{"id":373962,"date":"2016-09-14T15:41:30","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T20:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-divorce-process.html"},"modified":"2024-03-07T10:31:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:31:00","slug":"massachusetts-divorce-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-divorce-process.html","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Divorce Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Massachusetts Divorce Process<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/christie-nicholson-j-d\/\">Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/rhonda-earhart-esq\/\">Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            March 07, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Deciding to get divorced may be one of the most challenging things you ever do. The divorce process goes much more smoothly if you and your spouse can agree on the terms of your divorce. However, if you blame each other for the marriage falling apart, things can get ugly.<\/p>\r\n<p>Before you file a complaint for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html\">divorce in Massachusetts<\/a>, you should become familiar with the divorce process in your state. The good news is that we\u2019ll explain how the divorce process in Massachusetts works. We\u2019ll also discuss the legal requirements for getting divorced in Massachusetts.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you still have questions, it\u2019s best to consult an experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/divorce\/massachusetts\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Massachusetts divorce lawyer<\/a>. They can answer your questions and stand by you throughout the divorce proceedings.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Legal Requirements for a Divorce in Massachusetts<\/h2>\r\n<p>Every state has laws governing the divorce process. Massachusetts is no different. If you don\u2019t meet these basic requirements, the family court will dismiss your divorce complaint, and you\u2019ll have to refile your divorce case.<\/p>\r\n<p>Some of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html\">legal requirements for divorce in Massachusetts<\/a>&nbsp;include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/divorce-residency-faq-s.html\"><b>Residency Requirement<\/b><\/a>: The general rule is that you must have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year before you file for divorce. There are exceptions, however, that may permit you to file for divorce before living there for a year. You must file your divorce complaint in the county where you and your spouse lived together if either of you still reside in that county. If neither of you reside in the county you and your spouse last lived together in, then you can file in either your current county of residence or your spouse&#8217;s.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/law-and-life\/why-is-there-a-divorce-waiting-period\/\"><b>Waiting Period<\/b><\/a>: Massachusetts has a six-month waiting period. The judge cannot issue a final divorce decree until at least six months after your filing. However, if the parties convert their divorce to a joint petition, the waiting period can be reduced to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/finalizing-a-divorce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">90 or 120 days<\/a> depending on your type of divorce.<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/service-of-process-of-domestic-relations-complaints-in-probate-and-family-court#what-is-service-of-process?-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Service of Process<\/b><\/a>: The Massachusetts courts require you to serve a copy of your divorce forms on your spouse. This includes a copy of the summons and complaint. You have 90 days to do this. Most people use the local sheriff to serve a copy of the legal papers on the defendant. You can also hire a process server to handle this.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Filing fees<\/b>: You must pay the requisite&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/probate-and-family-court-filing-fees#domestic-relations-and-paternity-fees-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">filing fee<\/a>&nbsp;when you submit your legal paperwork to the court. The filing fee for divorce as of 2024 is $215. This $215 includes the flat fee of $200 and a surcharge of $15. If you can prove indigency, the court may waive this fee. Service of process fees are additional.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Attorney fees will depend on the type of divorce action you file. For example, finalizing a contested divorce takes much longer than an uncontested divorce. It will also involve a lot of back and forth between the divorce attorneys. This type of divorce will cost much more than an uncontested divorce.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Contested Divorce and Uncontested Divorce in Massachusetts<\/h2>\r\n<p>The two main types of divorce are a contested divorce and an uncontested divorce. In Massachusetts, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/uncontested-divorce.html\">uncontested divorce<\/a> is called a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/guides\/get-a-no-fault-1a-divorce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1A Divorce<\/a>. You and your spouse must agree on most divorce terms with an uncontested divorce.<\/p>\r\n<p>The court will require that you have already resolved the following issues:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody.html\">Child custody<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support.html\">Child Support<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/alimony.html\">Alimony<\/a> or spousal support<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/worksheet-division-of-property.html\">Property division<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-custody\/parental-visitation-rights-faq.html\">Parenting time<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>To file a 1A divorce, the courts require you and your spouse to have a written agreement outlining these issues. It\u2019s not uncommon for the parties in an uncontested case to have a separation agreement. This can make resolving your case much easier for your family law attorney.