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Divorce in Massachusetts: forms, cost, and how to file

A plain-English overview of getting an uncontested divorce in Massachusetts — the residency rule, the no-fault ground, the filing fee, and the official forms — from LawCat, a free service built by attorneys.

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Massachusetts divorce at a glance

Residency requirement
1 year, or cause of divorce occurred in MA while parties lived in MA as married couple
No-fault ground
Irretrievable breakdown: 1A (joint, with separation agreement, no pre-filing separation required) or 1B (unilateral). After 1A approval judgment nisi enters ~30 days later and becomes absolute 90 days after that (~120-day total tail). Residency: 1 year, OR…
Filing fee
Approx $215 for 1A joint petition ($200 fee + $15 surcharge). Fee waiver: Affidavit of Indigency (statewide form).
Child support
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet CJD-304 (fillable, auto-calculating version on mass.gov); 2025 Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines — hybrid income-shares model…
E-filing (self-represented)
eFileMA (Tyler) — available in ALL Probate & Family Court divisions statewide, optional for self-represented litigants; supported case types explicitly include Joint Petition for Divorce 1A and…
County differences
Low. Statewide CJD forms accepted in every division; county 'divisions' of one Probate & Family Court. Some divisions have local scheduling practices but no local pleading forms.
Official statewide forms
YES. Official statewide 1A no-fault joint-petition set: CJD-101A Joint Petition for Divorce (G.L. c.208 s.1A), Affidavit of Irretrievable Breakdown, notarized Separation Agreement, Financial Statement CJD-301S (short…

Official source: Massachusetts court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.

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Answer a few simple questions and LawCat prepares your complete Massachusetts uncontested-divorce packet, with step-by-step filing instructions. No fee for your documents.

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Forms in your Massachusetts divorce packet

LawCat prepares each of these Massachusetts forms for you, filled in from your answers:

Financial Statement - Long Form (CJD-301L)Financial disclosureComplaint for Divorce (CJD-101B)Court filingRecord of Absolute Divorce or Annulment (R-408)Court filingAnswer to Complaint for Divorce (CJD-201)Court filingCounterclaim for Divorce (CJD-202)Court filingAssented-to Motion to File Late Answer (CJD-400)Court filing

Why LawCat is free

Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.

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Massachusetts divorce FAQ

Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Massachusetts?

No. Massachusetts allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Massachusetts divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.

How long do I have to live in Massachusetts to file for divorce?

1 year, or cause of divorce occurred in MA while parties lived in MA as married couple

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Massachusetts?

Approx $215 for 1A joint petition ($200 fee + $15 surcharge). Fee waiver: Affidavit of Indigency (statewide form). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.

This page is general information about Massachusetts’s court process, not legal advice for your situation, and LawCat is not a law firm. Forms and fees change — verify with the official court source above. Reviewed 2026.