusions

As noted, the symptoms of a myocardial contusion are similar in some ways to those of a heart attack. While the symptoms may vary, depending on the severity of the injury, the most common symptoms of bruising to the heart are:

Sharp or extreme pain above the ribs
Weakness
Increased heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue
Shortness of breath

Myocardial Contusion Diagnosis and Treatment

Determining if a myocardial contusion occurred is the job of an experienced healthcare professional. First, they will examine for the outward signs of a traumatic injury. This will include checking your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. In some cases, they will also look to see if there is any crunching sensation in or around the ribcage or abnormal chest movements during breaths.

You may also need to be subjected to additional testing, such as an X-ray or CT scan of the chest, an echocardiogram, or an electrocardiogram to monitor the function of your heart muscle.

Treatments for myocardial contusions vary, depending on the severity of the case. For minor cases, an over-the-counter pain reliever and rest may be sufficient, but for more severe cases (broken blood vessels, blood drainage, fluid buildup, or needing a pacemaker), surgery may be required.

Consult a Personal Injury Attorney at the Shapiro Law Group

Because of the danger posed by a myocardial contusion, as well as the medical costs for diagnosing and treating such an injury, if you find yourself suffering this injury as a result of an accident, you need legal representation right away. After seeking the proper medical care, consulting a Personal Injury Attorney at the Shapiro Law Group to help you sort through the plethora of factors that need review should be your first step. In addition to medical expenses, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income and the pain and suffering you have had to endure. Call today at (339) 309-1188 for a free consultation.

Mental Illness and Child Custody in Divorce

Divorce is a stressful process to be endured by all parties to the process. The process is further complicated when one of the parties has mental health issues. When children were produced during the marriage, the issue of mental illness and parenting comes to the forefront of the marriage dissolution procedure. While mental illness is a problem which affects millions of Americans, it presents special challenges when mental illness and child custody issues arise. The law recognizes that a parent who suffers from any type of mental illness could have a negative impact on the children in the family.

Mental Illness and Parenting

The general heading of mental illness stretches from mild depression on one end of the spectrum to diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia on the other. When looking at the issue of mental illness and parenting, the law starts by seeing which parent is suffering from the issue and the severity of it. The presence of mental illness in either or both parents likely had an impact on why the marriage was not successful. That being said, mental illness in divorce focuses on the well-being of the children, and court decisions on custody and visitation will focus on that issue.

Mental Illness and Divorce

Although it is a delicate issue, when dealing with mental illness and divorce, the extent of the problem for the afflicted parent is relevant and must be dealt with properly. Mental illness itself can be a valid ground for divorce if it is considered a permanent psychological disorder. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia usually fall into this category. If your spouse suffers from those conditions, you no doubt have had a plethora of issues to deal with in maintaining your household and the mental health and wellbeing of yourself and your children. A consultation with a divorce lawyer would be suggested to ensure a divorce decree that protects both yourself and your children.

Mental Illness and Child Custody

When dealing with issues related to mental illness and child custody, the law and the courts look at how the afflicted parent’s mental illness affects their behavior and ability to properly interact with and care for the children. While some parents diagnosed with bipolar disease or schizophrenia may be homeless, others who get proper treatment and medications can be good parents. These issues will affect both child custody and visitation rights. In some cases, court-supervised limited visitation may be permitted. While diagnoses themselves are made by psychologists and psychiatrists, you should seek out a family law expert to get answers to your questions regarding mental illness and child custody in divorce.

Consult a Family Law Attorney at the Shapiro Law Group

Mental illness and divorce present a multitude of legal issues that need to be reviewed prior to going to court. Regardless of the severity of the problem, mental illness is serious business. Your family law attorney at the Shapiro Law Group can help. Consult with one of our family law attorneys to help you sort through the plethora of factors that need to be reviewed. Call us today for a free consultation at 339-298-2300.

What to Do If You Are a Victim of Stalking During Divorce

One of the sad realities of our day and age is stalking. So, what exactly is stalking? To paraphrase the definition given by Dictionary.com, stalking is unwanted following related to the act of pursuing or harassing. If you have been divorced, the likelihood of you being stalked by your ex is higher than the average. According to figures compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 60.8% of female victims and 43.5% of male victims of stalking are stalked by a current or former intimate partner. On a percentage basis, statistics suggest that about 3.4% of divorced or separated individuals will become victims of a stalker. So, while not common, that means about one person in thirty will have a stalker to deal with. What to do if you are a victim of stalking during divorce? Let’s have a look at the actions you can take.

