Statutes

These are the statutes which are most relevant to Family Law cases in Massachusetts. To see the actual wording of a statute, just click on it.

• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 1:  Causes for divorce; general provisions​​

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 1A:  Causes for divorce; irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; complaint accompanied by statement and dissolution agreement; procedure

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 1B:  Causes for divorce; irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; waiting period; unaccompanied complaint; procedure

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 2:  Causes for divorce; confinement for crime

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 3:  Causes for divorce; absence; presumption of death

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 4:  Causes for divorce; domicile of parties

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 5:  Causes for divorce; exceptions to Sec. 4

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 6:  Venue of libel

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 6B:  Filing of action; statistical report

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 8:  Commencement of actions

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 11:  Ex parte hearing; allowance or denial of motion to insert name of third person

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 12:  Libels for divorce; spouse's property; attachment

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 13:  Libels for divorce; attachment; manner

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 14:  Libels for divorce; attachments; laws applicable

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 28:  Children; care, custody and maintenance; child support obligations;  provisions for education and health insurance; parents convicted of first degree murder

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 34:  Alimony or assignment of estate; determination of amount; health insurance

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 48:  Definitions applicable to Secs. 49 to 55

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 49:  Termination, suspension or modification of general term alimony

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• M.G.L. ch. 208, § 53:  Determination of form, amount and duration of alimony; maximum amount; income calculation; deviations; concurrent child support orders