Maybe you were just served divorce papers. Maybe you're scared and need a 209A order before morning. Maybe your ex stopped paying child support and you don't know your next move. Massachusetts family law runs on hard deadlines and funnels almost everything through one court, the Probate and Family Court, and the clock has often already started. You don't have to guess, and you don't have to wait for business hours. Call 1-844-690-0555 right now for free legal information from an AI assistant trained on Massachusetts and federal family law. It's free, available 24/7, with no income test and no form to fill out.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Massachusetts.
If you're in immediate danger, call 911 first. If you need a protective order and the Probate and Family Court is closed, go to any Massachusetts District Court or the Boston Municipal Court, or ask local police to reach the on-call judge, to get an emergency 209A abuse prevention order tonight. For everything else, gather three things before you act: the exact date you were served, your most recent pay information, and a list of your major assets and debts. Then call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on which Massachusetts deadline hits you first. This is legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship.
People assume that what they brought into the marriage, an inheritance, a gift from parents, the house they owned before the wedding, is automatically theirs to keep. In most states that's roughly true. In Massachusetts it is not. Under M.G.L. c. 208, § 34, the Probate and Family Court can divide the entire marital estate, and that expressly includes inherited, gifted, and pre-marital property. 'Equitable' means fair, not equal, and a judge weighs the length of the marriage, each spouse's contribution, and homemaking. Spouses routinely sign away tens of thousands of dollars because they believed a myth from another state. Before you concede a single asset, call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information on what's actually divisible in your case.
Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender, and it does not replace these Massachusetts organizations. If you need free or low-cost help with a family matter or domestic violence, start here, then call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on which fits your situation.
How do I get an emergency restraining order in Massachusetts tonight?
If you're in danger and the Probate and Family Court is closed, go to any Massachusetts District Court or the Boston Municipal Court, or ask police to reach the on-call judge, for an emergency 209A abuse prevention order. An ex parte order can issue without the other person present, but a full hearing must happen within 10 court business days for it to continue. For free information on what to bring and what to expect, call 1-844-690-0555. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Is Massachusetts a community property state?
No. Massachusetts is an equitable-distribution state. Under M.G.L. c. 208, § 34, a judge divides the marital estate fairly, which is not the same as 50/50, and can reach assets you brought in, inherited, or were gifted, unlike many community-property states. This catches people off guard and costs them real money. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information on what's actually divisible in your case.
What's the difference between a 1A and a 1B divorce in Massachusetts?
A 1A divorce (M.G.L. c. 208, § 1A) is fully agreed: both spouses file a joint petition with a notarized separation agreement covering every issue. A 1B divorce (§ 1B) is contested, one spouse files alleging an irretrievable breakdown, and the law forces a six-month wait before the case can be heard on the merits. Which path you're on changes your timeline dramatically. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on which applies to you.
How long does a divorce take in Massachusetts?
It depends on the track. In a fully agreed 1A divorce, judgment becomes 'nisi' about 30 days after the hearing and absolute 90 days later, roughly 120 days total. In a contested 1B case, the matter generally can't be heard on the merits until six months after filing, and judgment is absolute 90 days after it enters. You can't remarry until it's absolute. For a realistic timeline on your facts, call 1-844-690-0555.
How is child support calculated in Massachusetts in 2025?
Massachusetts uses an income-shares model under the Child Support Guidelines updated effective December 1, 2025. Base support is computed on combined gross income up to $450,000 a year, with a presumptive minimum order as low as $15/week for the lowest earners and a $430/week-per-child benchmark for reasonable child-care costs. The Department of Revenue enforces orders. Because every input matters, call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information on how the guidelines apply to your numbers.
How long will I have to pay alimony in Massachusetts?
The 2011 Alimony Reform Act ties general-term alimony duration to the length of the marriage: up to 50% of the months married for marriages of 5 years or less, 60% for 5-to-10-year marriages, 70% for 10-to-15, 80% for 15-to-20, and potentially indefinite for marriages over 20 years. Recent appellate rulings (the Appeals Court's 2025 Cavanagh decision and the SJC's 2024 Openshaw decision) have given judges more flexibility on the amount. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on your likely exposure.
Do unmarried fathers have custody rights in Massachusetts?
Yes, but paternity must be established first, under M.G.L. c. 209C, through a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage or a court order, before a father can pursue custody or parenting time. Custody is then decided under standards that give judges broad discretion. Establishing paternity is the gateway step. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information on how to start.
My ex violated the restraining order, what happens now?
Violating a 209A or 258E order is a crime in Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 209A, § 7), punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or up to 2½ years in a house of correction, plus, on a 209A conviction, a mandatory certified batterer's intervention program and possible restitution. Report the violation to the police promptly and document it. For free information on enforcement and your options, and to stay safe, call 1-844-690-0555. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 first.
What is the Financial Statement deadline in a Massachusetts divorce?
Under Supplemental Probate and Family Court Rule 401, you must file a Financial Statement within 45 days of being served the summons (and again before hearings where finances matter). If you earn $75,000 a year or more, the long-form version is required. Filing late or inaccurately can stall or seriously damage your case. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free legal information on getting it right.
Can I change my child support order in Massachusetts?
Yes. You can seek a modification under § 28 when the guidelines would yield a meaningfully different order or there's a material change in circumstances. But there's a trap: arrears can't be modified for any period before your modification complaint is served, so every week you delay locks in the old amount. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on whether and when to file.
Where do I file a divorce or custody case in Massachusetts?
Almost always in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you or your spouse lives, one of 14 county divisions statewide. Divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, and paternity for unmarried parents all go there. The main exception is a 209A or 258E protective order, which a District Court or the Boston Municipal Court can also issue. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on the right court and venue for your situation.
We connect Massachusetts residents facing divorce, custody, support, and protective-order matters with licensed family law attorneys across the state, from Greater Boston and Cambridge to Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Quincy, and the South Coast. If you're admitted in Massachusetts and want vetted Probate and Family Court referrals, we'd like to hear from you. This is a separate path from the free client helpline and never competes with it. Reach out to learn how the referral network works.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Divorce papers carry roughly a 20-day answer window. Financial Statements are due in 45 days. Emergency 209A orders lapse without a hearing within 10 court business days. Child support arrears can't be undone for the period before you file. In Massachusetts family law, the clock is almost always already running, and silence is a decision. Get free, clear legal information now, no income test, no web form, no waiting for morning. Call 1-844-690-0555, 24/7. This is legal information, not legal advice, and creates no attorney-client relationship, but it's the fastest way to understand what you're facing and what to do next.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.