Massachusetts Form CJD 301T is the Financial Statement (Short Form) that every party in a Probate and Family Court case must file when their gross annual income is less than $75,000, sworn to under the pains and penalties of perjury and filed under Supplemental Probate Court Rule 401. The form gives the judge a complete snapshot of your income, expenses, assets, and debts so the court can decide alimony, child support, attorney’s fees, and division of property.
Filers who get this form wrong often face contempt motions, attorney’s fees awards, or even a finding that they hid assets, which can reopen a final judgment years later. The Massachusetts Trial Court reports that the Probate and Family Court handles roughly 40,000 divorce filings each year, and the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court requires a sworn financial statement in nearly every contested matter. Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete every line and schedule of the official CJD 301T form without triggering a rejection
- 💵 How to convert yearly, monthly, and biweekly numbers into the weekly figures the form demands
- 👨👩👧 Three full walkthroughs based on real divorce, modification, and paternity scenarios
- 📎 Which Rule 410 attachments must travel with your form and what happens if any are missing
- ⚖️ How to file by mail, in person at the Registry, or through the eFileMA portal and protect your privacy
What Form CJD 301T Is and Who Must File It
Form CJD 301T is the short-form Financial Statement issued by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department. It is one of two financial disclosure forms; the other is the long-form CJD 301L, which is required when a filer’s gross annual income is $75,000 or more. The short form is shorter, but it still demands full disclosure of weekly income, weekly expenses, assets, liabilities, and certain schedules.
Every party to a divorce, separate support, paternity, modification, contempt, or custody case in the Probate and Family Court must file a financial statement under Supplemental Probate Court Rule 401. The deadline is strict: within 45 days of service of the summons, and again at any hearing where financial relief is requested. If you fail to file, the judge can sanction you, default you, or order you to pay the other side’s attorney’s fees.
The form is signed under the pains and penalties of perjury. That means a knowingly false answer is a crime under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268, Section 1, and it can also be used by the other side to reopen a divorce judgment for fraud on the court. Maria, a part-time retail worker filing her first divorce, learned that even her tip income must be listed because the court treats unreported tips as concealment if discovered later.
The current revision date is printed in the bottom-left corner of the form, and you should always download the newest version from the Massachusetts court forms library before filing.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every document below before you open the form. Filling out CJD 301T from memory almost always produces errors that get caught at the four-way conference or by the other side’s attorney. The Probate and Family Court enforces a separate disclosure rule, Supplemental Probate Court Rule 410, which forces both sides to exchange these same documents within 45 days of service.
Here is your pre-filing checklist with at least eight items, each tied to a specific reason it matters:
- Three most recent years of federal and state tax returns, with all W-2s, 1099s, and schedules. Without them, you cannot accurately list your gross weekly income, and Rule 410 makes this an automatic disclosure.
- Four most recent pay stubs from every job. These prove your year-to-date gross, the deductions on the form, and any overtime or bonus pattern.
- Statements for the past three years for every checking, savings, money-market, brokerage, retirement, and 529 account. Missing accounts read as concealment.
- Loan applications submitted in the last three years. Lenders ask about income and assets, and your answers there must match the form.
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance declarations. The form asks for the weekly cost and the cost to add a child.
- Most recent mortgage statement and a recent appraisal or Zillow estimate. The form asks for fair market value and the current mortgage balance.
- Credit card statements and any current loan balances. The liabilities section needs the creditor name, balance, and weekly payment.
- Copies of any existing court orders for child support, alimony, or wage garnishment. These reduce gross income on Schedule A or appear on the deductions line.
- Year-to-date profit and loss if you are self-employed. The self-employment Schedule B requires gross receipts, ordinary business expenses, and net earnings.
- A blank calendar to convert monthly bills to weekly amounts by multiplying by 12 and dividing by 52.
If any item is missing on filing day, write “to be provided” on the line, file a Rule 410 supplement within ten days, and serve the missing document on the other side.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official PDF lives on the Massachusetts court website, and you should always pull a fresh copy because the court updates the form when statutes or guidelines change. Download the Short Form Financial Statement (CJD 301T) directly from mass.gov, and confirm the revision date printed in the bottom-left corner matches the version your judge expects.
