Massachusetts Certificate of Divorce Online Application

If you need a divorce certificate in Massachusetts, you can request a Certificate of Divorce Absolute from the Probate and Family Court that handled the case. Prepare your Massachusetts divorce record request online now.

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Understanding the Massachusetts Certificate of Divorce Process

Massachusetts officially recognizes a Certificate of Divorce Absolute as a type of divorce record. It confirms that a divorce has become final and can be requested from the Probate and Family Court where the case was handled.

Divorce records are not issued in the same way as Massachusetts birth, marriage, or death certificates. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) does not keep the actual divorce decree. Instead, it can help identify the Probate and Family Court and docket number associated with a divorce when that information is unknown.

Once you know which court handled the case, you can request the Certificate of Divorce Absolute or another certified divorce record directly from that Probate and Family Court.

Massachusetts Divorce Decree vs. Certificate of Divorce

Massachusetts uses several terms for documents connected to the end of a marriage, so it’s important to determine which record you need.

A Certificate of Divorce Absolute in Massachusetts confirms that the divorce has become final. Massachusetts Courts also refers to this document as a divorce decree or divorce record. The current fee for a Certificate of Divorce Absolute is $20 per certificate.

You may also encounter a Judgment of Divorce Nisi. This is the judgment entered before the divorce becomes absolute and final.

Massachusetts has a waiting period between the judgment and the final divorce:

  • A 1A divorce becomes final 120 days from the date of the judgment.
  • A 1B or fault divorce generally becomes final 90 days from the date of the hearing if judgment is entered.

Once that period has passed, Massachusetts states that you won’t automatically receive a final divorce decree from the court. If you need proof that the divorce is final, you must request the record from the court that granted the divorce.

Depending on your purpose, you may need:

  • Certificate of Divorce Absolute: Official proof that the divorce became final
  • Certified Judgment of Divorce Nisi: Certified copy of the earlier divorce judgment
  • Certified separation agreement: Copy of the agreement filed as part of the divorce case
  • Other attested court documents: Copies of specific documents contained in the court file

If another agency or organization requested the record, confirm which version it requires before ordering.

Who Can Get a Divorce Certificate in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts divorce cases are generally considered public court records unless the case or specific information has been impounded or otherwise restricted from public access.

Publicly available Probate and Family Court case information may be viewed at a courthouse or searched through Massachusetts' court docket system. Divorce cases are among the types of Probate and Family Court cases generally available to the public.

However, not every document or piece of information in a divorce file is necessarily available remotely. Certain records may be restricted, impounded, or available only at the courthouse.

To request a Massachusetts divorce certificate or decree, you’ll generally need enough information to identify the case, including:

  • Names of the parties
  • Probate and Family Court that handled the divorce
  • Divorce docket number
  • Type of document requested
  • Contact and mailing information

If you’re a party to a case that has been impounded, the court may require you to provide proof of identity before allowing access to the physical case file.

How to Order Your Massachusetts Divorce Records Online

If you’re wondering how to get a divorce certificate in Massachusetts, the first step is to identify your case and obtain the docket number.

Massachusetts Courts states that a docket number is required when requesting a certified copy of a divorce record or decree. If you don’t already know it, you can:

  • Search for the case through MassCourts.org
  • Contact the Probate and Family Court that handled the divorce
  • Use the Probate and Family Court's Virtual Registry for the county where the case was filed

If you don’t know which county handled the case, court staff can search using details such as the case type, the names of the parties, and the city or town where the divorce was filed.

After finding the case information, complete the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Request for Copies form (PFC 18).

Although you can locate case information online and prepare your request electronically, Massachusetts currently directs applicants to mail the Request for Copies form and payment to the appropriate Probate and Family Court or bring them to the courthouse in person.

If you do not know either the docket number or the court that granted the divorce, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics allows you to submit an Application of Divorce Inquiry to obtain that information. The Registry does not provide the actual divorce record.

Processing Through the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court

Massachusetts divorce records are maintained through the Probate and Family Court, which has jurisdiction over divorce and other family-law matters.

To obtain a copy, you must submit your request to the court division where the divorce case was docketed.

Current Massachusetts court fees include:

  • Certificate of Divorce Absolute: $20 each
  • Certified Judgment of Divorce Nisi: $20 each
  • Certified divorce separation agreement: $20 first page + $0.05 per additional page

Payments submitted with records requests may be made using an attorney's check, money order, bank certified check, or bank cashier's check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts doesn’t have one standard turnaround time for every divorce-record request. The state recommends contacting your local Probate and Family Court directly to find out how long it will take to obtain the requested record.

Serving All Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts (Suffolk, Middlesex, Worcester & More)

Massachusetts divorce records are handled through Probate and Family Court divisions serving communities across the Commonwealth.

This includes courts serving areas such as:

  • Suffolk County
  • Middlesex County
  • Worcester County
  • Essex County
  • Norfolk County
  • Bristol County
  • Plymouth County
  • Barnstable County
  • Hampden County
  • Hampshire County
  • Berkshire County
  • Franklin County
  • Dukes County
  • Nantucket County

The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court currently operates 14 divisions.

Your divorce record should generally be requested from the court division where the case was filed. If you don’t know the correct division, you can search the Massachusetts court docket system or ask the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics to identify the docket number and Probate Court associated with the divorce.

For older records, additional archive procedures may apply. Massachusetts Courts directs applicants looking for historic cases to its Court Archives resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Divorce Records

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