Resources
Probate and Family Court Forms & Fees
- Divorce and Separate Support
- Actions Involving Unwed Parents
- Modification of Prior Judgment/Order
- Contempt Actions
- Annulment, Correction of Birth Records, Grandparent Visitation
- Adoption and Name Change
- Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Probate of Estate
- Restraining Order
- Child Support Guidelines and Worksheet
- Litigants in a domestic relations matter, where money or support is an issue, are required to file a financial statement. Individuals earning an annual income above $75,000 need to complete a Long Form financial statement. Individuals earning an annual income below $75,000 need to complete a Short Form financial statement.
- Filing fees of the Probate and Family Court
Child Support Resources
Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines
Apply for child support services through the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Child Support Enforcement Department.
Order a birth, marriage, or death certificate
Original copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates are needed in most cases to initiate an action in the Probate and Family Court. If the original is not within your possession, certified copies may be obtained through the Registry of Vital Statistics for a fee.
Massachusetts Statutes Concerning Alimony
Definitions
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 48
Termination, suspension, or modification of general term alimony
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 49
Termination, suspension, or modification of rehabilitative alimony
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 50
Termination of reimbursement alimony, modification, applicability of income guidelines
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 51
Termination of transitional alimony, modification, or extension
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 52
Determination of form, amount and duration of alimony; maximum amount; income calculation; deviations; concurrent child support orders
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 53
Remarriage of payor; income from second job or overtime work
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, § 54
Reasonable security for alimony in event of payor’s death; orders to maintain life insurance; modification of orders
Massachusetts Statutes Concerning Divorce
General Provisions
Causes for divorce
Alimony or assignment of estate; determination of amount; health insurance
Massachusetts Statutes Concerning Child Custody and Support (Divorcing Parents)
Children; care, custody, and maintenance; child support obligations; provisions for education and health insurance; parents convicted of first degree murder
Temporary care; custody and maintenance of minor children
Mass. Gen. Laws. Ch. 208, §28A
Minor children; foreign divorces, care and custody
Minor children; removal from Commonwealth; prohibition
Custody of children; shared custody plans
Visitation and custody orders; consideration of abuse towards parent or child; best interest of child
Massachusetts Statutes Concerning Child Custody and Support (Unwed Parents)
General Provisions
Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure
The Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure govern all proceedings for divorce, separate support, and custody of minor children, annulment or affirmation of marriage, an action for spousal and/or child support, an action to determine paternity and/or support for a child born out of wedlock, modification thereof, contempt and abuse prevention as enumerated in General Laws, Chapters 207, 208, 209, 209A, 209C, 215 and 209D in Massachusetts. A complete copy of the Rules is available here.
Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure
The Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure govern procedure in appeals to an appellate Court. A complete copy of the Rules is available here.
Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code
The Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code includes the general provisions, definitions, and jurisdiction of the Court concerning probate matters. A complete copy of the Code is available here.
Trial Court Law Library
Trial Court Law Libraries provide public access to legal information with books, databases and web resource. There are 15 Trial Court Law Libraries located across Massachusetts. Click here to find the location nearest you.