You have three ways to access and prepare the form. The first is a fillable PDF you type into using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can save and print. The second is a printed paper copy you can pick up free at any Probate and Family Court Registry. The third is the smart-form built into the Massachusetts eFileMA portal, which auto-saves, totals weekly figures, and flags missing fields before you submit.
If you cannot afford a printer or computer, the court service centers in Boston, Brockton, Springfield, Worcester, and other locations offer free public computers and printing for court forms. James, a self-employed contractor in Worcester, used the service center to print and scan his form and his three years of Schedule C returns at no cost.
A common misconception is that you can use a generic financial affidavit from another state or a prior version of the Massachusetts form. Judges in the Suffolk and Middlesex divisions have rejected outdated versions on sight, which can cost you a continuance and another trip to court.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out CJD 301T Line by Line
The short form has one cover page, a wages and income section, deductions, weekly expenses, counsel fees, assets, liabilities, and Schedules A and B. Use italicized sample entries below to see exactly what gets typed on the line. Every weekly number must be a true weekly figure; if your bill is monthly, multiply by 12 and divide by 52, and if it is biweekly, divide by 2. Round only at the end and never to even dollars.
Court Department, Division, and Docket Number
The header asks for the Probate and Family Court Department, the Division (the county where the case is pending), and the Docket No. assigned when the complaint was filed. Enter the division exactly as printed on your summons, such as Middlesex Division, and the docket number in the format MI24D1234DR. The docket number ties your form to your case file at the Registry.
If you do not yet have a docket number because you are filing the complaint and the financial statement at the same time, leave the docket line blank and the Registry clerk will stamp it on after assigning the case. A common mistake is writing the county only, such as Middlesex, instead of the full division name, which causes the clerk to set the form aside for correction. Filers also wrongly believe the docket number is private; it is a public record searchable on eAccess.
Aisha, a paternity filer in Hampden County, wrote her docket number as HD24W0456PA on Form 301T, which matched the summons exactly and avoided a clerk hold.
Plaintiff/Petitioner and Defendant/Respondent
The form asks for the full legal name of each party, formatted as on the complaint, not nicknames. Enter your name as MARIA T. LOPEZ in all caps if your county prefers caps; otherwise mixed case is fine, but match the complaint exactly. The other party’s name appears on the next line in the same format.
If your case is a joint petition for divorce, both names go on the Plaintiff/Petitioner line separated by and. A nuance is that name changes pending in the same divorce should still use your current legal name here, not your requested new name, because the court treats the financial statement as a current snapshot. The misconception many filers carry is that they should use a maiden name to “preserve” identity; that triggers a mismatch with bank and tax records and can be challenged.
Your Personal Information Block
This block asks for your full name, Social Security number, street address, telephone number, date of birth, occupation, employer, employer’s address, and length of employment. Federal and Massachusetts privacy rules require you to redact all but the last four digits of your Social Security number on the public file, per Trial Court Rule VIII Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records. Type XXX-XX-1234 on the form and provide the full number only on the confidential Social Security number form.
Maria writes her occupation as Retail sales associate, her employer as Target Corporation, 100 Main St., Framingham, MA, and her length of employment as 3 years 4 months. The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box instead of a street address; the court requires a street address for service of process, and a P.O. Box alone can void service. A misconception is that “occupation” should be your job title; the court wants the actual work you do, so a “Senior Specialist II” should write Customer service representative.
Number of Children Living With You and Health Insurance Coverage
The form asks for the number of children who live with you and whether health insurance coverage is available through your employer for you, your spouse, and your children. Enter a digit, such as 2, and check the boxes for each person covered. The cost of adding a child appears later, in the deductions and weekly expenses block.
A nuance: if your children split time roughly 50/50, count them as living with you only if you are the parent claimed under the parenting plan or current order; otherwise enter 0 and explain in a cover letter. The common mistake is checking “yes” for available insurance without confirming the employee-only versus family premium difference, which inflates child support under the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. The misconception is that COBRA or marketplace coverage counts as “available through employer”; it does not.
