This is an electronic order form to find a divorce record from the Probate and Family Courts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties in eastern Massachusetts.
Documents available for ordering include, Certificate of Divorce Absolute, Certificate of Divorce NISI with Separation Agreement, photocopies of judgment of divorce and or separation agreements, as well as court authenticated, exemplified, divorce packets, for use in foreign countries**.
Custom requests, such as obtaining copies for petition of divorce of an ongoing divorce, copies of current motions, etc. can also be obtained by special request.
For an additional fee, certified and authenticated copies can also have a Massachusetts state apostille, certified by the Secretary of State's Office, for use outside the United States.
If ordering outside the United States, please understand none of our fees include express international postage, such as DHL. Please email us after placing your international order and we can give you a quote for DHL or FedEx postal fees.
Please also note we cannot obtain impounded divorce records nor can we obtain QDRO's. Impounded divorce files and QDRO information is open only to parties named in the record or their appointed attorneys.
All divorce records in Middlesex County filed prior to 1990 are in off-site storage. Processing time is at least 3 weeks from date of order. No expedited service available.
All divorce records in Bristol County filed prior to 1986 are located in off-site storage. Processing time can be up to 3 weeks from date of order. No expedited service available.
ORDERING OPTIONS: The type of document you select depends on your personal needs for the record. If you need the record for any legal purpose, such as a passport, social security, obtaining a REAL ID, or getting remarried, you'll most likely need Option C or D. If the record is for informational purposes only, than Option A or B is the right choice.
OPTION A : The fee to search for and photocopy a divorce judgment (sent via 1st class mail) is $35. This is a plain photocopy of the actual divorce judgment, signed by a judge and contains the specific month, day and year the divorce was granted. This option does not include any separation agreement. This document type can NOT be used for most legal purposes, such as applying for social security or obtaining a REAL ID or, in most states, for getting remarried. However, this option can be scanned and digitized into a PDF and emailed. Tell us you'll accept a scanned copy in the notes section of the order form below.
OPTION B : The fee to search for and photocopy a divorce judgment and a separation agreement is $65. These are plain photocopies. They are NOT attested or certified. This option is the same as option A above, but includes the details (if any) of the separation agreement, including issues such as alimony, insurance, custody, visitation, property ownership and or child support. This option can be scanned and digitized into a PDF and emailed. Tell us you'll accept a scanned copy in the notes section of the order form below.
OPTION C : The fee to search for and obtain a certified copy of a Massachusetts divorce decree, the "Certificate of Divorce Absolute" is $75. This is a typed, certified court document and contains the court's official, raised embossed seal. This can be used for most legal or official purposes such as applying for social security, getting remarried, obtaining a REAL ID, a passport application, or applying for citizenship. This document type does not have a judges signature. (See Option D below.) This document can not be scanned and emailed. All Certificate of Divorce Absolute's are sent by Priority Mail. Once the order processes, you will receive a verification of shipment from the USPS, along with a tracking number.
OPTION D : The fee to search for and obtain a certified copy of a Massachusetts divorce judgment, the "Certificate of Divorce NISI" and an attested photocopy of the divorce separation agreement is $100. This includes the details (if any) of the divorce, including issues such as alimony, insurance, custody, visitation, property ownership and or child support. Unlike option B above, which is not certified, this record type can be used for child custody issues, alimony enforcement, pension agreements, disbursements and refinancing. [Please note that a certified judgment and agreement is not needed when you are applying for social security, getting remarried, obtaining a REAL ID, adopting children or applying for citizenship. If you have additional questions, verify the requirements from the organization requesting the document.] This document can not be scanned and emailed. All Certificate of Divorce NISI's are sent by Priority Mail. Once the order processes, you will receive a verification of shipment from the USPS, along with a tracking number.
OPTION E : Authenticated or sometimes referred to as "Exemplified" Divorce Packets are used primarily outside the country, for refiling divorce in another state or, in some cases, for probate court matters and or land sales in other states. There is a minimum fee of $150 for authenticated packets. That could change if the agreement is substantially long. Additional copy requirements do apply for the countries of Brazil, India and Italy. There are also additional fees if you need to have documents translated. IMPORTANT: Not all countries require "authenticated packets" so be sure and double check with us or your country's requesting agency before placing an order. Indicate in the notes section of the order if you need this document apostatized by the State of Massachusetts and for which country. There is an additional fee of $50 for this service, for which we will send a secure link to make that payment. This option does NOT include a Certificate of Divorce Absolute. If you need both, you'll also have to order Option C.
All Massachusetts divorce record searches are completed on location at the courthouse and in person by employees at mass-doc.com. This web site, mass-doc.com is not affiliated with, nor are we employed by, the state of Massachusetts or the state court system.
DIVORCE DATE AND PLACE
Please select the city or town where the couple last lived while married. If that town or city is not in the list, then a divorce search cannot be completed through this service. However, if by the rare chance the couple were divorced in one of the following county courts, listed next, but did in fact live elsewhere, pick "Unknown" at the end of the city list and explain the details in the "Notes Section" listed below.
Names of the Subjects
SELECT BELOW HOW YOU WANT THE DOCUMENT DELIVERED
Select via First Class Mail or Expedited Priority Mail and then the Type of Record requested by clicking on the drop down arrow menu next to each mail class. Choose only first class or expedited delivery - do not click on both.
If you do click on both to see fees, and accidently click on the wrong choice, be sure to revert back to the default setting (as shown) for the one you did not choose of either First Class Mail or Expedited Priority Mail before submitting order.
Just a refresher for document types. The judgment is a one page document that allowed for the divorce. There is no detail beyond date and names and a judges signature. The divorce agreement is the official terms of the divorce, including issues such as property ownership, custody, alimony and retirement funds. (Divorce agreements can be as small as one page or as large as hundreds of pages. The average is 10 - 15.) The court embossed "Certificate of Divorce Absolute" is needed in most states for remarriage, citizenship applications, social security filings, taxes and passports. In most of those cases, the agreement is not needed. The certified Judgment of "NISI" and the agreement is what is needed for situations such as complex tax issues, home refinancing and out of state child support enforcement. For more detailed information, please read the list of available ordering options, above, to insure you order the correct type of record.
* Records for BRISTOL county filed in 1986 or earlier and for MIDDLESEX county filed in 1989 or earlier, are located in offsite storage and cannot be expedited. Processing time can be up to 3 weeks.
** Authenticated Divorce Packets are a custom process, depending on your needs, country requirements and overall size of the file. The price of $150 is a minimum charge. Additional copy requirements do apply for Brazil, India and Italy and if you need to have documents translated. We will always notify you by email if additional fees will apply before processing your order.
YOUR NAME and SHIPPING ADDRESS
Payment Method
Credit Card Information
Billing Address
You're almost finished! Just one more step!
A summary of your order is listed below. Please review and everything looks correct, select the CONFIRM button to place your order. If you need to correct anything on your order, please select EDIT, make changes and resubmit.
Your Email:
Day Time Phone:
RECORD TYPE
Spouse A:
Spouse B:
Date and Place of Divorce:
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Reason for Request:
Ship To:
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Credit Card Information
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