Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Title III - Domestic Relations

Section 18 - Care and Maintenance of Children After Judgment of Nullity of Marriage; Power of Court - Section 18. Upon or after a judgment of nullity, the...

Section 19 - Intention of Marriage; Situs; Time; Fees - Section 19. Persons intending to be joined in marriage in...

Section 20 - Intention of Marriage; Written Notice; Oath - Section 20. The clerk shall require written notice of intention...

Section 23 - Intention of Marriage; Notice; Time and Situs of Receiving - Section 23. The clerk or registrar need not receive notices...

Section 24 - Intention of Marriage; Nonage Minors; Receiving of Notice Prohibited - Section 24. The clerk or registrar shall not, except as...

Section 25 - Nonage Minors; Authorization of Marriage - Section 25. The probate court for the county where, or...

Section 26 - Intention of Marriage; Notice Without Consent; Liability; Cancellation - Section 26. Whoever, without the consent of both parties to...

Section 27 - Intention of Marriage; Adopted Persons - Section 27. A party to an intended marriage who has...

Section 28 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Delivery; Time - Section 28. On or after the third day from the...

Section 29 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Issuance to Immigrants - Section 29. If either of the parties to an intended...

Section 30 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Dispensing With Three Days' Notice - Section 30. Upon application by both of the parties to...

Section 31 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Prohibition of Alteration - Section 31. No alteration or erasure shall be made by...

Section 33a - Intention of Marriage; Proof of Age - Section 33A. If it appears from the statements made in...

Section 34 - Minors Residing in Different Towns; Duplicate Copies of Notice of Intention of Marriage; Fees - Section 34. If it is necessary to give notice in...

Section 35 - Refusal of Certificate of Intention of Marriage - Section 35. The clerk or registrar may refuse to issue...

Section 36 - Marriages Without Commonwealth by Citizens; Filing of Certificate of Intention of Marriage - Section 36. Any resident of this commonwealth who marries outside...

Section 37 - Impediments to Marriage; List; Posting - Section 37. The commissioner of public health shall furnish to...

Section 38 - Solemnization of Marriage; Situs; Persons Authorized - Section 38. A marriage may be solemnized in any place...

Section 39 - Solemnization of Marriage; Justice or Non-Resident Clergymen - Section 39. The governor may in his discretion designate a...

Section 40 - Solemnization of Marriage; Records; Returns - Section 40. Every justice of the peace, minister of the...

Section 41 - Solemnization of Marriage; Imperfect Certificates; Correction - Section 41. If a certificate of marriage is found, upon...

Section 42 - Irregular Solemnization of Marriage; Validity - Section 42. A marriage solemnized by a person professing to...

Section 43 - Solemnization of Marriage by Consul - Section 43. Marriages solemnized in a foreign country by a...

Section 44 - Solemnization of Marriage; Fees - Section 44. A city by ordinance and a town by...

Section 45 - Evidence of Marriage; Record - Section 45. The record of a marriage made and kept...

Section 46 - Evidence of Marriage; Certificate of Consul - Section 46. A copy of the record of a marriage...

Section 47 - Evidence of Marriage; Admissions; Repute; Cohabitation - Section 47. Marriage may be proved by evidence of an...

Section 47a - Breach of Contract to Marry Not Actionable - Section 47A. Breach of contract to marry shall not constitute...

Section 47b - Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation Not Actionable - Section 47B. Alienation of affection and criminal conversation shall not...

Section 48 - Solemnization of Marriage Without Authority; Penalty - Section 48. Whoever, not being duly authorized by the laws...

Section 49 - Joining Persons in Marriage Without Certificate; Penalty - Section 49. Whoever, being duly authorized to solemnize marriages in...

Section 51 - Violation of Certain Provisions of This Chapter; Penalty - Section 51. Violations of any provision of section seven, twenty-six...

Section 52 - Violation of Law Concerning Making Notice of Intention; False Statements; Penalty - Section 52. Whoever violates any provision of section twenty, and...

Section 53 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Issuance to Nonage Persons; Penalty - Section 53. A clerk or registrar issuing a certificate of...

Section 54 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Illegal Alteration; Penalty - Section 54. Whoever makes an illegal alteration or erasure on...

Section 56 - Records and Returns of Marriages; Failure to Make; Penalty - Section 56. Whoever neglects to make the record and returns...

Section 57 - Certificate of Intention of Marriage; Failure to Return; Penalty - Section 57. Whoever performs a ceremony of marriage upon a...

Section 58 - Advertising to Perform Marriage Ceremony; Penalty for Illegal Advertising; Business Cards - Section 58. A justice of the peace or other person...

