If you are the only person filing for a divorce, you must let your spouse know that you have filed. In order to follow through, you need to serve your spouse with a copy of the filed complaint along with the notice and domestic relations summons. This paperwork tells your spouse what has happened and what will occur next. The court gives you the notice and summons when your divorce papers are filed.
What Happens after a Divorce Is Filed?
According to divorce attorneys in Taunton, once a case has been filed and the other spouse is served, the party filing for divorce cannot give, sell, dispose, or hide any of the property of the marital estate, including possessions, real estate, or bank accounts, without the permission of the court.
Who Can File for Divorce?
Divorce attorneys add that you can file for divorce if you have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year. You can also file for divorce if the reason for the end of the marriage occurred in Massachusetts, and you and your spouse lived in the state as a couple.
Filing for an Uncontested Divorce
Should you file for an uncontested divorce, divorce attorneys state that you and your spouse must decide how to divide your property, per a separation agreement. The court will then review the agreement to make sure it is fair.
Equitable Division
If you cannot decide together how to divvy up your property, then the Massachusetts court will use a standard known as equitable division. While this does not mean that your belongings and property have to be divided 50/50, it does mean that the decision must be fair.
Who to Contact
You can conveniently schedule an appointment online or make a call to discuss your rights, in order to obtain the legal support you need to reach an equitable settlement.