Gross Weekly Income From All Sources (Lines 1a–1m)
This is the most important section of the form, and it captures every dollar you receive before any deduction. The lines run from base pay to overtime, part-time wages, self-employment, tips, commissions, dividends, interest, pensions, Social Security, disability, unemployment, public assistance, child support received, rental income (Schedule A), and “other.” Each line is a weekly figure, so multiply your annual gross by 12/52 if you think monthly and divide by 52 if you think yearly.
For Line 1a Base pay from salary, wages, Maria earns $18 per hour for 32 hours a week, so she enters $576.00. For Line 1f Tips, a server who averages $200 per week in tips writes $200.00, even if the tips are cash. For Line 1k Public assistance, Aisha receives TAFDC of $593 monthly, which she converts to $136.85 weekly. The total of lines 1a–1m goes on the Total Gross Weekly Amount line.
The most common mistake is omitting overtime that “isn’t guaranteed”; the court counts a regular overtime pattern, and judges have imputed overtime when filers tried to hide it. The misconception is that side gigs like DoorDash or Uber are “not real income”; they are 1099 self-employment and belong on Schedule B and Line 1d.
Itemize Deductions From Gross Income (Lines 2a–2g)
This block lists federal income tax, state income tax, FICA/Medicare, medical insurance, union dues, and retirement deductions. Pull each number directly from your most recent pay stub and convert to weekly. For example, if your stub shows federal withholding of $120.00 biweekly, enter $60.00 on Line 2a. Add the lines and enter the Total Deductions on the totals line.
Only mandatory deductions and court-ordered withholdings count here. A common mistake is including voluntary 401(k) contributions above the employer match or HSA contributions on Line 2g; only the mandatory pension contribution belongs there, and over-deducting hides income from the child support calculation. The misconception is that the deduction list controls your tax bill; the form is a snapshot, not a tax filing.
Adjusted Net Weekly Income
The form computes Adjusted Net Weekly Income as Total Gross Weekly Amount minus Total Deductions. Write the difference on this line, even if it is the same as your take-home. For Maria, $576.00 minus $144.20 in deductions equals $431.80.
This number drives the child support guidelines worksheet, so accuracy matters. The common mistake is rounding to even dollars or “matching” your direct deposit, which usually undercounts because it treats voluntary deductions as mandatory. A misconception is that the net figure controls alimony; alimony is based on gross income under G.L. c. 208, § 53.
Other Deductions From Salary (Line 3)
This line captures child support paid for other children, alimony to a prior spouse, court-ordered garnishments, and similar deductions. Enter each on its own short line with the recipient’s name, such as Child support to J. Doe – $85.00 weekly. Add the total and write it on Line 3.
These deductions are credited against your gross when calculating support for the current case, so missing them costs you real money each week. The common mistake is listing voluntary payments to a former partner; only court-ordered payments belong here. The misconception is that informal child support paid to a relative for a child you do not have a legal obligation to support belongs here; it does not.
Net Weekly Income
Net Weekly Income equals Adjusted Net Weekly Income minus Line 3. This is the number the judge looks at first when scanning the form, so double-check the math. James, the self-employed contractor, lists $1,250 gross weekly from his Schedule B, $312.50 in self-employment tax and estimated income tax deductions, and $0 on Line 3, for a Net Weekly Income of $937.50.
A common mistake is forgetting that self-employed filers still owe self-employment FICA (15.3%) and should reflect that on Line 2c. The misconception is that Net Weekly Income on this form must match the bottom line of your tax return; it will not, because tax returns adjust for depreciation and other items the court disregards.
Gross Yearly Income From Prior Year
The form asks you to state your gross income for the prior calendar year, drawn from your W-2 box 1, 1099s, and Schedule C net before depreciation. Enter the figure as a single dollar amount, such as $31,200.00, and tie it to the tax returns attached under Rule 410.
The common mistake is using AGI from the 1040 instead of gross; AGI deducts retirement and HSA contributions and undercounts. The misconception is that the prior-year figure does not matter if it differs from current pace; judges use it to test whether your current weekly figure is realistic.
