Previous Events & CLE Programs
June 9, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 5:30p
Topic: Overcoming The Challenges of International Kidnapping Cases
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May 12, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 5:30p
Topic: Bench Meets Bar Conference with the New Probate and Family Court Judges
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May 7, 2009
CLE Program
Working with Parenting Coordinators
Thursday, May 7, 2009
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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April 14, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 5:30p
Topic: Intersection Between Immigration and Family Law
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April 2, 2009
Section Event
Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 4:00p
Topic: Dialogue with State Court Judges
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March 23, 2009
Section Meeting
Monday, March 23, 2009 - 4:30p
Topic: Middlesex Probate and Family Court Bench Bar
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March 10, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 1:00p
Topic: End of Life Care
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February 10, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 5:30p
Topic: The Intersection of Divorce and Bankruptcy
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January 14, 2009
CLE Program
A Primer for the New Child Support Guidelines: Everything you wanted to know about the New Child Support Guidelines but were too afraid to ask
Sponsored by: The Family Law Section
This program will be a very interactive approach to learning how to utilize the new Child Support Guidelines for any temporary or final order of support. The panel, consisting of many of the members of the Task Force, is ready to answer all your questions about these new guidelines. Special break out sessions will insure that each attendee will walk away from this program with a thorough understanding of how to calculate support under the new Guidelines.
Click here for complete program description
January 13, 2009
Section Meeting
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 5:30p
Topic: Surviving the QDRO Quandary: Advice from an Expert
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January 7, 2009
Section Meeting
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - 12:00p
Topic: Team - Based Care of Frail Elders: A Cost Effective Model
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December 16, 2008
Section Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 5:00p
Topic: Family Law Holiday Party with special guest speaker:
Chief Justice Paula M. Carey of the Probate and Family Court
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December 8, 2008
CLE Program
Legal Issues in Same Sex Relationships
Sponsors
Family Law Section
Trusts & Estates Section
On November 18, 2008, it will have been five years since the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s landmark decision in Goodridge.Today, the law continues to evolve to deal with the practical aspects of same sex relationships and their legal rights.
This seminar will address the legal issues that same sex couples face regarding their children, their marriage, and estate planning. Attendees will learn what couples must do to protect themselves and their families, as well as the consequences of failing to properly plan for marriage, children and death.
Click here for complete program description
December 4, 2008
Section Meeting
Develop Your Brand and Network with a Purpose
Sponsors
Solo & Small Firm Section
Family Law Section
New Lawyers Section
Immigration Law Committee
There are many accomplished attorneys in the Boston area. Differentiate yourself to build not just a practice but the practice that you want –that you will enjoy and at which you will be successful. Not every attorney is right for every client nor do we as attorneys necessarily want every type of client. Once you know what kind of clients you want to attract, networking should be part of your plan. Lawyers often mistakenly believe that networking is about asking for business.
Panelists Stewart M. Hirsch, Principal at Strategic Relationships, and Rose Ellen McCaig, McCaig Law Offices, will discuss a simple yet effective mindset, along with actions you can take that will allow you to network comfortably and naturally, and increase your client base.
October 21, 2008
Section Meeting
A New Day for Guardianship in Massachusetts
Join us for a comprehensive overview of revised guardianship rules and procedures with the Hon. Susan D. Ricci, Associate Justice, Worcester Probate and Family Court, and a panel of experts. Topics will include:
- The new Medical Certificate form;
- Tthe recent Standing Order re the Filing of Medical certificates;
- Revised Uniform Practice XXII;
- The new Guardianship Petition;
- Temporary guardianship and limited guardianships.
There will be handouts and time for questions.
Panelists:
John H. Cross
Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court Department
Gary Zalkin
LICSW, Counselor at Law, PC
September 18, 2008
Section Meeting
Gender Issues at the Negotiating Table and in the Courtroom
Sponsors
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
New Lawyers Section
Family Law Section
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
The Honorable Carol S. Ball, Massachusetts Superior Court, and Kathy Jo Cook, President of the Women's Bar Association, will lead a panel discussion of gender issues at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. Does gender influence negotiating styles, choice of collaborative versus adversarial approaches or impact the outcome and process?
Come weigh in on your observations as to whether gender matters in ADR and at trial.
September 16, 2008
Section Meeting
A New Day for Guardianship in Massachusetts
Join John H. Cross, Staff Attorney from the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court Department, for a comprehensive overview of revised guardianship rules and procedures. Topics will include the new Medical Certificate form; the recent Standing Order re the Filing of Medical certificates; revised Uniform Practice XXII; the new Guardianship Petition; temporary guardianship and limited guardianships. There will be handouts and plenty of time for questions.
September 9, 2008
Section Meeting
Section Open House: Tribute to Judge Gould
Join us for the Family Law Open House, an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues and learn about the Section. Enjoy food and drinks as we celebrate and honor Judge Nancy M. Gould of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Law Court on her retirement, and thank her for many years of service to the BBA.