Chapter 208 - Divorce

Section 1 - Causes for Divorce; General Provisions - Section 1. A divorce from the bond of matrimony may...

Section 1a - Causes for Divorce; Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage; Commencement of Action; Complaint Accompanied by Statement and Dissolution Agreement; Procedure - Section 1A. An action for divorce on the ground of...

Section 1b - Causes for Divorce; Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage; Commencement of Action; Waiting Period; Unaccompanied Complaint; Procedure - Section 1B. An action for divorce on the ground of...

Section 2 - Causes for Divorce; Confinement for Crime - Section 2. A divorce may also be adjudged if either...

Section 3 - Causes for Divorce; Absence; Presumption of Death - Section 3. A divorce may be adjudged for any of...

Section 4 - Causes for Divorce; Domicile of Parties - Section 4. A divorce shall not, except as provided in...

Section 5 - Causes for Divorce; Exceptions to Sec. 4 - Section 5. If the plaintiff has lived in this commonwealth...

Section 6 - Venue of Libel - Section 6. Actions for divorce shall be filed, heard and...

Section 6b - Filing of Action; Statistical Report - Section 6B. An action for divorce shall be commenced in...

Section 8 - Commencement of Actions - Section 8. Actions for divorce in the probate courts shall...

Section 11 - Ex Parte Hearing; Allowance or Denial of Motion to Insert Name of Third Person - Section 11. The evidence produced at such ex parte hearing...

Section 12 - Libels for Divorce; Spouse's Property; Attachment - Section 12. Upon an action for divorce by either spouse...

Section 13 - Libels for Divorce; Attachment; Manner - Section 13. The attachment may be made upon the summons...

Section 14 - Libels for Divorce; Attachments; Laws Applicable - Section 14. The laws relative to attachments of real or...

Section 15 - Libels for Divorce; Mentally Ill Defendant; Appointment and Compensation of Guardian - Section 15. If during the pendency of an action for...

Section 16 - Investigation of Divorce Case - Section 16. Any judge of a probate court wherein any...

Section 17 - Pendency of Action; Allowance; Alimony - Section 17. The court may require either party to pay...

Section 18 - Pendency of Action for Divorce; Protection of Personal Liberty of Spouse; Restraint Orders Authorized - Section 18. The probate court in which the action for...

Section 19 - Pendency of Action for Divorce; Custody of Children - Section 19. The court may in like manner, upon application...

Section 20 - Continuance of Action; Temporary Separation - Section 20. The court may, without entering a judgment of...

Section 20a - Judgment Denying Divorce; Living Apart for Justifiable Cause; Authorization - Section 20A. If, after a hearing, the allegations of an...

Section 21 - Divorce Judgments; Entry - Section 21. Judgments of divorce shall in the first instance...

Section 22 - Libels for Divorce; Desertion; Proof - Section 22. In order to establish grounds for divorce for...

Section 23 - Resumption of Former Name by Woman - Section 23. The court granting a divorce may allow a...

Section 24 - Divorced Parties; Remarriage - Section 24. After a judgment of divorce has become absolute,...

Section 24a - Certificate of Divorce; Contents - Section 24A. The court, in issuing a copy of, or...

Section 25 - Divorce for Adultery of Wife; Legitimacy of Issue - Section 25. A divorce for adultery committed by the wife...

Section 27 - Curtesy or Dower After Divorce - Section 27. After a divorce, a husband or wife shall...

Section 28 - Children; Care, Custody and Maintenance; Child Support Obligations; Provisions for Education and Health Insurance; Parents Convicted of First Degree Murder - Section 28. Upon a judgment for divorce, the court may...

Section 28a - Temporary Care; Custody and Maintenance of Minor Children - Section 28A. During the pendency of an action seeking a...

Section 29 - Minor Children; Foreign Divorces, Care and Custody - Section 29. If, after a divorce has been adjudged in...

Section 30 - Minor Children; Removal From Commonwealth; Prohibition - Section 30. A minor child of divorced parents who is...

Section 31 - Custody of Children; Shared Custody Plans - Section 31. For the purposes of this section, the following...

Section 31a - Visitation and Custody Orders; Consideration of Abuse Toward Parent or Child; Best Interest of Child - Section 31A. In issuing any temporary or permanent custody order,...

Section 32 - Child; Bringing Before Court; Writ of Habeas Corpus - Section 32. Any court having jurisdiction of actions for divorce...

Section 33 - Jurisdiction; Procedure - Section 33. The court may, if the course of proceeding...

Section 34 - Alimony or Assignment of Estate; Determination of Amount; Health Insurance - Section 34. Upon divorce or upon a complaint in an...