<\/p>\r\n<p>With a contested divorce, called a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/guides\/get-a-no-fault-1b-divorce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1B no-fault divorce<\/a>, you and your spouse disagree on the divorce terms or one of the spouses does not agree the marriage is broken. For example, you may demand alimony while your spouse refuses to pay it, or you and your spouse may disagree on child custody.<\/p>\r\n<p>Some of the other issues that may exist with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/your-comprehensive-guide-to-divorce-options.html\">contested divorce<\/a> include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Health insurance for minor children<\/li>\r\n<li>Parenting time<\/li>\r\n<li>Division of marital property and liabilities<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>When there are outstanding issues, the court considers your divorce case contested. These cases take several months or years to become final. When the judge decides these issues, they will issue a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/finalizing-a-divorce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Judgment of Divorce Nisi<\/a>. This means the court has resolved the remaining issues but has not yet granted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/family-court-and-final-judgment.html\">final divorce decree<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Judgment of Divorce Nisi<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>In most states, once the family law judge finalizes a divorce, they issue a divorce decree. This isn\u2019t the case in Massachusetts. Massachusetts has a mandatory cooling-off period, or nisi period, after the judge finalizes your divorce.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you file a 1A divorce (uncontested), the nisi period is 120 days. For 1B divorces (contested), the nisi period is only 90 days.<\/p>\r\n<p>Once the nisi period ends, the judge will issue your Certificate of Divorce Absolute. This is similar to a final divorce decree. The court will not automatically send you a copy of this certificate. Your divorce attorney must request a copy.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Massachusetts Divorce Laws<\/h2>\r\n<p>Below is a chart highlighting the basics of the divorce process in Massachusetts and explaining the statutes in plain language.<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p><b>Massachusetts Divorce Codes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Massachusetts Code <a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Laws\/GeneralLaws\/PartII\/TitleIII\/Chapter208\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chapter 208, Title III Domestic Relations, Sections 1-55<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p><b>Grounds for Divorce<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Grounds for a divorce include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Adultery<\/li>\r\n<li>Impotency<\/li>\r\n<li>Utter desertion for a year<\/li>\r\n<li>Alcoholism<\/li>\r\n<li>Drug abuse<\/li>\r\n<li>Abusive and cruel treatment<\/li>\r\n<li>Failure to provide support<\/li>\r\n<li>Conviction of a crime with a sentence of five or more years<\/li>\r\n<li>Absence raising the presumption of death<\/li>\r\n<li>Irretrievable breakdown<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p><b>Section 1A Divorce<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Provides an action for an uncontested divorce in Massachusetts. Both parties must agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken. They must also have a written agreement regarding property division and other divorce issues.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p><b>Section 1B Divorce<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><p>Provides an action for a contested divorce in Massachusetts. Here, one spouse files a complaint for divorce procedure against the other. There is a six-month waiting period. The court is unable to schedule a hearing during this time. The court can waive this under appropriate circumstances.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<h2><b>Getting Divorced in Massachusetts? A Local Attorney Can Help<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Divorce can be incredibly stressful and confusing. There&#8217;s a lot at stake, and any mistakes will be difficult to rectify. Rather than handling the divorce yourself, it\u2019s best to consult an experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/divorce\/massachusetts\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Massachusetts divorce attorney<\/a> for legal advice.<\/p>\r\n<p>Not only does your divorce lawyer know the local laws and judges, they\u2019re also familiar with the divorce process in Massachusetts. Consider putting their experience to work for you.<\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Related Resources<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>The following links provide additional information regarding the Massachusetts divorce procedure:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html\">Massachusetts Divorce Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-family-laws.html\">Massachusetts Family Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/how-to-divorce.html\">How to Divorce<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 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22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n               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