Divorce Forms Massachusetts: Every Document You Need to File

The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court provides all divorce forms free of charge on mass.gov. The forms themselves are not the hard part — knowing which ones you need, what goes with what, and in which order to submit them is where most self-represented filers get stuck.

Here is the complete document checklist for both the 1A and 1B pathways.

Forms Required for Every Divorce Filing

Regardless of whether you are filing a joint 1A petition or a unilateral 1B complaint, these documents are always required:

Certified Copy of the Marriage Certificate Obtain this from the city or town clerk where the marriage took place. If the certified copy is delayed, file a Motion to File Copy of Marriage Certificate Late (Form CJD 400) to prevent your case from being rejected.

Report of Absolute Divorce or Annulment (Form R-408) A statistical form for the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records. Complete all fields from 1 to 10B. Use dashes ("---") for unknown details — leaving fields blank can trigger an administrative rejection.

Rule 401 Financial Statement A comprehensive disclosure of income, assets, liabilities, and weekly expenses. Two versions exist:

• Short Form: If your individual gross income is under $75,000 per year
• Long Form: If your individual gross income is $75,000 or more

Both spouses must file their own financial statement, even in an uncontested 1A case.

Military Affidavit (Form TC0002) A sworn statement confirming whether the defendant is on active military duty. Required under Uniform Probate Court Practice XXV.

Additional Forms for Section 1A (Joint/Uncontested)

Joint Petition for Divorce (Form CJD-101A) The petition itself, signed by both spouses or their attorneys. This replaces the separate complaint used in 1B filings.

Affidavit of Irretrievable Breakdown A notarized statement — joint or individual — certifying that the marriage is irretrievably broken and cannot be repaired.

Notarized Separation Agreement A comprehensive contract resolving all terms: property division, alimony, custody, child support, and health insurance. Must be signed by both parties and notarized. If not submitted at filing, it must arrive within 90 days or the petition risks dismissal.

Additional Forms for Section 1B (Contested)

Complaint for Divorce under Section 1B (Form CJD-101B) The unilateral petition filed by the plaintiff spouse. Unlike the 1A, this does not require the defendant's signature.

Forms Required When Minor Children Are Involved

If you have children under 18, add these to your filing packet:

Child Care or Custody Disclosure Affidavit Mandatory under Trial Court Rule IV. Discloses any pending or resolved care, custody, or guardianship cases involving the children. Each parent must file a signed copy.

Supplemental Custody Disclosure Affidavit Required only if there are more than four minor children in common.

Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form CJD 304) Used to calculate the statutory weekly child support obligation based on both parents' income.

Proposed Findings and Determinations for Child Support (Form CJD 305) Required only if the parents seek a deviation from the standard child support guidelines — for example, if one parent has extraordinary expenses or if the standard amount would be unjust.

Where to Get the Forms

All forms are available free at mass.gov under "Probate and Family Court forms for divorce." You can also pick up paper copies at any county Probate and Family Court registry or Court Service Center.

The eFiling portal (eFileMA) provides electronic versions of most forms that can be completed and submitted online.

The Difference Between Having Forms and Having a Process

The court gives you blank forms. What it does not give you is the sequence — which forms to complete first, which ones depend on information from others, how to avoid the errors that cause rejections, and what happens after you submit everything.

The most common filing mistakes are not about the forms themselves but about the assembly: submitting an R-408 with blank fields, filing a financial statement that does not match the income threshold, or submitting a 1A petition without the notarized separation agreement.

The Massachusetts Divorce Filing Process Guide includes document assembly checklists for both the 1A and 1B pathways — organized in filing order with verification steps so you catch problems before the Registry does.

See more Massachusetts guides →