June 6, 2008
Section Meeting
California's Domestic Partnership & Massachusetts Marriage: Discerning the Common Issues
Sponsors
Family Law Section
Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association
Join Frederick Hertz, Law Offices of Frederick Hertz, as he presents a summary of the emerging legal issues arising out of the new forms of partnership relationships in California, with a focus on those issues that are likely to arise in the formation and dissolution of Massachusetts same-sex marriages.
June 4, 2008
CLE Program
Divorce Taxation: New Cases, New Regulations, New Issues
Family law practitioners, clients, and their families rely upon the advice of their attorneys to help make business-minded financial decisions during emotionally charged times. Therefore, the advice provided by counsel can not be made in a bubble, and must take into account future effects, including tax implications and consequences. Any practicing family law attorney, or tax consultant, regularly providing advice to parties engaged in the divorce process, can not afford to miss this seminar.
Click here for complete program description.
May 29, 2008
Section Meeting
Hospice Care Delivery and Costs: Is There a Better Way?
Sponsors
Health Law Section
Elder Law & Disability Planning Committee
Family Law Section
Please join Dr. Haiden Huskamp, Harvard Medical School, for an overview on the status of hospice. Research shows that hospice, which includes a broad array of palliative and supportive services, can improve symptom management and quality of life for patients with a terminal illness. Use of hospice has increased rapidly over the past several years, yet many terminally ill patients receive hospice care only in the final days before death or never enroll.
This seminar will describe trends in hospice use and the supply of hospice providers, coverage of hospice care, and factors that influence a patient's decision to use hospice. We will also discuss how the primary payer of hospice care - the Medicare program - pays hospices for the care they provide, problems created by this payment approach, and alternative ways of paying for these services.
May 15, 2008
Section Meeting
A Child's Voice in Court: How to Get It, How to Interpret It, and How to Use It
Sponsors
Family Law Section
Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Panelists:
Judge E. Chouteau Merrill
Probate and Family Court
Dr. Robin M. Deutsch
Children and the Law Program, MGH
Amy Lynn Blake
Casner & Edwards, LLP
Alex D. Jones
Looney & Grossman, LLP
Josh Hoch
Mediation Works Inc.
Moira Toomey, MSW
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
CAFL attorneys will receive CLE credit for attending this program.
May 13, 2008
Section Meeting
What to Do When DSS Enters Your Client's Life (and Your Case)
Perhaps nothing is as scary for your clients as a knock on the door by DSS. Thomas Malone, Department of Social Services, Jinanne S.J. Elder, Bowman, Moos, Elder & Noe LLP, and Andrew Cohen, Director of Appeals, Committee for Public Counsel Services Children & Family Law Program will address:
- The filing of reports of suspected abuse and neglect under G.L. c. 119, § 51A,
- Investigations under § 51B,
- The DSS administrative process for appealing “support” decisions in § 51B investigations and other DSS decisions,
- The DSS registry of alleged perpetrators,
- Licensing ramifications for teachers and childcare professionals, and
- Obtaining case records from DSS.
Sometimes that knock on the door turns into DSS involvement in a pre-existing divorce, custody or guardianship case. We will address DSS participation in Probate and Family Court cases, how to prevent your clients from losing custody of their children to DSS, and how to help your clients regain custody if they have already lost it.
April 8, 2008
Section Meeting
Scheduling Practices in the Probate and Family Court: A Bench/Bar Discussion
Sponsors
Family Law Section
Trust & Estates Section
Family Law Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association
In response to concerns expressed by the legal community regarding the lack of uniformity in the manner in which cases are scheduled in the various courts within the Probate and Family Department, Chief Justice Paula Carey has appointed a Scheduling Task Force to review such matters and to provide her with recommendations for suggested changes. The Task Force, chaired by the Honorable Robert Langlois, First Justice of the Norfolk Probate and Family Court, is now conducting state wide forums to meet with practitioners in order to listen to their concerns and to hear their suggestions on how to improve scheduling procedures.
Judge Langlois, together with Task Force members Denise Squillante, former Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Family Law Section, and Gayle Stone-Turesky will be conducting the meeting. The Task Force invites all of you to attend this forum and to discuss methods on improving scheduling procedures and protocol in the Probate and Family Court.
March 26, 2008
CLE Program
Valuing Marital Assets
Sponsored by:
Family Law Section
Determining what assets comprise the marital estate and obtaining valuations for those assets is one of the primary jobs of a domestic relations attorney. Finding the right expert can often mean the difference between settling a case or going to trial. This program will cover valuation issues for a variety of marital assets such as real estate and personal property. Panelists will cover the law of valuing closely held corporations, especially the changes from the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Bernier.The panel will also discuss locating and retaining experts, preparing experts for deposition and trial testimony and addressing differences in value between competing experts.
Click here for complete program description.
March 26, 2008
Section Meeting
Tax Issues Related to Health Coverage for Same-Sex Spouses, Children and Ex-Spouses Under MA Law
Sponsors
ERISA Committee
Family Law Section
The panel will discuss the Federal and Massachusetts state income tax issues resulting from the provision of employer sponsored health insurance coverage under Massachusetts laws to ex-spouses, domestic partners, same sex spouses and adult children.