Section 34a - Alimony Judgment Ordering Conveyance; Effect - Section 34A. Whenever a judgment for alimony shall be made...

Section 34b - Order to Vacate Marital Home - Section 34B. Any court having jurisdiction of actions for divorce,...

Section 34c - Orders to Vacate Marital Home and Orders of Restraint; Notice to Law Enforcement Agencies; Procedures; Violations - Section 34C. Whenever a division of the probate and family...

Section 34d - Request for Restraining Order or Order to Vacate Marital Home; Information Provided to Petitioner Upon Filing; Domestic Violence Record Search; Outstanding Warrants - Section 34D. Upon the filing of a request for a...

Section 35 - Alimony; Enforcement - Section 35. The court may enforce judgments, including foreign decrees,...

Section 36 - Security for Payment of Alimony or Support; Enforcement of Judgments or Orders - Section 36. When alimony or support is adjudged for the...

Section 36a - Continuing Jurisdiction to Enforce Alimony, Support and Maintenance or Child Support; Order for Trustee Process - Section 36A. (1) In any case in which an obligor...

Section 37 - Alimony; Revision of Judgment - Section 37. After a judgment for alimony or an annual...

Section 38 - Costs - Section 38. In any proceeding under this chapter, whether original...

Section 39 - Foreign Divorces; Validity - Section 39. A divorce adjudged in another jurisdiction according to...

Section 40 - Cohabitation After Divorce - Section 40. Persons divorced from each other cohabiting as husband...

Section 41 - Personation - Section 41. Whoever falsely personates another or wilfully and fraudulently...

Section 42 - Procurement of Unlawful Divorce - Section 42. Whoever knowingly procures or obtains or assists another...

Section 43 - Advertisement to Procure Divorce - Section 43. Whoever writes, prints or publishes, or solicits another...

Section 44 - Certificate of Divorce; Unlawful Issuance - Section 44. Whoever, except in compliance with an order of...

Section 45 - Criminal Offenses; Notice to District Attorney - Section 45. If a divorce is granted for a cause...

Section 46 - Statistical Reports; Additional Information - Section 46. The registers of probate shall receive the statistical...

Section 48 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 49 to 55 - Section 48. As used in sections 49 to 55, inclusive,...

Section 49 - Termination, Suspension or Modification of General Term Alimony - Section 49. (a) General term alimony shall terminate upon the...

Section 50 - Termination, Extension or Modification of Rehabilitative Alimony - Section 50. (a) Rehabilitative alimony shall terminate upon the remarriage...

Section 51 - Termination of Reimbursement Alimony; Modification; Applicability of Income Guidelines - Section 51. (a) Reimbursement alimony shall terminate upon the death...

Section 52 - Termination of Transitional Alimony; Modification or Extension - Section 52. (a) Transitional alimony shall terminate upon the death...

Section 53 - Determination of Form, Amount and Duration of Alimony; Maximum Amount; Income Calculation; Deviations; Concurrent Child Support Orders - Section 53. (a) In determining the appropriate form of alimony...

Section 54 - Remarriage of Payor; Income From Second Job or Overtime Work - Section 54. (a) In the event of the payor's remarriage,...

Section 55 - Reasonable Security for Alimony in Event of Payor's Death; Orders to Maintain Life Insurance; Modification of Orders - Section 55. (a) The court may require reasonable security for...

Chapter 209 - Husband and Wife

Section 1 - Married Persons; Separate Property and Property Held as Tenants by Entirety; Liability for Debts - Section 1. The real and personal property of any person...

Section 1a - Tenants by Entirety Under Older Deed; Electing Treatment of Tenancy - Section 1A. Tenants by the entirety holding under a deed...

Section 2 - Married Woman; Power to Contract - Section 2. A married woman may make contracts, oral and...

Section 3 - Transfers Between Husband and Wife - Section 3. Transfers of real and personal property between husband...

Section 4 - Married Woman; Work and Labor; Presumption - Section 4. Work and labor performed by a married woman...

Section 5 - Married Woman; Acting as Fiduciary - Section 5. A married woman may be an executrix, administratrix,...

Section 6 - Married Woman; Power to Sue and Be Sued - Section 6. A married woman may sue and be sued...

Section 7 - Married Woman; Liabilities - Section 7. A married woman shall not be liable for...

Section 8 - Husband; Liability for Wife's Debts - Section 8. A husband shall not be liable upon a...

Section 9 - Husband; Liability on Contracts Concerning Separate Property of Wife - Section 9. Contracts made by a married woman relative to...

Section 13 - Marriage Settlements - Section 13. The preceding sections shall not invalidate a marriage...

Section 14 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Release of Homestead by Wife of Ward - Section 14. If the guardian or conservator of a married...

