Step 5 – Submit Rule 401/410 Financial Disclosures Submitting your financial disclosures is a very important step for both you and your spouse. These documents explain each spouse’s financial situation in detail and help lay the groundwork for things like child support, asset division, who gets the family home, and
What Financial Mistakes Can Cost You Long-Term? Financial mistakes can cost you a great deal in the long term, including credibility, meaning that you’re on the hook for higher taxes or even facing criminal charges. Divorce often results in major financial transitions. Making rushed or uninformed decisions can have lasting
How Long Does a Contested Divorce Take? A contested divorce can take 18 months or even longer, depending on your specific situation. Contested divorces (filed under Section 1B of M.G.L. c. 208) are significantly more complex and time-consuming. These cases involve unresolved issues such as: Typical Process: Total Timeline: Contested divorces
What Happens at the Pretrial Conference? The Pretrial Conference happens before the trial commences and is when both spouses explain how they will proceed during the trial, including who they’ll call as witnesses, and may also attempt to reconcile some of their differences. This is an important step where both
What Is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Custody? The difference between legal and physical custody comes down to where the child lives (physical custody) and who has the authority to make decisions about the child’s life (legal custody). In Massachusetts, the breakdown between physical and legal custody looks like
If a court hearing is scheduled before the 45-day deadline, both parties must file their financial statements at least two business days before the hearing. Courts take financial disclosures seriously. Under Rule 37, if a party fails to comply, the court may: In Worcester County and other high-volume counties, local probation departments may oversee the
The motion is filed with the Probate and Family Court in the county where your divorce case is proceeding. For residents of Worcester, this will likely be the Worcester Probate and Family Court. Filing costs include: You can file in person, by mail, or electronically through eFiling. If you’re not sure where to
Step 2 – Serving Divorce Papers In a 1B Complaint for Divorce, you must serve divorce papers within 90 days of the court accepting your case. Use a sheriff or constable to deliver the summons and complaint. After serving, the constable files a Return of Service to prove that your spouse was notified. If you don’t serve your spouse in time, the court may dismiss
