Seder & Chandler Blog

Nonresidential property sales reached closed to record levels last year, with private fund managers completing some of the largest deals. Experts say that 2019 should also see strong sales, especially with the interest rates remaining low. This is excellent news for Massachusetts investors who are interested in purchasing commercial real estate in the Bay State this year.

The overall value of nonresidential properties sold for $2.5 million and above across the United States in 2018 exceeded $562 billion. This figure is 15 percent higher than that for 2017. In addition, it was just a few billion dollars under the record of $569 billion that was reached in 2015.

A hospital in another state recently decided that it needed to be aggressive in addressing its subpar financial situation. The community hospital decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the same way, Massachusetts companies that are struggling financially have the right to seek protection under the Bankruptcy Code.

The health care facility is a critical access hospital with 25 beds. According to hospital officials, the number of patient admissions has dropped during the past few years amid the economic downturn that has struck the surrounding region. Admissions have dropped 65 percent during the past four years, and there has been a 10 percent drop in patient volume overall.

Financial issues can be just as problematic during the divorce process as they can be during the marriage itself. Unfortunately, if those going through divorce in Massachusetts make poor decisions when dealing with complex financial issues, it can cost them in the long run. Here are some mistakes that those navigating the process would be wise to avoid making.

First, some people neglect gathering important paperwork at the start of their divorce proceeding. Important documents to collect include statements detailing their future ex-spouses' income records and what their Social Security benefits may be at retirement age. In addition, if people have remodeled their homes, they should dig up receipts for this work. In addition, it is critical to take note of the account numbers plus balances of shared financial accounts.

The divorce process usually is not a pleasant experience for the two parties involved. However, children can also find the ordeal to be irksome, particularly when the parents cannot agree on how to address child custody. Here is a glimpse at a couple of harmful mistakes that parents in Massachusetts often make when faced with decisions related to child custody during divorce.

First, it is not uncommon for a parent to refer to a shared child as his or her child rather than acknowledging that the child also belongs to the other parent. Divorce sometimes happens because two parents no longer love one another, and they may not agree 100 percent on how to rear the child. Still, the reality is that both biological parents generally have the right to seek custody or visitation, so this must be taken into consideration during the divorce proceeding.