Section 15 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Wife of Ward; Joinder With Guardian or Conservator; Sale of Realty - Section 15. If such guardian or conservator is licensed to...

Section 16 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Disposition of Proceeds - Section 16. If the wife so releases her homestead, or...

Section 17 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Partition; Joinder of Husband or Wife of Ward With Guardian or Conservator - Section 17. The wife of a man under guardianship or...

Section 18 - Mentally Ill Persons; Conveyance or Mortgage of Real Estate; Release of Homestead - Section 18. The spouse of a person incapacitated by reason...

Section 21 - Mentally Ill Spouse; Reservation of Portion of Proceeds Upon Release of Homestead - Section 21. If the guardian of a married ward that...

Section 24 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Venue - Section 24. Proceedings under sections eighteen and twenty-one, if the...

Section 25 - Antenuptial Settlements; Force and Effect - Section 25. At any time before marriage, the parties may...

Section 26 - Antenuptial Settlements; Record; Description of Property - Section 26. A schedule of the property intended to be...

Section 28 - Rights of Married Person Coming From Another State or Country - Section 28. If a married person comes from another state...

Section 29 - Property Rights Acquired in Other States; Effect of Residence in This Commonwealth - Section 29. If a husband and his wife, married in...

Section 30 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Sale or Conveyance; Notice to Opposing Absent Spouse; Jurisdiction of Court; Proof of Abandonment; Retransfer to Opposing Absent Party - Section 30. After the filing of a libel for divorce,...

Section 31 - Non-Resident Married Woman Abandoned by Husband; Conveyance of Realty - Section 31. A married woman residing without this commonwealth, and...

Section 32 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Order Prohibiting Restraint of Personal Liberty of Spouse; Support, Custody and Maintenance Orders; Information Provided to Complainant; Domestic Violence Record Search; Investigations; Factors Determi... - Section 32. If a spouse fails, without justifiable cause, to...

Section 32d - Judgment for Separate Support; Conveyance of Real Property; Enforcement; Vesting of Title - Section 32D. Whenever in any proceeding under section thirty-two a...

Section 32e - Judgment or Order of Support; Enforcement - Section 32E. Each judgment or order of support which is...

Section 32f - Married Persons Living Apart; Actions for Support - Section 32F. (a) If no order for support pursuant to...

Section 33 - Separate Support or Maintenance; Attachment of Defendant's Property and Trustee Process - Section 33. In an action for separate support or maintenance,...

Section 34 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Venue - Section 34. An action under section thirty-two or thirty-six may...

Section 36 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Spouse Living Apart; Conveyance and Will - Section 36. A probate court may upon complaint of a...

Section 37 - Support Orders for Children of Separated Parents; Child Support Guidelines; Modification of Orders; Provisions for Education and Health Insurance; Parents Convicted of First Degree Murder - Section 37. If the parents of minor children live apart...

Section 38 - Visitation and Custody Orders; Consideration of Abuse Toward Parent or Child; Best Interest of Child - Section 38. In issuing any temporary or permanent custody order,...

Chapter 209a - Abuse Prevention

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words...

Section 2 - Venue - Section 2. Proceedings under this chapter shall be filed, heard...

Section 3 - Remedies; Period of Relief - Section 3. A person suffering from abuse from an adult...

Section 3a - Nature of Proceedings and Availability of Other Criminal Proceedings; Information Required to Be Given to Complainant Upon Filing - Section 3A. Upon the filing of a complaint under this...

Section 3b - Order for Suspension and Surrender of Firearms License; Surrender of Firearms; Petition for Review; Hearing - Section 3B. Upon issuance of a temporary or emergency order...

Section 3c - Continuation or Modification of Order for Surrender or Suspension - Section 3C. Upon the continuation or modification of an order...

Section 3d - Transmission of Report Containing Defendant's Name and Identifying Information and Statement Describing Defendant's Alleged Conduct and Relationship to Plaintiff to Department of Criminal Justice Information Services Upon Order for Suspe... - Section 3D. Upon an order for suspension or surrender issued...

Section 4 - Temporary Orders; Notice; Hearing - Section 4. Upon the filing of a complaint under this...

Section 5 - Granting of Relief When Court Closed; Certification - Section 5. When the court is closed for business or...

Section 5a - Protection Order Issued by Another Jurisdiction; Enforcement; Filing; Presumption of Validity - Section 5A. Any protection order issued by another jurisdiction, as...

Section 6 - Powers of Police - Section 6. Whenever any law officer has reason to believe...

Section 7 - Abuse Prevention Orders; Domestic Violence Record Search; Service of Order; Enforcement; Violations - Section 7. When considering a complaint filed under this chapter,...

