property division

Boston residents watch other states’ same-sex marriage trends

A news story on the minds of Boston residents this week is the newest win for gay rights activists in the neighboring state of New Jersey. In fact, the upcoming decisions made in these other states matters when gay couples move from one state to another in the U.S. This is particularly important as more states recognize same-sex divorce along with marriage rights. Right now, six states, including Massachusetts, recognize same-sex marriages. This New Jersey development comes as more states grapple with what legal rights to award non-traditional couples. According to a Reuters’ report, the legislature in New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage earlier this week. Next, the New Jersey gay marriage bill goes to the governor, a person who could be considered for a vice-presidential bid later this year. Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, has promised to use his governor’s veto on this bill. This may be a setback for gay rights in New Jersey. The vote was passed in a majority of 42 to 33. However, Boston readers should note that the two chambers of the state assembly do not have the two-thirds majority of votes that would be required to override a gubernatorial veto. In related news, Maryland’s House of Delegates postponed until late Feb. 16 a debate on the “Civil Marriage Protection Act,” which has the sponsorship of the liberal governor, Democrat Martin O’Malley. This bill already passed with enough votes in two committees, but not the entire House. Gay rights activists are also watching the progress

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High net-worth divorce involves X-Men actor

Massachusetts cinema buffs may be interested to know that couple James Marsden and Lisa Linde recently filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage. Marsden is known for his roles in X-Men and Straw Dogs. His wife is the daughter of Dennis Linde, who was the country songwriter who penned Elvis’ 1972 hit “Burning Love.” Although a representative for Marsden claims the decision is mutual, high net-worth divorces are rarely a clean process. Despite the comments of Marsden’s representative, Linde filed the divorce documents citing “irreconcilable differences.” She is seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two children. They share a 6-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. However, even when divorce is based on a shared decision and mutual respect, it often still results in a tangled web of issues. Here, the couple was married for 11 years with two children. As such, the divorce will necessarily involve complex property division and child custody issues. Linde is also seeking spousal support, which may prove contentious. The couple has probably already retained separate legal counsel, which is highly advised in cases like these. An experienced divorce attorney can prove invaluable in a high net-worth divorce due to the complexity of issues involved. The attorney may also be able to ensure that the result is fair and reasonable and in accordance with the wishes of the client. Indeed, any couple in Massachusetts and elsewhere seeking or considering divorce may benefit from consulting with an attorney. Except in a few rare instances,

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