Contáctenos

Domestic Violence Allegations in Massachusetts Divorce and Custody Disputes: Motive to Fabricate as a Defense

By Attorney Joe Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense Most Massachusetts domestic violence complaints are made in good faith by people who were genuinely frightened, and nothing here suggests otherwise. There can sometimes be a specific and recurring subset that arises inside contested divorce and custody litigation, where a…

Self-Defense and Mutual Combat in Massachusetts Domestic Violence Prosecutions

By Attorney Joe Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense Massachusetts police responding to a domestic call operate under a preferred-arrest policy and must decide in minutes, at a chaotic scene, usually from two conflicting accounts and whatever is visible: a red mark, a torn shirt, who is crying, who…

Firearms After a Massachusetts Domestic Violence Charge or 209A Order: The Law in 2026

By Attorney Joe Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense For a Massachusetts gun owner, a domestic violence arrest or a 209A order is a firearms case from the first hour, whatever else it is. The consequences arrive in layers, state licensing law, state surrender orders, and federal prohibitions, and…