No-Fault Divorce in Massachusetts
State-specific overview · Family Law
Massachusetts requires a 120-day waiting period after filing before a no-fault divorce becomes final.
How Massachusetts treats No-Fault Divorce
Massachusetts allows divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage without proving fault. The process requires filing a Complaint for Divorce and waiting 120 days before the court can enter a final judgment. Both spouses must either agree to the divorce or the court must find that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This waiting period applies even when both parties consent to the divorce.
The general definition of No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted without requiring either spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.
A no-fault divorce is a divorce where neither spouse has to prove that the other did something wrong, like infidelity or abuse. Instead, one or both spouses simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken or that they have irreconcilable differences. This is the most common type of divorce in the United States today. No-fault divorces are generally faster and less contentious than fault-based divorces because they don't require gathering evidence of misconduct.
Read the full No-Fault Divorce entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.