Section 8 - Confidentiality of Records - Section 8. The records of cases arising out of an...

Section 9 - Form of Complaint; Promulgation - Section 9. The administrative justices of the superior court, probate...

Section 10 - Assessments Against Persons Referred to Certified Batterers' Treatment Program as Condition of Probation - Section 10. The court shall impose an assessment of three...

Section 11 - Possession, Care and Control of Domesticated Animal Owned by Persons Involved in Certain Protective Orders; Notice to Law Enforcement Upon Finding of Imminent Threat to Household Member or Animal - Section 11. (a) Whenever the court issues a temporary or...

Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words,...

Section 2 - Jurisdiction - Section 2. (a) Any court which is competent to decide...

Section 3 - Affidavits; Contents; Amendment; Examination Under Oath; Disclosure of Addresses - Section 3. (a) Every party in any custody proceeding shall...

Section 4 - Parties; Joinder; Service of Process - Section 4. (a) After examination of the pleadings, affidavits, certified...

Section 5 - Notice and Opportunity to Be Heard; Proper Parties - Section 5. (a) Reasonable notice in conformity with section six...

Section 6 - Notice; Nonresidents; Proof of Service - Section 6. (a) Notice to a person in the commonwealth...

Section 7 - Jurisdiction; Determination of Appropriate Forum; Factors - Section 7. (a) A court which has jurisdiction pursuant to...

Section 8 - Personal Appearance Before Court; Expenses - Section 8. (a) The court may order any party to...

Section 9 - Testimony of Witnesses Outside State - Section 9. In addition to other procedural devices available to...

Section 10 - Foreign Courts; Evidentiary Hearings; Transfer of Information; Orders to Appear Within State; Expenses - Section 10. (a) A court of the commonwealth may request...

Section 11 - Custody Proceedings in Foreign Courts; Evidentiary Hearings Within State; Transfer of Information; Orders to Appear in Foreign Court; Expenses - Section 11. (a) Upon request of the court of another...

Section 12 - Custody Judgment of Foreign State; Filing Within State; Enforcement of Judgment Within State; Expenses - Section 12. (a) A certified copy of a custody judgment...

Section 13 - Preservation of Record; Time; Copies - Section 13. In any custody proceeding in the commonwealth the...

Section 14 - International Custody Determinations; Recognition - Section 14. To the extent that the legal institutions of...

Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock

Section 1 - Declaration of Purpose; Definition; Responsibility for Support - Section 1. Children born to parents who are not married...

Section 2 - Paternity; Acknowledgment or Adjudication; Statistical Information of Parties; Transmission to Registrar - Section 2. Paternity may be established by filing with the...

Section 3 - Paternity and Support Actions; Jurisdiction; Enforcement of Prior Orders or Judgments; Juvenile Court Commitment Proceedings; Parents Convicted of First Degree Murder - Section 3. (a) The district, Boston municipal and the probate...

Section 4 - Venue; Service - Section 4. Actions under this chapter to establish paternity, support,...

Section 5 - Persons Entitled to Maintain Actions or Execute Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage; Parties - Section 5. (a) Complaints under this chapter to establish paternity,...

Section 6 - Presumption of Paternity; Mandatory Joinder - Section 6. (a) In all actions under this chapter a...

Section 7 - Representation in Paternity Actions; Appointment of Counsel; Burden of Proof - Section 7. Actions under this chapter shall be civil actions....

Section 8 - Judgment of Paternity; Age of Father; Notice - Section 8. On complaint to establish paternity, the court shall...

Section 9 - Judgment or Order for Support; Health Insurance; Financial Statement; Determination of Amount; Notice - Section 9. (a) If the court finds that a parent...

Section 10 - Award of Custody; Criteria - Section 10. (a) Upon or after an adjudication or voluntary...

Section 11 - Acknowledgment of Parentage; Approval; Parental Agreements Regarding Custody, Support and Visitation - Section 11. (a) A written voluntary acknowledgment of parentage executed...

Section 12 - Trial; Exclusion of Public - Section 12. In actions under this chapter, the trial shall...

Section 13 - Inspection of Documents; Copies; Segregation of Records - Section 13. In an action to establish paternity or in...

Section 14 - Complaints Brought Prior to Birth - Section 14. An action to establish paternity of a child...

Section 15 - Temporary Orders; Enforcement; Information Required to Be Given to Petitioner; Domestic Violence Record Search - Section 15. At any time pursuant to an action under...

Section 16 - Competency to Testify; Refusal to Testify; Costs of Tests; Admissibility of Evidence; Failure of Party to Attend; Testimony by Telephone or Affidavit - Section 16. (a) Both the plaintiff and the defendant are...

