Alimony - The WBA supports S1616, An Act Relative to Flexibility in Alimony Orders, because it would allow the court to give short-term alimony, or alimony for a fixed period if appropriate.  Durational alimony would allow individuals time to receive education and training so that they can enter the workforce and help support themselves and their children.  Adding duration to the current law would allow the courts to continue to look at each case individually and also enable them to award more short-term alimony orders.  Click here for testimony

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The WBA opposes H1785, An Act Relative to the Determination of Alimony Payments, because it eliminates the partnership model of marriage that has been in place in the Commonwealth for decades where the court looks to the contributions that each spouse has made to the family, including maintenance of a home and caring for children, as well as the accumulation of marital income and assets.  It would replace this flexible and equitable approach with a rigid formula that would dramatically curtail the duration of alimony to half the length of the marriage, 12 years, or retirement at age 65, whichever comes first.  In addition, after 5 years, alimony would be reduced by 10% per year.  Click here for testimony

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WBA Testimony in support of H1728 and S1687

Darien Fleming testified on behalf of the WBA at the July 14, 2009 Judiciary Committee Hearing in support of H1728 and S1687, Acts Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, which would explicitly include transgender people by adding “gender identity or expression” as a protected characteristic to Massachusetts statutes governing hate crimes and discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and public education.

Click here to read the WBA's testimony.