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Sawin Law, P.C.

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Norwell, MA
Sawin Law, P.C.

Sawin Law, P.C. is a reputable & trustworthy law firm handling all divorce & family law matters.

10/17/2026

Dads: Massachusetts law does not favor mothers over fathers in custody decisions.

Judges decide custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the child. What matters is each parent's involvement, stability, and ability to meet the child's needs.

A few steps that help fathers protect their relationship with their children:
• Establish legal parentage if you aren't married to the child's mother
• Stay consistently involved in school, activities, and medical care
• Keep communication with the other parent respectful and focused on the kids
• Follow existing orders, even when it's frustrating
• Get legal advice before agreeing to a schedule you can't live with

Learn more about fathers' rights in the comments or call (781) 713-1212.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/15/2026

Planning to move out of Massachusetts with your children after a divorce? You'll likely need the other parent's consent or the court's permission first.

Under Massachusetts law, children of divorced parents generally can't be moved out of state without the consent of both parents or a court order. When parents disagree, judges look at the custody arrangement and the child's best interests. Where one parent has primary physical custody, courts also consider whether there's a real advantage to the move for that household, such as a new job or family support nearby.

Moving first and asking later can seriously hurt your case. If a move is on the horizon, or the other parent is planning one, talk to an attorney early.

Learn more in the comments.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/14/2026

What happens to a person's property in Massachusetts if they die without a will?

It's one of many questions families face after a loss. Without a will, state law decides who inherits, and the answer depends on whether the person left a spouse, children, parents, or children from another relationship. Some assets, like accounts with named beneficiaries or jointly owned property, may pass outside of probate altogether.

Our article covers 10 things every South Shore family should know about how inheritance works in Massachusetts.

Read the full article in the comments.

10/13/2026

Alimony in Massachusetts isn't one-size-fits-all. Since the Alimony Reform Act of 2011, the law recognizes four types:

• General term: ongoing support for an economically dependent spouse, with time limits tied to the length of the marriage
• Rehabilitative: support for a set period while a spouse becomes self-supporting, generally up to five years
• Reimbursement: for shorter marriages where one spouse helped fund the other's education or career
• Transitional: for shorter marriages, to help a spouse adjust to a new life or location

The right type and amount depend on income, needs, the length of the marriage, and other factors a judge must consider.

Whether you may pay or receive alimony, learn more in the comments or call (781) 713-1212.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/12/2026

Massachusetts doesn't automatically split marital property 50/50. It divides property equitably, which means fairly based on the circumstances.

A few things that surprise people:
• Nearly everything either spouse owns can be considered, including property owned before the marriage and inheritances
• Judges weigh factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning ability, age, health, and contributions, including contributions as a homemaker or parent
• Equitable can mean equal, but it doesn't have to

Our article explains how Massachusetts courts approach dividing assets and what that means for your home, retirement accounts, and savings.

Read the full article in the comments.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/11/2026

If Sawin Law, P.C. helped you or your family through a difficult time, we'd be grateful if you'd share your experience in a Google review.

Reviews help other South Shore families find the right help when they need it. You don't need to share any details about your case. A few sentences about what it was like to work with our team is plenty.

Thank you to every client who has trusted us. You'll find the link to leave a review in the comments.

10/10/2026

A question we never expected to write about a few years ago: can your ChatGPT conversations be used in your divorce?

Private isn't the same as protected. If you've used an AI chatbot to talk through finances, parenting, your spouse, hidden accounts, or plans to move with your children, those conversations may be requested in a case, the same way texts and emails can be.

A good rule: if you wouldn't want a judge to read it, don't type it into a chatbot. The conversations that are protected are the ones you have with your attorney.

Our article gives a direct answer for Massachusetts residents.

Read the full article in the comments.

10/09/2026

Grandparents often play a big role in a child's life. When a family breaks apart, that relationship can get caught in the middle.

Massachusetts law allows grandparents to ask the Probate and Family Court for visitation in certain situations, such as when the parents are divorced or separated, a parent has died, or the parents were never married and live apart.

The bar is high. Parents have a strong right to decide who their children spend time with, so grandparents generally must show that without visitation, the child would suffer significant harm.

If you're a grandparent who's been cut off from a grandchild, or a parent facing a visitation request, an attorney can help you understand where you stand.

Learn more in the comments.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/08/2026

One of the first worries people have when a divorce starts: "What if my spouse empties the accounts?"

In Massachusetts, once a divorce is filed and served, an automatic restraining order generally applies to both spouses. It limits selling, hiding, transferring, or spending marital assets beyond ordinary living and business expenses. When there's a real risk that money or property will disappear, a court can also issue more specific orders.

Controlling money is also a common form of abuse, so financial protections can matter just as much as physical ones.

Our article explains how financial restraining orders work in a Massachusetts divorce and when to ask for one.

Read the full article in the comments.

General information only, not legal advice.

10/07/2026

Not every harassment situation involves a family member or partner. For those cases, Massachusetts has a separate law.

Abuse Prevention Orders under Chapter 209A cover family and household members, including dating partners. Harassment Prevention Orders under Chapter 258E can protect you from anyone else: a neighbor, a coworker, an acquaintance, or even a stranger.

To get a 258E order, a person generally needs to show three or more acts of willful and malicious conduct aimed at them, intended to cause fear, intimidation, abuse, or property damage, and that actually did. Certain single acts, such as sexual assault or stalking, can also qualify.

If someone is making you feel unsafe, it's worth knowing which order fits your situation. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Learn more in the comments.

General information only, not legal advice.

Address

52 Accord Park Drive, 2nd Floor
Norwell, MA
02061

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://www.sawinlawpc.com/

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