Section 17 - Genetic Marker Tests; Affidavit; Refusal to Submit to Test; Costs - Section 17. In an action under this chapter to establish...

Section 18 - Judgments or Orders of Support; Enforcement - Section 18. Each judgment or order of support which is...

Section 19 - Judgment or Temporary Order of Support; Enforcement - Section 19. A judgment of support issued in conclusion of...

Section 20 - Modification of Judgments; Jurisdiction - Section 20. A court with original jurisdiction pursuant to section...

Section 21 - Action to Determine Mother and Child Relationship - Section 21. Any interested party may bring an action to...

Section 22 - Proceedings Barred Under This Chapter - Section 22. (a) A decree or judgment entered on a...

Section 23 - Intermarriage of Parents; Jurisdiction - Section 23. (a) If, after adjudication of paternity or voluntary...

Section 24 - Forms - Section 24. The administrative justices of the district, Boston municipal...

Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act

Article 1 - General Provisions.

Section 1-105 - Application of This Chapter to Resident of Foreign Country and Foreign Support Proceedings - Section 1–105. Application of this chapter to resident of foreign...

Section 1-101 - Short Title - Section 1–101. Short title. This chapter may be cited as...

Section 1-102 - Definitions - Section 1–102. Definitions. In this chapter: (1) ''Child'', an individual,...

Section 1-103 - Tribunals and Support Enforcement Agency of the Commonwealth - Section 1–103. Tribunals and support enforcement agency of the commonwealth....

Section 1-104 - Remedies Cumulative - Section 1–104. Remedies cumulative. (a) Remedies provided by this chapter...

Article 2 - Jurisdiction.

Section 2-208 - Child Support Orders for 2 or More Obligees - Section 2–208. Child support orders for 2 or more obligees....

Section 2-211 - Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction to Modify Spousal Support Order - Section 2–211. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify spousal support order....

Section 2-210 - Application of Chapter to Nonresident Subject to Personal Jurisdiction - Section 2–210. Application of chapter to nonresident subject to personal...

Section 2-209 - Credit for Payments - Section 2–209. Credit for payments. A tribunal of the commonwealth...

Section 2-207 - Determination of Controlling Child Support Order - Section 2–207. Determination of controlling child support order. (a) If...

Section 2-204 - Simultaneous Proceedings - Section 2–204. Simultaneous proceedings. (a) A tribunal of the commonwealth...

Section 2-205 - Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction to Modify Child Support Order - Section 2–205. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify child support order....

Section 2-203 - Initiating and Responding Tribunal of the Commonwealth - Section 2–203. Initiating and responding tribunal of the commonwealth. Under...

Section 2-202 - Duration of Personal Jurisdiction - Section 2–202. Duration of personal jurisdiction. Personal jurisdiction acquired by...

Section 2-201 - Bases for Jurisdiction Over Nonresident - Section 2–201. Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident. (a) In a...

Section 2-206 - Continuing Jurisdiction to Enforce Child Support Order - Section 2–206. Continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support order. (a)...

Article 3 - Civil Provisions of General Application.

Section 3-319 - Receipt and Disbursement of Payments - Section 3–319. Receipt and disbursement of payments. (a) A support...

Section 3-318 - Assistance With Discovery - Section 3–318. Assistance with discovery. A tribunal of the commonwealth...

Section 3-317 - Communications Between Tribunals - Section 3–317. Communications between tribunals. A tribunal of the commonwealth...

Section 3-316 - Special Rules of Evidence and Procedure - Section 3–316. Special rules of evidence and procedure. (a) The...

Section 3-315 - Nonparentage as Defense - Section 3–315. Nonparentage as defense. A party whose parentage of...

Section 3-314 - Limited Immunity of Petitioner - Section 3–314. Limited immunity of petitioner. (a) Participation by a...

Section 3-313 - Costs and Fees - Section 3–313. Costs and fees. (a) The petitioner may not...

Section 3-312 - Nondisclosure of Information in Exceptional Circumstances - Section 3–312. Nondisclosure of information in exceptional circumstances. If a...

Section 3-311 - Pleadings and Accompanying Documents - Section 3–311. Pleadings and accompanying documents. (a) In a proceeding...

Section 3-310 - Duties of the State Information Agency - Section 3–310. Duties of state information agency. (a) The department...

Section 3-308 - Duty of Attorney General - Section 3–308. Duty of attorney general. (a) If the attorney...

Section 3-307 - Duties of Support Enforcement Agency - Section 3–307. Duties of support enforcement agency. (a) In a...

