Can you be separated and live in the same house Massachusetts?
What is legal separation? There is no “legal separation,” in Massachusetts. You do not have to get court permission to live apart from your spouse. It is legal to live apart from your spouse.
Is dating during separation adultery in MA?
Dating While Married is Considered Adultery If you have a romantic relationship with someone other than your spouse while still married under Massachusetts law, you have committed adultery.
Do affairs matter in divorce?
While some spouses may get some personal satisfaction out of filing a divorce decree stating their spouse has had an affair, it generally does not influence factors like alimony, division of property, or child custody issues.
It is legal to live apart from your spouse. We do have “separate support” cases in Massachusetts. If you complete a “Separation Agreement” (discussed in more detail in question 8) without filing it with the court, it is a contract between you and your spouse.
Do you have to live in Massachusetts to file for divorce?
You do not have to file for divorce in the same state you were married. In Massachusetts, the party filing for the divorce must have lived here for one year. You may file in the county where you live or where you and your spouse last lived together.
How does a contested divorce work in Massachusetts?
If the divorce is contested, a divorce is started by filing a complaint for divorce and serving a summons and a copy of the complaint on your spouse. The summons will be provided by the court when you file the divorce. There is a filing fee for both types of divorce that can be waived if the filing party is indigent.
How does Julia mediate a divorce in Massachusetts?
Julia mediates divorces in ALL Massachusetts counties and courts, using live video chat on Zoom or Skype. By law, Massachusetts is not a “community property” state, but in practice, even after litigation, most property settlements end up very similar to what they would be in community property states.
Can you get a bifurcation divorce in Massachusetts?
Unfortunately, bifurcation in Massachusetts is not allowed. All issues must be resolved and finalized before a divorce will be granted. Massachusetts law requires that in a divorce, both parties must provide the other with three years of records such as tax returns, bank statements, investment statements and other related materials.