{"id":374054,"date":"2017-06-19T15:34:53","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T20:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/your-boston-divorce-the-basics.html"},"modified":"2018-03-09T17:44:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T22:44:30","slug":"your-boston-divorce-the-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/your-boston-divorce-the-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Your Boston Divorce: The Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your Boston Divorce: The Basics<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

It has been a long two years for you and your spouse. You had a fairytale start \u2013 meeting at a Red Sox game over a shared love of hot dogs and expensive beer. You would talk about Roger Clemens, Ted Williams and the iconic \u201cGreen Monster\u201d for hours, barely able to keep your eyes open some nights. You thought you had it all until you learned about all the nasty habits your whirlwind lover possessed (including his secret love for the New York Yankees). Sure, your friends told you not to \u201cjump into it too quickly,\u201d but who are you to listen?<\/p>\n

You got married and now you regret that decision. Your Boston love story just turned into a Boston divorce saga. We know this can be an emotional time for you, so here is some general information to help guide you through the process of a divorce in Boston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Types of divorce available in Massachusetts<\/h2>\n

When going through the process of a divorce in Boston, you\u2019ll be following Massachusetts family law<\/a>. This means that you will either file for a \u201cno-fault\u201d or \u201cfault<\/a>\u201d divorce under the laws of the Commonwealth. Next, you will need to declare if the divorce is agreed upon by both parties, including all the important terms such as child support, parenting time, alimony, child custody, and the division of marital assets. A contested divorce will likely take longer and may require you to appear in family court.<\/p>\n

How long do I have to live in Boston (Massachusetts) prior to filing for divorce?<\/h2>\n

Either spouse must have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year before the divorce is started. You don\u2019t have to live in Boston proper. Anywhere in Massachusetts will suffice. But if you don\u2019t meet the residency requirements<\/a>, you may have to wait to get a divorce.<\/p>\n

Assuming you meet this requirement, you will file the initial divorce forms<\/a> with the Probate and Family Court Department<\/a> for Suffolk County.<\/p>\n

Do I need \u201cGrounds\u201d for a Boston divorce?<\/h2>\n

Yes, but that shouldn\u2019t be terribly difficult. Your grounds (reason) for the divorce can fall into a number of different categories as listed below. This is known as a \u201cfault divorce.\u201d This process can be more time-consuming and expensive than a no-fault divorce. Here is your list of options:<\/p>\n