Section 3-306 - Inappropriate Tribunal - Section 3–306. Inappropriate tribunal. If a petition or comparable pleading...

Section 3-305 - Duties and Powers of Responding Tribunal - Section 3–305. Duties and powers of responding tribunal. (a) When...

Section 3-304 - Duties of Initiating Tribunal - Section 3–304. Duties of initiating tribunal. (a) Upon the filing...

Section 3-303 - Application of Law of the Commonwealth - Section 3–303. Application of law of the commonwealth. Except as...

Section 3-302 - Proceeding by Minor Parent - Section 3–302. Proceeding by minor parent. A minor parent or...

Section 3-301 - Proceedings Under This Chapter - Section 3–301. Proceedings under this chapter. (a) Except as otherwise...

Section 3-309 - Private Counsel - Section 3–309. Private counsel. An individual may employ private counsel...

Article 4 - Establishment of Support Order or Determination of Parentage.

Section 4-401 - Establishment of Support Order - Section 4–401. Establishment of support order. (a) If a support...

Section 4-402 - Proceeding to Determine Parentage - Section 4–402. Proceeding to determine parentage. A tribunal of the...

Article 5 - Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration.

Section 5-507 - Administrative Enforcement of Orders - Section 5–507. Administrative enforcement of orders. (a) A party or...

Section 5-506 - Contest by Obligor - Section 5–506. Contest by obligor. (a) An obligor may contest...

Section 5-505 - Penalties for Noncompliance - Section 5–505. Penalties for noncompliance. An employer or other source...

Section 5-502 - Employer's Compliance With Income Withholding Order of Another State - Section 5–502. Employer's compliance with income withholding order of another...

Section 5-503 - Employer's Compliance With 2 or More Income Withholding Orders - Section 5–503. Employer's compliance with 2 or more income withholding...

Section 5-501 - Employer's Receipt of Income-Withholding Order of Another State - Section 5–501. Employer's receipt of income-withholding order of another State....

Section 5-504 - Immunity From Civil Liability - Section 5–504. Immunity from civil liability. An employer or other...

Article 6 - Registration, Enforcement and Modification of Support Order.

Section 6-616 - Procedure to Register Child Support Order of Foreign Country for Modification - Section 6–616. Procedure to register child support order of foreign...

Section 6-615 - Jurisdiction to Modify Child Support Order of Foreign Country - Section 6–615. Jurisdiction to modify child support order of foreign...

Section 6-614 - Notice to Issuing Tribunal of Modification - Section 6–614. Notice to issuing tribunal of modification. Within 30...

Section 6-613 - Jurisdiction to Modify Child Support Order of Another State When Individual Parties Reside in the Commonwealth - Section 6–613. Jurisdiction to modify child support order of another...

Section 6-612 - Recognition of Order Modified in Another State - Section 6–612. Recognition of order modified in another state. If...

Section 6-611 - Modification of Child Support Order of Another State - Section 6–611. Modification of child support order of another state....

Section 6-609 - Procedure to Register Child Support Order of Another State for Modification - Section 6–609. Procedure to register child support order of another...

Section 6-610 - Effect of Registration for Modification - Section 6–610. Effect of registration for modification. A tribunal of...

Section 6-607 - Contest of Registration or Enforcement - Section 6–607. Contest of registration or enforcement. (a) A party...

Section 6-606 - Procedure to Contest Validity or Enforcement of Registered Support Order - Section 6–606. Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of registered...

Section 6-605 - Notice of Registration of Order - Section 6–605. Notice of registration of order. (a) When a...

Section 6-604 - Choice of Law - Section 6–604. Choice of law. (a) Except as otherwise provided...

Section 6-603 - Effect of Registration for Enforcement - Section 6–603. Effect of registration for enforcement. (a) A support...

Section 6-602 - Procedure to Register Order for Enforcement - Section 6–602. Procedure to register order for enforcement. (a) Except...

Section 6-601 - Registration of Order for Enforcement - [Text of section applicable as provided by 2016, 53, Sec....

Section 6-608 - Confirmed Order - Section 6–608. Confirmed order. Confirmation of a registered support order,...

Article 7 - Support Proceeding Under Convention.

Section 7-709 - Partial Enforcement - Section 7–709. Partial enforcement. If a tribunal of the commonwealth...

Section 7-713 - Record in Original Language; English Translation - Section 7–713. Record in original language; English translation. A record...

Section 7-712 - Personal Information; Limit on Use - Section 7–712. Personal information; limit on use. Personal information gathered...

Section 7-711 - Modification of Convention Child Support Order - Section 7–711. Modification of Convention child support order. (a) A...

Section 7-710 - Foreign Support Agreement - Section 7–710. Foreign support agreement. (a) Except as otherwise provided...