Stalking During Divorce

Stalking during divorce is clearly a significant issue. Whether the divorce is final or not is not an issue. Stalking by a future ex is still stalking and carries with it all the same stresses and emotional tension. Divorce is difficult and painful for all parties involved as it is, but stalking by an ex adds even more stress and discomfort to the whole process. A victim of such stalking should not take the situation lightly. You never know when the stalking by an ex can escalate into something more serious, including an act of physical violence towards you. What to do if you are being stalked by an ex? You should consult an expert divorce lawyer right away.

Avoiding Stalking by Ex

While going through a divorce there are many issues that can arise that require communication between the parties. If the couple is separated and have children, even more situations can arise requiring communication between the parents. Stalking goes beyond the need for normal phone calls or texting to coordinate picking up children at daycare or transporting them to an after-school activity. Excessive texting to inquire about where you are and what you are doing may be a sign of stalking by an ex. Likewise, showing up unexpectedly at your home or work with little or no regard for boundaries is another strong indicator and red flag. You should consult a family law attorney at the Shapiro Law Group if you feel you may be a victim of stalking during divorce.

What to Do if You Are Being Stalked by an Ex

What do you do if you are being stalked by an ex? Massachusetts has laws in place to deal with harassment and stalking. A family law attorney can assist a person who is experiencing stalking by an ex in getting a restraining order prohibiting the person from engaging in the stalking behavior. If the restraining order is violated, the law allows for various levels of punishment, up to and including imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Stalked by Your Ex? Consult the Shapiro Law Group

If you have been a victim of stalking during a divorce, do not take it lightly. Do not delay in contacting us at the Shapiro Law Group to help you sort through the plethora of factors that need to be reviewed. Our family law attorneys are here to help. Call today at 339-298-2300 for a free consultation.

Car Accidents While on the Job: What to Know About Third Party Liability Claims

Car Accidents on the Job

Automobiles have been around over 100 years. Their introduction into society truly revolutionized how we get from place to place and experience the world. Of course, the beginning of automobile travel brought with it the beginning of a common occurrence not so pleasant – the car accident. According to the latest CDC data, over 40,000 people die due to car accidents each year. Of the multitude of motor vehicle accidents that occur each year, some of them involved drivers who are working at the time of the accident. Laws covering how to deal with car accidents on the job vary from state to state. If you have been involved in a car accident at work, what should you do now?

Car Accidents at Work

Being involved in a car accident is never a pleasant experience, even if you suffered little or no injuries. When dealing with car accidents at work, the situation can be even more complex and disturbing. When an employee is injured on the job, they are covered by the Worker Compensation laws that are applicable in their state. Once again, these laws are enacted at the state level and vary from state to state. Basic worker compensation laws usually provide coverage for at least some lost wages and some coverage for medical expenses related to the work injury. Employees who sustain injuries from car accidents on the job are usually covered under those laws. If you have been injured in a work-related car accident, it may be time to contact a personal injury attorney.

Third Party Liability Claims

Beyond Worker Compensation laws, every state has laws related to motor vehicle accident liability. Many states have what is known as no-fault laws, while others still follow the fault system when dealing with motor vehicle accidents. If the injured employee is unable to fully recover for losses from the state’s worker compensation system, the injured worker may be able to pursue third-party liability claims against the other driver and that person’s insurance company. Many states, including Massachusetts, have time frames for pursuing such accidents so the person injured in the car accident should not delay in seeking the proper legal representation.

Car Accidents in Massachusetts

As noted above, both worker compensation and motor vehicle accident laws vary from state to state. In Massachusetts, the law has established a no-fault car insurance system. In order to seek legal damages beyond what is addressed in the law, the injured party must have injuries that meet requirements as delineated in Massachusetts statutes. The applicable law addresses the monetary damages and types of injuries that will need to be determined for recovery beyond the normal no-fault limits.

Consult a Personal Injury Attorney at the Shapiro Law Group

Car accidents on the job clearly give rise to some complex legal issues that require the help of a skilled attorney. After seeking the proper medical care, consulting a personal injury attorney at the Shapiro Law Group to help you sort through the plethora of factors that need review should be your first step. To get the proper compensation for any injuries suffered from the motor vehicle accident, a determination of liability is necessary. In addition to getting complete coverage of medical expenses that result from your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income and the pain and suffering you have had to endure. Call us at 339-298-2300 today for a free consultation.

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Modify Alimony Plan

Can You Change Your Alimony Plan?

What Exactly Is a Myocardial Contusion?

Myocardial Contusion Diagnosis and Treatment

Mental Illness and Divorce

Mental Illness and Child Custody

Avoiding Stalking by Ex

Stalked by Your Ex? Consult the Shapiro Law Group

Car Accidents on the Job

Third Party Liability Claims

Car Accidents in Massachusetts

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