Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

My wife and I have no idea how or where to get divorced

Hello,

My wife and I wish to get divorced. The problem is, we were both

born in RI, lived in CT for one year, lived in NH for 5 years, got

married in RI, then separated 5 months ago - I moved to MA, and she

moved to RI, then back to CT. Right now I live in MA and she lives in

CT. This is a no-fault divorce, we have already distributed what little

joint property we had, and now we both simply wish the marriage to

be ended. In which state should we be attempting to get a divorce?

(or would an annulment be a possibility? We've been married for a

little over a year.)


Asked on 9/07/04, 10:19 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Alan Pransky Law Office of Alan J. Pransky

Re: My wife and I have no idea how or where to get divorced

States have a waiting period for jurisdiction for divorce. In Massachusetts it is 6 months. You can get divorced in either state where one of you have lived for the residency period. However, both parties must participate to give the court the power to divide property.

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Answered on 9/07/04, 7:49 pm
Joseph Murray Joseph M. Murray, Esq.

Re: My wife and I have no idea how or where to get divorced

If there were children born of the marriage the state in which they reside would have paramount jurisdiction. If no children, jurisdiction may exist in the state where either party has resided for that state's applicable residency requirement (6 months in MA).

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Answered on 9/08/04, 1:59 pm


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