Divorce education by state · Massachusetts
Divorce Education Classes in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the court-required divorce-education requirement is the Two Families Now (court-approved co-parenting education course) (Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-23 (issued Sept. 20, 2023; amended Jan. 22, 2024, effective Feb. 12, 2024)), overseen by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. Here's who has to take it, whether you can do it online, how long it takes, what it costs, and how to find a course the Probate and Family Court division handling your case will accept.
Quick answer: divorce education in Massachusetts
Online classes accepted. Massachusetts has gone all-in on one online course: under Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-23, 'Two Families Now' is the single court-approved co-parenting education course statewide — a 4-hour, self-paced online class ($49 per parent) taken on a computer, tablet, or phone. There is no approved-provider list to compare, and no in-person option to hunt down: every required parent takes the same course. Registration must happen within 30 days of service of the complaint, and a different online parenting class — however similar — does not satisfy the standing order. the Probate and Family Court division handling your case decides what counts — confirm the course and format before you enroll or pay.
At a glance
| Is divorce education required? | Yes — required statewide for divorcing parents with minor children |
|---|---|
| Who takes it & when | Both parents in a Massachusetts Complaint for Divorce (except a joint no-fault petition under G.L. c. 208, § 1A), Complaint for Separate Support, Complaint to Establish Paternity, or Complaint for Custody/Support/Parenting Time involving minor children must complete the Two Families Now course, unless the court grants a waiver. |
| Course name | Two Families Now (court-approved co-parenting education course) |
| Legal basis | Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-23 (issued Sept. 20, 2023; amended Jan. 22, 2024, effective Feb. 12, 2024) |
| Deadline | Three clocks under Standing Order 3-23: register for the course within 30 calendar days of service of the complaint, complete it within 30 days of registering, and file your Certificate of Completion with the court no later than 14 calendar days after finishing. The court may impose sanctions for failure to complete it. |
| Typical length | 4 hours — online and self-paced (computer, tablet, or smartphone); the course stays available for 30 days after purchase. |
| Typical cost | $49 per parent, paid to the provider at registration. Parents who cannot afford it may file an Affidavit of Indigency (G.L. c. 261, § 27B); an approved fee waiver is uploaded at the Two Families Now website when registering. |
| In person or online? | Online classes accepted |
Massachusetts-specific rules to know
- Joint no-fault divorces are exempt by design: a Complaint for Divorce filed jointly under G.L. c. 208, § 1A is excluded from the requirement, and filing a written custody/parenting-time agreement with the court is a ground for waiver.
- Waivers (via Motion CJD 444) may be granted for behavior that makes parental communication unsafe, language barriers, incarceration or other unavailability, a filed written agreement, prior completion of the course, or where justice otherwise indicates — and a waiver for one parent does not automatically cover the other.
- The paperwork trail is specific: register within 30 days of service, finish within 30 days of registering, and file the Certificate of Completion within 14 days of finishing; the court can sanction a parent who does not.
- A judge may also order the course in post-judgment cases (modification or contempt) involving disputed custody or parenting time, and in any domestic-relations case with minor children.
- Information and documents submitted in the course are not discoverable, and unless a written agreement is on file, custody/parenting time is presumed disputed at filing.
Find an approved divorce-education class in Massachusetts
Start with the official state or court list — that's the one the Probate and Family Court division handling your case is most likely to accept — then confirm the specific course with your court or clerk:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for divorce-education classes in Massachusetts — then check any provider against the official guidance above and your court's order before enrolling.
Divorce education vs. a parenting class: "divorce education" focuses on the divorce process itself and how it affects children, while a court-ordered parenting class is the broader custody / co-parenting requirement. In many states the two overlap or are the same course. Read our overview of how court-ordered parenting classes work.
Source & accuracy: compiled from the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and official Massachusetts court sources. Requirements change and can vary by county and case — always confirm the course, format, hours, cost, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: mass.gov/probate-and-family-court-rules/probate-and-family-court-standing-order-3-23-co-parenting-education-course-for-married-and-unmarried-parents, mass.gov/doc/notice-to-parents-mandatory-attendance-at-online-co-parenting-education-course-two-families-now-cjd-915/download, twofamiliesnow.com/mass.