Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 208 - Divorce
Section 33 - Jurisdiction; Procedure

Section 33. The court may, if the course of proceeding is not specially prescribed, hear and determine all matters coming within the purview of this chapter according to the course of proceedings in ecclesiastical courts or in courts of equity, and may issue process of attachment and execution and all other proper and necessary processes. In such proceedings the court shall have jurisdiction in equity of all causes cognizable under the general principles of equity jurisprudence, arising between husband and wife, such jurisdiction to be exercised in accordance with the usual course of practice in equity proceedings.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations

Title III - Domestic Relations

Chapter 208 - Divorce

Section 1 - Causes for Divorce; General Provisions

Section 1a - Causes for Divorce; Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage; Commencement of Action; Complaint Accompanied by Statement and Dissolution Agreement; Procedure

Section 1b - Causes for Divorce; Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage; Commencement of Action; Waiting Period; Unaccompanied Complaint; Procedure

Section 2 - Causes for Divorce; Confinement for Crime

Section 3 - Causes for Divorce; Absence; Presumption of Death

Section 4 - Causes for Divorce; Domicile of Parties

Section 5 - Causes for Divorce; Exceptions to Sec. 4

Section 6 - Venue of Libel

Section 6b - Filing of Action; Statistical Report

Section 8 - Commencement of Actions

Section 11 - Ex Parte Hearing; Allowance or Denial of Motion to Insert Name of Third Person

Section 12 - Libels for Divorce; Spouse's Property; Attachment

Section 13 - Libels for Divorce; Attachment; Manner

Section 14 - Libels for Divorce; Attachments; Laws Applicable

Section 15 - Libels for Divorce; Mentally Ill Defendant; Appointment and Compensation of Guardian

Section 16 - Investigation of Divorce Case

Section 17 - Pendency of Action; Allowance; Alimony

Section 18 - Pendency of Action for Divorce; Protection of Personal Liberty of Spouse; Restraint Orders Authorized

Section 19 - Pendency of Action for Divorce; Custody of Children

Section 20 - Continuance of Action; Temporary Separation

Section 20a - Judgment Denying Divorce; Living Apart for Justifiable Cause; Authorization

Section 21 - Divorce Judgments; Entry

Section 22 - Libels for Divorce; Desertion; Proof

Section 23 - Resumption of Former Name by Woman

Section 24 - Divorced Parties; Remarriage

Section 24a - Certificate of Divorce; Contents

Section 25 - Divorce for Adultery of Wife; Legitimacy of Issue

Section 27 - Curtesy or Dower After Divorce

Section 28 - Children; Care, Custody and Maintenance; Child Support Obligations; Provisions for Education and Health Insurance; Parents Convicted of First Degree Murder

Section 28a - Temporary Care; Custody and Maintenance of Minor Children

Section 29 - Minor Children; Foreign Divorces, Care and Custody

Section 30 - Minor Children; Removal From Commonwealth; Prohibition

Section 31 - Custody of Children; Shared Custody Plans

Section 31a - Visitation and Custody Orders; Consideration of Abuse Toward Parent or Child; Best Interest of Child

Section 32 - Child; Bringing Before Court; Writ of Habeas Corpus

Section 33 - Jurisdiction; Procedure

Section 34 - Alimony or Assignment of Estate; Determination of Amount; Health Insurance

Section 34a - Alimony Judgment Ordering Conveyance; Effect

Section 34b - Order to Vacate Marital Home

Section 34c - Orders to Vacate Marital Home and Orders of Restraint; Notice to Law Enforcement Agencies; Procedures; Violations

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 35 - Alimony; Enforcement

Section 36 - Security for Payment of Alimony or Support; Enforcement of Judgments or Orders

Section 36a - Continuing Jurisdiction to Enforce Alimony, Support and Maintenance or Child Support; Order for Trustee Process

Section 37 - Alimony; Revision of Judgment

Section 38 - Costs

Section 39 - Foreign Divorces; Validity

Section 40 - Cohabitation After Divorce

Section 41 - Personation

Section 42 - Procurement of Unlawful Divorce

Section 43 - Advertisement to Procure Divorce

Section 44 - Certificate of Divorce; Unlawful Issuance

Section 45 - Criminal Offenses; Notice to District Attorney

Section 46 - Statistical Reports; Additional Information

Section 48 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 49 to 55

Section 49 - Termination, Suspension or Modification of General Term Alimony

Section 50 - Termination, Extension or Modification of Rehabilitative Alimony

Section 51 - Termination of Reimbursement Alimony; Modification; Applicability of Income Guidelines

Section 52 - Termination of Transitional Alimony; Modification or Extension

Section 53 - Determination of Form, Amount and Duration of Alimony; Maximum Amount; Income Calculation; Deviations; Concurrent Child Support Orders

Section 54 - Remarriage of Payor; Income From Second Job or Overtime Work

Section 55 - Reasonable Security for Alimony in Event of Payor's Death; Orders to Maintain Life Insurance; Modification of Orders