How to File for Divorce
in Massachusetts with Forms
This book provides an insider's view of divorce. Our goal is to provide information so you can handle your own divorce, or supplement legal services if you choose to hire an attorney. Since 1977 we have represented many men and women in divorce court. Most come into the system with many misunderstandings and fears which we hope to dispel.
An Educated Consumer...
Whether you do-it-yourself, use a lawyer merely to review your separation agreement, or retain a lawyer for a contested divorce, How to File for Divorce in Massachusetts will help you understand both law and procedure. Whether in court or in a hotel room, "the best surprise is no surprise."
Making Legal Services Affordable
We focus on the middle class: too affluent for free legal services and not rich enough for high priced lawyers. We provide forms and instructions for processing a divorce without an attorney. Handling your own divorce is most easily done by couples without children or significant assets. If you have children, real estate, or pension, it may be best to confer with attorneys about the legal, financial, and tax implications of divorce.For those readers who do hire a lawyer, this book offers information about divorce law and procedure to maximize the benefits and reduce the cost of legal representation.
All Necessary Forms and Detailed Instructions
You will find forms commonly used in divorce cases, detailed instructions, and even sample completed forms.
No One Heals Himself by Hurting Another
We acknowledge that no divorce is truly simple. Each case is akin to a road map of alternative routes, dead ends, short cuts, super highways, and rocky roads. We may convey a sense that there is a straight road from marital separation to divorce because we want to keep our concepts and language simple, but at the same time acknowledge the pain and suffering of divorce.S.T.S.
S.L.F.Newton, MA, 1996