Panelists:
- John P. McMorrow, Mirick, O'Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP (Moderator)
- Richard A. Szczebak, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority and Parker Brown & Macaulay, P.C.
- Kevin Brown, General Counsel, Mass Department of Revenue
- Michael R. Fiore, Senior Attorney, IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Small Business/Self-Employed Division
March 11, 2008
Section Meeting
Listening Skills and Other Mediation Role Plays
Join John A. Fiske, Healy, Fiske, Richmond and Matthew, and Diane Neumann, Diane Neumann & Associates, for the chance to practice your mediation skills. More divorcing couples are turning to mediation as a sensible and less expensive method for reaching agreement. In order for anyone to understand mediation, they need to do it. Role plays afford a safe space for the mediator to experience the challenge of doing with both spouses at the same time while still remaining impartial. We begin by listening. Anyone interested should join us for a few listening exercises followed by role places in which we hope everyone present will have the chance at least once to be a mediator.
February 12, 2008
Section Meeting
Facebook, MySpace & Family Law
Sponsors
Family Law Section
Solo & Small Firm Section
Join Mark D. Robbins, Nixon Peabody LLP, and other fellow practitioners in an open discussion regarding FaceBook, Myspace and other social-networking sites and how such sites have been used in our practice. Specific topics to be discussed include:
- What role can participation in sites such as MySpace and FaceBook play in 209A Orders and custody cases?
- How does one even get on such sites?
- How can “pages” from these sites be entered into evidence?
- How and when can visits to pornographic sites be used?
If you have experience with online social sites, whether positive or negative, please come and share your insights. This topic will be relevant for all practitioners, even if you practice outside Family Law. If you are interested in joining the panel of presenters, please feel free to contact the program organizer, Laura Unflat at Laura@unflatlaw.com.
February 5, 2008
CLE Program
Healthcare Reform and the Individual Mandate
Sponsors
Health Law Section
Family Law Section
The individual mandate, a critical component of healthcare reform, requires that adults in the Commonwealth purchase health insurance unless it is not affordable for them. This program will address the question of how Massachusetts state agencies will implement the individual mandate.
Click here for complete program description.
January 8, 2008
Section Meeting
Appellate Advocacy for the Family Lawyer
Hon. Fernande Duffly, Associate Justice, Massachusetts Appeals Court, and Neal Quenzer, Chief Staff Counsel, Supreme Judicial Court, will provide a perspective from the appellate courts on best practices in appellate advocacy. Topics will include:
- what to expect when you file a notice of appeal;
- presenting the record;
- briefing;
- effective oral advocacy;
- amici;
- petitioning for direct and further appellate review; and
- particular issues related to appeals of family law matters.
There will be plenty of time for questions.
December 11, 2007
Section Meeting
Role of Psychological Testing in Probate and Family Court Cases
David Medoff, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Suffolk University, will discuss the role and utility of psychological testing in Probate and Family Court cases. The following psychological tests will be discussed:
- MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Second Edition);
- WAIS-III (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Third Edition); and
- The Rorschach.
Indications for the use of testing will be reviewed, the relevance of psychological testing will be discussed and the empirical basis of testing will be addressed. Attendees will gain knowledge regarding standards of practice for forensic psychological testing while obtaining a more informed appreciation for the proper and improper use of it.
November 26, 2007
CLE Program
The Intersection of Family Law and Trusts: What Every Practitioner Should Know
Sponsored by:
Family Law Section
Trusts & Estates Section
This program will discuss how life insurance, educational and special needs trusts are impacted by divorce. Requests for alimony and child support can create a host of complicated tax and estate administration issues. The panel for this program, which includes a judge and two experienced practitioners in estate planning and family law, will provide an overview on and address some of the key points surrounding the various types of special trusts.
Click here for complete program description
November 13, 2007
Section Meeting
Understanding the Intersection of Social Security Benefits & Child Support Orders
Join us as we discuss SSI, SSDI, dependency benefits and their application to the child support guidelines.
Presenters:
October 9, 2007
Section Meeting
Courtroom Lawyer for the Day: Limited Representation Pro Bono Training
Join Jill Crockett, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and David Eppley, Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, as they lead a training session for the newest pro bono opportunity made available from the Limited Representation Program of the Suffolk County Probate & Family Court. The "Courtroom Lawyer for the Day" program allows seasoned family lawyers from the Volunteer Lawyers Project / Senior Partners for Justice and the Boston Bar Association Family Law Section to provide “on-your-feet” advocacy to pro se litigants on set days. No prior preparation or contact with these clients is required. This program will allow the participant to qualify for Limited Representation, while simultaneously providing perspective as to what the participant can expect in this very rewarding pro bono opportunity.
September 24, 2007
Section Event
Open House and Tribute to Judge Boorstein
Join us for the Family Law Open House, an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues and learn about the Section. Also, enjoy food and drinks as we honor Judge Boorstein for her upcoming retirement.
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