Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
I filed for contempt and to also amend the court agreement between the defendant and I regarding our 3 year old son. She got a lawyer and is requesting that I provide her with my pay stubs, tax returns, bills, bank statements, etc. dating now all the way back to three years ago. Am I obligated to provide the defendant and her lawyer with all of that information?
2 Answers from Attorneys
If you are appearing pro se (representing yourself), you will still need to comply with all of the discovery obligations contained in the Rules for Domestic Relations Procedures. [ They can be found at lawlib.state.ma ] as well as the Standing Orders and Supplemental Rules of the Probate and Family Court (which can also be found on the Massachusetts Law Library Website) as well as the Uniform Practices (also on the site).
You should check the request against Rule 410 (http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/rules/probate/srpc410.html) and detemine if you are in compliance with the disclosure as well as whether her attorney is.
If the other party has retained counsel, it is advisable that you also retain counsel.
You are required to provide all discoverable information requested by the other side, and consistent with the rules of discovery, rules of civil procedure, and rules of the probate and family court.