# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 4: Causes for divorce; domicile of parties

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S4

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 4
- **Heading:** Causes for divorce; domicile of parties
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part II / Title III / Chapter 208 / Section 4

## Text

Section 4. A divorce shall not, except as provided in the following section, be adjudged if the parties have never lived together as husband and wife in this commonwealth; nor for a cause which occurred in another jurisdiction, unless before such cause occurred the parties had lived together as husband and wife in this commonwealth, and one of them lived in this commonwealth at the time when the cause occurred.

Section 4. A divorce shall not, except as provided in the following section, be adjudged if the parties have never lived together as husband and wife in this commonwealth; nor for a cause which occurred in another jurisdiction, unless before such cause occurred the parties had lived together as husband and wife in this commonwealth, and one of them lived in this commonwealth at the time when the cause occurred.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 1 Causes for divorce; general provisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 1A Causes for divorce; irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; complaint accompanied by statement and dissolution agreement; procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S1A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 1B Causes for divorce; irretrievable breakdown of marriage; commencement of action; waiting period; unaccompanied complaint; procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S1B.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 2 Causes for divorce; confinement for crime](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 3 Causes for divorce; absence; presumption of death](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 4 Causes for divorce; domicile of parties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 5 Causes for divorce; exceptions to Sec. 4](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 6 Venue of libel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 6B Filing of action; statistical report](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S6B.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 8 Commencement of actions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 11 Ex parte hearing; allowance or denial of motion to insert name of third person](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S11.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 12 Libels for divorce; spouse's property; attachment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S12.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 13 Libels for divorce; attachment; manner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S13.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 14 Libels for divorce; attachments; laws applicable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S14.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C208_S4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.