Section 7-708 - Recognition and Enforcement of Registered Convention Support Order - Section 7–708. Recognition and enforcement of registered Convention support order....

Section 7-701 - Definitions - Section 7–701. Definitions. In this article: (1) ''Application'', a request...

Section 7-706 - Registration of Convention Support Order - Section 7–706. Registration of Convention support order. (a) Except as...

Section 7-705 - Direct Request - Section 7–705. Direct request. (a) A petitioner may file a...

Section 7-704 - Initiation by Department of Revenue of Support Proceeding Under Convention - Section 7–704. Initiation by Department of Revenue of support proceeding...

Section 7-703 - Relationship of Department of Revenue to United States Central Authority - Section 7–703. Relationship of Department of Revenue to United States...

Section 7-702 - Applicability - Section 7–702. Applicability. This article applies only to a support...

Section 7-707 - Contest of Registered Convention Support Order - Section 7–707. Contest of registered Convention support order. (a) Except...

Article 8 - Interstate Rendition.

Section 8-801 - Grounds for Rendition - Section 8–801. Grounds for rendition. (a) For purposes of this...

Section 8-802 - Conditions of Rendition - Section 8–802. Conditions of rendition. (a) Before making a demand...

Article 9 - Miscellaneous Provisions.

Section 9-901 - Uniformity of Application and Construction - Section 9–901. Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and...

Chapter 210 - Adoption of Children and Change of Names

Section 1 - Nature of Adoption; District or Juvenile Court - Section 1. A person of full age may petition the...

Section 2 - Written Consent of Certain Persons; Form of Consent; Identification of Father - Section 2. A decree of adoption shall not be made,...

Section 2a - Decree of Adoption; Entry; Conditions Precedent - Section 2A. No decree of adoption shall be entered for...

Section 2b - Adoption Decrees; Mandatory Language - Section 2B. Every decree of adoption entered by the court...

Section 3 - Dispensing With Required Consent in Certain Cases - Section 3. (a) Whenever a petition for adoption is filed...

Section 3b - Registration of Interest for Pre-Adoptive or Adoptive Placement; Criminal Record Review - Section 3B. When deciding whether to approve or reject a...

Section 4 - Notice - Section 4. If the written consent required by section two...

Section 4a - Fathers of Children Born Out of Wedlock; Adoption Rights - Section 4A. Whenever the mother of a child born out...

Section 5 - Failure to Object After Notice; Proceedings - Section 5. If, after such notice, a person whose consent...

Section 5a - Children Under Fourteen; Adoption; Regulations; Removals - Section 5A. Upon the filing of a petition for adoption...

Section 5b - Adoptive Custody; Factors Considered; Request for Religious Designation - Section 5B. In making orders for adoption, the judge shall...

Section 5c - Inspection of Pleadings, Reports, etc.; Docket Book - Section 5C. All petitions for adoption, all reports submitted thereunder...

Section 5d - Release of Information Concerning Adoption - Section 5D. (a) A placement agency, as defined in section...

Section 5e - Department of Children and Families Adoption Report - Section 5E. The department of children and families shall submit...

Section 6 - Decree of Court; Force and Effect; Private Hearings - Section 6. If the court is satisfied of the identity...

Section 6a - Certificates of Adoption - Section 6A. The court shall forthwith, following the making of...

Section 6b - Adoption Nunc Pro Tunc - Section 6B. In the event that either of the petitioning...

Section 6c - Agreement for Post-Adoption Contact or Communication - Section 6C. (a) Prior to the entry of an adoption...

Section 6d - Enforcement of Agreement - Section 6D. A party to a court-approved agreement for post-adoption...

Section 6e - Decisions of Adoptive Parent on Behalf of Child - Section 6E. Nothing contained in sections 6C and 6D shall...

Section 9 - Succession to Property; Right of Child Adopted in Foreign State - Section 9. A person adopted in another state or country,...

Section 10 - Second Adoption; Effect - Section 10. If the child has been previously adopted, all...

Section 11 - Appeals - Section 11. The supreme judicial court may allow a parent,...

Section 11a - Adoption Services Offered by Certain Persons or Agencies; Penalty - Section 11A. Any person or entity other than a duly...

Section 12 - Petitions for Change of Name - Section 12. A petition for the change of name of...

Section 13 - Notice and Certificate; Decree; Entry; Conditions Precedent - Section 13. The court shall, before decreeing a change of...

Section 14 - Annual Return of Changes of Name - Section 14. Each register of probate shall annually, in December,...

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Massachusetts General Laws Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations Title III - Domestic Relations

Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Title III - Domestic Relations