Massachusetts Divorce Forms and Papers

To Download our Massachusetts Divorce Forms start by clicking the image of Massachusetts to your right. There you will be able to download all of the forms and step by step guides needed to easily file for a divorce in Massachusetts. Our Divorce documents and forms are Massachusetts family law court approved, guaranteed!

Massachusetts Divorce terms and procedures are unique, as are all state by state divorce procedures, so please be sure to review them prior to ordering your Divorce Forms

If you meet the Massachusetts State requirements for Divorce please proceed to order your divorce documents.

Massachusetts Residency Requirements

If the grounds for divorce occurred outside of the commonwealth, there is a one year residence requirement for the filing spouse. Otherwise there is no minimum residency requirement.

Grounds for Divorce In Massachusetts

The no-fault grounds for divorce in Massachusetts are:

irretrievable breakdown of the marriage

The following are some of the fault grounds:

adultery;
impotence;
imprisonment for over five years;
alcoholism/substance abuse;
willful desertion for one year.

Massachusetts Child Custody

In making an order or judgment relative to the custody of children, the rights of the parents shall, absent any misconduct, be held to be equal, and the happiness and welfare of the children shall determine their custody. When considering the happiness and welfare of the child, the court shall consider whether or not the child's present or past living conditions adversely affect his physical, mental, moral or emotional health.

Child Support

Massachusetts has adopted child support guidelines which apply in virtually every case, unless special circumstances are present. The child support calculation takes into consideration the gross income of both parties, and certain child related expenses. Child support will continue until the child reaches the age of majority, and may be extended through his or her secondary education.

Venue

Almost all divorce cases are heard in the Probate and Family Court in the county where either spouse is living at the time of the petition.

Mediation

Either party may file a motion requesting mediation of their disputed issues, if a divorce is pending. Prior to the initiation of divorce proceedings, the parties may choose to submit any or all of their issues to mediation so that they may proceed in court on an uncontested basis.