Navigating Joint Ownership of the Marital Home Post-Divorce
By Maureen McBrien and Hayley Kronthal
Published in Family Advocate, Volume 48, Number 4, Spring 2026
Firm News
Navigating Joint Ownership of the Marital Home Post-Divorce
Maureen McBrien Elected Vice-Chair of the ABA Family Law Section
We’re proud to share that Maureen McBrien has been elected Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Section.
In this national leadership role, Maureen will help support the Section’s work advancing education, resources, and professional development for family law practitioners.
The ABA Family Law Section brings together family law professionals from across the country and provides resources that support the practice, including continuing legal education, publications, and leadership opportunities. The Section also serves as a forum for collaboration on developments and best practices impacting families and children.
Please join us in congratulating Maureen on this well-deserved leadership role.
To learn more about Maureen and the work she does for clients here at Brick Jones McBrien & Hickey, visit her bio here.
Wendy (Overbaugh) Hickey will be on faculty for Evidence Admissibility in Family Law
Proud to share that Wendy (Overbaugh) Hickey will be on faculty for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE│New England)’s Evidence Admissibility in Family Law seminar on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
This program is designed for both new and experienced practitioners and will focus on practical, real-world guidance for effectively using evidence in the Probate and Family Court and at trial.
Attorney Alex Jones Published in the Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection
The Judges’ Newsletter provides information on developments relating to the HCCH Children’s Conventions, with a view to facilitating judicial cooperation in the field of international child protection.
This latest edition of the Judges’ Newsletter is dedicated to the Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration – Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation”, jointly organised in April 2025 by the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC, the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and the HCCH.
The conference consisted of eight sessions, bringing together expert speakers from over 20 States. Among other things, the discussions underscored the enduring practical relevance of the 2010 Washington Declaration in promoting common principles for cross-border family relocation proceedings.
Attorney Alex’s Jones Article follows below with a link to the full pdf.
Mediation Experience
Cross-border relocation cases are challenging under the best of circumstances, as any
agreement or judgment to allow relocation results with a child living in a different country than
a parent. The 2010 Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation outlined a
series of agreements for principles that should apply to cross-border family relocation. As part
of those agreements, Paragraph 4 identified twelve specific factors that a court should
consider in exercising discretion along with a catch-all provision allowing the court to consider
“any other circumstances deemed to be relevant by the judge.” The focus of this paper is to
outline how two of those factors, namely family violence and the views of the child, can be
considered and addressed while trying to resolve a cross-border dispute through mediation.
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (“AFCC”), in conjunction with the American
Bar Associations Sections on Dispute Resolution and Family Law, the Association for Conflict
Resolution and Academy of Professional Family Mediators in 2025 approved Model Standards
for Family and Divorce Mediation (“Model Standards”).
1 The Model Standards describe
mediation as “a participant-centered process grounded in the values of integrity and fairness
and designed to ensure that all participants are supported, respected, and valued. It aims to
promote safety and wellbeing; achieve realistic outcomes; and support equity and full
participant engagement regardless of gender, age, culture, religion, immigration status, or
socio-economic status.” In practical terms, mediation can be more cost effective – both
financially and emotionally – than litigation. It is also normally a faster process than a litigated
one and, more importantly, if an agreement is reached both parties have more of a vested
interest in the successful implementation of the result. Mediation, as a process, respects the
parties’ self-determination.
Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey LLP is proud to sponsor INCADAT
INCADAT is an invaluable resource for legal practitioners, researchers and anyone interested in laws and significant decisions surrounding the 1980 Child Abduction Convention. The database helps to facilitate the consistent interpretation of the Convention, benefitting researchers, family law practitioners and their clients. Please visit INCADAT’s website to learn more about the work they do and the resources they provide: https://www.incadat.com/en
Stephanie L. Curtin, Esq. Elevated to Partner at the Firm.
US Friends of the Hague Conference Foundation
Partner Wendy Hickey is the President of the Board for the US Friends of the Hague Conference, a non-profit geared toward raising funds for the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) is an intergovernmental organization that addresses the growing complexities of a more interconnected world. As national borders open and international mobility increases, both individuals and companies face legal challenges that span multiple jurisdictions. For over a century, the HCCH has been developing international legal frameworks aimed at ensuring legal certainty and security for people and businesses engaged in cross-border activities. The HCCH provides the tools to navigate the intricacies of international law, making it easier to manage personal and commercial affairs that extend beyond national borders.
At the heart of the HCCH’s mission is the development and servicing of multilateral legal instruments. These instruments, adopted by member and non-member states alike, help regulate personal, family, and commercial matters across 150 countries. The HCCH operates through its Permanent Bureau in The Hague, ensuring the effective functioning of over 45 international treaties. In addition to facilitating international cooperation through meetings and educational support, the HCCH provides critical resources for governments, judges, and legal professionals to help them apply international law consistently.
The HCCH’s work extends beyond treaty facilitation, with several projects needing additional support. These include providing stipends for legal interns, maintaining INCADAT, an international child abduction case law database, and developing electronic country profiles for various treaties. The organization also invests in translating key publications and conducting supplementary research to ensure global accessibility and uniformity in legal interpretation. Through these efforts, the HCCH continues to strengthen international judicial cooperation and uphold its commitment to resolving the legal challenges of an increasingly globalized world.
Learn more here:
https://www.friendsofhcch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HCCH-Brochure-May-2024-v.20240516.pdf
Congratulations to Wendy Hickey on her selection as a member of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL)
Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey LLP, congratulates our partner Wendy (Overbaugh) Hickey on her selection as a member of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL). The American College of Family Trial Lawyers is a select group of the top 100 family trial lawyers in the US. Fellows are drawn from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and are recognized for their experience and excellence in family law trial practice.
Partnership with Needham Art Association
Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey has partnered with Needham Art Association to highlight the work of local artists throughout our office.
Since 1949, the Needham Art Association has been dedicated to supporting the visual arts and art education in our community.
The art displayed rotates every couple of months, and may be purchased. Enjoy the art while you are in our office and let us know if you’re interested in any particular piece!
Brick Jones McBrien & Hickey Seeks Receptionist
Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey LLP is seeking a receptionist for its busy divorce and family law practice located in Needham. Specifically, we are seeking a dedicated, organized, self-starter with great attention to detail to work with our paralegals and attorneys on various tasks including: answering phones; greeting clients / guests; scheduling conference rooms; maintaining conference rooms; maintaining client files; updating binders for court; coordinating the service of subpoenas, discovery and motions; opening, scanning and distributing mail; e-filing motions with courts; editing documents; preparing cover letters; etc. Client interface and confidentiality are critical parts of the job, so empathy, discretion and strong communication skills are important. We will consider full-time or school-hours applicants. We offer a competitive salary structure and a comprehensive benefits package. We welcome someone who desires a long-term role in a collegial environment. Please send your statement of interest and resume in confidence to Wendy Hickey at whickey@brickjones.com.
