How to eFile a Divorce in Massachusetts

You can file your Massachusetts divorce complaint online without walking into the courthouse. The Probate and Family Court accepts electronic filings through the eFileMA portal for most domestic relations cases, including both 1A joint petitions and 1B contested complaints.

Here's how the process works, what it costs, and where filers commonly run into trouble.

Getting Started on eFileMA

The eFileMA portal is the official electronic filing system for Massachusetts courts. To use it:

1. Create an account at efilema.com with your name, email, and a password
2. Select the court — choose the Probate and Family Court division in the county where you have venue (where you and your spouse last lived together, or where either of you currently resides)
3. Select the case type — "Divorce 1A" for joint petitions or "Divorce 1B" for contested complaints
4. Upload your documents as PDF files — the system accepts standard PDF format
5. Pay the filing fee via credit card through the portal

Fees for eFiling

The standard filing fees apply when eFiling, plus an additional processing surcharge:

The $22 eFiling processing fee is non-refundable and charged in addition to any credit card convenience fees.

Fee waiver applicants: If you qualify for indigency, upload your completed Affidavit of Indigency and select "waiver" in the payment section. The portal will show a $0 balance. If the court later rejects your affidavit, you'll be contacted to pay the standard fees.

What to Upload

Your filing package must include all required documents as separate PDF uploads:

For a 1A Joint Petition:

• Joint Petition for Divorce (Form CJD-101A)
• Notarized Separation Agreement
• Affidavit of Irretrievable Breakdown
• Certificate of Absolute Divorce (Form R-408)
• Rule 401 Financial Statements (both parties)
• Military Affidavit (Form TC0002)
• Child Care Disclosure Affidavit (if minor children)
• Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (if minor children)

For a 1B Complaint:

• Complaint for Divorce (Form CJD-101B)
• Certificate of Absolute Divorce (Form R-408)
• Rule 401 Financial Statement (plaintiff only at filing)
• Military Affidavit (Form TC0002)
• Child Care Disclosure Affidavit (if minor children)

Common eFiling Rejections

The court clerk reviews every electronic submission before accepting it into the system. Common reasons for rejection:

• Missing signatures or notarization — separation agreements must be notarized; all forms must be signed
• Incomplete R-408 form — every field must be filled in, using dashes for unknown information
• Wrong financial statement form — using the Short Form when income exceeds $75,000, or vice versa
• Incorrect venue — filing in the wrong county division
• Illegible scans — documents must be clearly readable; photographed forms often get rejected

When a filing is rejected, the portal sends an email notification with the reason. You can correct the issue and resubmit without paying the filing fee again (though the eFiling processing fee may be charged again depending on the rejection type).

eFiling vs. In-Person Filing

eFiling saves a trip to the courthouse and lets you file outside business hours. But it adds the $22 processing fee, and rejected filings take 1-3 business days to get a rejection notice — time you could have spent fixing the issue at the counter.

For straightforward 1A filings with complete paperwork, eFiling is efficient. For complex cases or first-time filers unsure about document completeness, visiting the courthouse and using the self-help desk to review your packet before submission can prevent costly rejection delays.

Organizing Your eFiling Package

Getting every document formatted, signed, and uploaded correctly on the first attempt saves days of back-and-forth with the clerk's office. The Massachusetts Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a complete document assembly checklist organized by filing pathway, so you can verify every item before hitting submit.

See more Massachusetts guides →