Can I use my Civly records in a Massachusetts custody case?

Civly is built so the record holds up. Every message is SHA-256 hashed, timestamped and stored so any later alteration is detectable, and you can export a complete PDF transcript for your Probate and Family Court matter. Whether a particular record is admitted is always the court's decision — rules of evidence vary by state and by judge — so ask your attorney how to present it. This is general information, not legal advice.

How much does Civly cost for Massachusetts parents?

Civly costs $79 per year per parent (or $7.99/month) — the same price nationwide. That's about $1.52/week. OurFamilyWizard's cheapest tier with its Writing Assistant is $149.99 per parent per year, and certified records sit on its $216 Premium tier — published pricing, August 2026. There are no hidden fees, no per-message charges, and no upsells. Everything is included: AI messaging, custody calendar, expense tracking, and timestamped PDF exports with verification codes.

Can my Massachusetts attorney access Civly?

You can export a complete, timestamped PDF of your messages, calendar and expenses at any time and send it straight to your Massachusetts family law attorney. You can also share a read-only calendar link with anyone you choose.

Co-parenting in Massachusetts, without the 10 p.m. scramble

The school email. The $120 receipt. The pickup you have to confirm again. Hand Civly any of it as it arrived and it lands on one calendar both houses read — and if you ever need the record for Probate and Family Court, where MA custody matters are heard, it's already there. You won't be building it at 10 p.m.

Start tonight — $79/year

Set up your side tonight · Cancel anytime · 30-day refund by email

Probate and Family Court

handles custody in MA

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, § 31

custody statute

Massachusetts custody law

Massachusetts courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child and may grant shared legal and/or physical custody.

What Massachusetts courts consider in custody decisions

Massachusetts courts determine custody based on 'the happiness and welfare of the children' under ch. 208, § 31. Unlike most states, Massachusetts does not have a comprehensive statutory list of best interest factors — the standard is developed primarily through case law. Key considerations include whether the child's present or past living conditions adversely affect physical, mental, moral, or emotional health, each parent's ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment, and the child's relationship with each parent. Under § 31A, a rebuttable presumption exists that it is not in the child's best interest to be placed in the sole custody, shared legal custody, or shared physical custody of a parent who has a pattern or serious incident of abuse. Shared legal custody cannot be ordered over the objection of a parent who has been the victim of domestic violence by the other parent.

How the custody process works in Massachusetts

Massachusetts custody cases are filed in Probate and Family Court. Married parents address custody through divorce proceedings, while unmarried parents file under ch. 209C in the same court. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate the family situation and provide a written report with recommendations. Massachusetts does not have a mandatory mediation requirement, but the Probate and Family Court offers voluntary conciliation and mediation services in many divisions. Parents may also engage a parenting coordinator to resolve ongoing disputes.

Key Massachusetts custody statutes

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, § 31
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, § 31A
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, § 10

How Civly helps Massachusetts parents

One week, both houses, one version

Paste the school email or a calendar link and the events build themselves. Color-coded custody schedule from your own parenting plan. Share a read-only link with grandparents, attorneys, or mediators.

Say it how it comes out. Send the calm version.

Type or speak what you really feel — Civly writes the calm version — the one you would not cringe at if it were read back later. Your vent stays private and never enters an export. What you send is what gets kept.

Snap the receipt, skip the math

Snap a receipt or forward an email. AI extracts the amount. Your co-parent approves or disputes. Everything documented, timestamped, and exportable for your attorney.

Records your attorney can work with

Every message is timestamped, and exports as a certified PDF with a SHA-256 hash and a code anyone can check at civly.com/verify. How to present it in Massachusetts's Probate and Family Court system is your attorney's call, and whether a record is admitted is always the court's decision.

Pricing comparison

Civly

$79/year

or $7.99/month

AI message rewriting
Custody calendar
Expense tracking
Timestamped PDF exports
Certified exports with verification codes

OurFamilyWizard Essentials

$149.99/year

Their cheapest tier that includes Writing Assistant. Cheaper OFW tiers exist without it. Per parent, list price August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

You don't need their agreement to start

Set up the calendar, log what's owed, draft the message you have to send tonight. Invite them when you're ready — the shared parts switch on the day they join.

Start tonight — $79/year

30-day money-back guarantee. Available in every state.

Cities in Massachusetts

Civly serves co-parents across Massachusetts. Find local court info and resources for your city.

Boston

Suffolk County

Civly is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. Custody law and the rules of evidence vary from state to state, and individual judges apply them differently. For advice about your own case, speak to a family law attorney licensed in Massachusetts. Civly launched in 2026 and is not named in many court orders yet — if your order already requires a specific platform, keep using it and ask your attorney before switching.