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Mass. General Laws c.208

Divorce

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 208. Please note that sections that appear missing have been either reserved for future use or repealed.

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§ 1 General provisions
§ 1A Irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; complaint accompanied by statement and dissolution agreement; procedure
§ 1B Irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; waiting period; unaccompanied complaint; procedure
§ 2 Confinement for crime
§ 3 Absence; presumption of death
§ 4 Domicile of parties
§ 5 Exceptions
§ 6 Venue
§ 6B Filing of action; statistical report
§ 8 Commencement of actions
§ 11 Ex parte hearing; allowance or denial of motion to insert name of third person
§ 12 Spouse's property; attachment
§ 13 Attachment; manner
§ 14 Attachments; laws applicable
§ 15 Mentally ill defendant; appointment and compensation of guardian
§ 16 Investigation of divorce case
§ 17 Pendency of action; allowance; alimony
§ 18 Pendency of action for divorce; protection of personal liberty of spouse; restraint orders authorized
§ 19 Pendency of action for divorce; custody of children
§ 20 Continuance of action; temporary separation
§ 20A Judgment denying divorce; living apart for justifiable cause; authorization
§ 21 Divorce judgments; entry
§ 22 Desertion; proof
§ 23 Resumption of former name by woman
§ 24 Divorced parties; remarriage
§ 24A Certificate of divorce; contents
§ 25 Divorce for adultery of wife; legitimacy of issue
§ 27 Curtesy or dower after divorce
§ 28 Children; care, custody and maintenance; child support obligations; provisions for education and health insurance; parents convicted of first degree murder

Amended effective July 8, 2019

§ 28A Temporary care; custody and maintenance of minor children
§ 29 Minor children; foreign divorces, care and custody
§ 30 Minor children; removal from commonwealth; prohibition
§ 31 Custody of children; shared custody plans
§ 31A Visitation and custody orders; consideration of abuse toward parent or child; best interest of child
§ 32 Child; bringing before court; writ of habeas corpus
§ 33 Jurisdiction; procedure
§ 34 Alimony or assignment of estate; determination of amount; health insurance
§ 34A Alimony judgment ordering conveyance; effect
§ 34B Order to vacate marital home
§ 34C Orders to vacate marital home and orders of restraint; notice to law enforcement agencies; procedures; violations
§ 34D Request for restraining order or order to vacate marital home; information provided to petitioner upon filing; domestic violence record search; outstanding warrants
§ 35 Alimony; enforcement
§ 36 Security for payment of alimony or support; enforcement of judgments or orders
§ 36A Continuing jurisdiction to enforce alimony, support and maintenance or child support; order for trustee process
§ 37 Alimony; revision of judgment
§ 38 Costs
§ 39 Foreign divorces; validity
§ 40 Cohabitation after divorce
§ 41 Personation
§ 42 Procurement of unlawful divorce
§ 43 Advertisement to procure divorce
§ 44 Certificate of divorce; unlawful issuance
§ 45 Criminal offenses; notice to district attorney
§ 46 Statistical reports; additional information
§ 48 Definitions applicable to Secs. 49 to 55
§ 49 Termination, suspension or modification of general term alimony
§ 50 Termination, extension or modification of rehabilitative alimony
§ 51 Termination of reimbursement alimony; modification; applicability of income guidelines
§ 52 Termination of transitional alimony; modification or extension
§ 53 Determination of form, amount and duration of alimony; maximum amount; income calculation; deviations; concurrent child support orders
§ 54 Remarriage of payor; income from second job or overtime work
§ 55 Reasonable security for alimony in event of payor's death; orders to maintain life insurance; modification of orders
§ 56 Minors receiving gender-affirming health care; basis to alter custody, parenting time and visitation agreements; court considerations

Added by St. 2025, c. 16, § 20, effective November 5, 2025

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