Weekly Expenses
The expenses block lists rent or mortgage, homeowners or tenants insurance, maintenance, heat, electricity, telephone, water, food, house supplies, laundry and cleaning, clothing, life insurance, medical and dental insurance not deducted from pay, uninsured medicals, motor vehicle expenses, transportation other than vehicle, day care, school expenses, child support paid (if not on Line 3), entertainment, cable, internet, charitable contributions, and other. Convert every monthly bill by multiplying by 12 and dividing by 52, and enter each as a weekly number.
For example, Maria’s rent of $1,400 monthly converts to $323.08 weekly, and her electric bill of $120 monthly becomes $27.69. Total all lines and write the Total Weekly Expenses at the bottom. The common mistake is padding expenses to look “broke,” which judges spot quickly when expenses exceed income with no debt growth. The misconception is that you should list only your share of joint expenses; list what you actually pay, even if the other party reimburses, and note any reimbursement on the “other” line.
Counsel Fees
The form asks for legal fees incurred to date, retainer paid, and amount still owed. Enter the gross billed (such as $3,500), the retainer paid ($2,500), and the balance due ($1,000). If you are pro se, write $0.00 on each line.
This section supports a request for attorney’s fees under G.L. c. 208, § 38, which lets a judge order the wealthier spouse to pay the other’s fees. The common mistake is omitting unpaid fees, which forfeits the fee request. The misconception is that listing fees waives attorney-client privilege; it does not.
Assets
The assets block lists real estate (with fair market value, mortgage, and equity), motor vehicles (year/make/model, value, loan, equity), cash and bank accounts, stocks/bonds/mutual funds, retirement (pension, IRA, 401(k), 403(b)), life insurance cash value, household furnishings, and other. Enter the fair market value for each, not your purchase price.
For example, James lists his 2018 Ford F-150 at $18,000 with an $8,500 loan balance, leaving $9,500 equity. He lists his Fidelity 401(k) at $42,300. The common mistake is listing only assets in your sole name; all assets in which you have a legal or equitable interest must be listed, even joint accounts. The misconception is that retirement accounts are “off limits”; they are marital property under G.L. c. 208, § 34 and the Wooters v. Wooters line of cases.
Liabilities
The liabilities block asks for creditor name, nature of debt, date incurred, amount due, and weekly payment. List every credit card, personal loan, student loan, medical bill, and tax debt. Enter the Discover card – credit card – 03/2021 – $4,200 – $35.00 weekly style entry on each line.
The common mistake is omitting student loans because they are in deferment; deferred loans still count as liabilities. The misconception is that debts in only your spouse’s name are not yours to list; if you are a co-signer or joint account holder, list them with a note.
Schedule A: Rental Income
If you receive rental income from real estate, complete Schedule A with the gross rents, mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, repairs, and net rental income. Net rental income carries up to Line 1l on the front page.
The common mistake is reporting net rental income before depreciation; the court generally adds depreciation back. The misconception is that Airbnb income belongs on Schedule A; the court typically treats it as self-employment on Schedule B if you provide services like cleaning.
Schedule B: Self-Employment or Business Income
Schedule B asks for gross receipts, ordinary and necessary expenses by category, and net business income. James lists $78,000 in gross 2025 receipts, $13,000 in tools and supplies, $8,400 in vehicle expense, and $56,600 in net business income, which he divides by 52 to get $1,088.46 on Line 1d.
The common mistake is deducting personal expenses through the business; the court will add them back. The misconception is that Schedule C depreciation reduces income for support; under Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines § I.E.4, the court adds back accelerated depreciation.
Signature Block and Notary or Pains and Penalties
You sign the form under the pains and penalties of perjury. Date the signature, print your name, and provide your address and phone. No notary is required because the perjury oath substitutes for the notary stamp.
The common mistake is signing before the form is fully complete and then writing in numbers later, which voids the oath. The misconception is that you can sign electronically with a typed name without the eFileMA portal; only the portal’s verified e-signature counts as a valid signature.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three full walkthroughs that show what gets typed on Form CJD 301T from header to signature.
Scenario 1: Maria, Part-Time Retail Worker Filing for Divorce
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and Docket | Middlesex Division — MI26D0987DR |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | Maria T. Lopez / Carlos R. Lopez |
| Occupation/Employer | Retail sales associate / Target Corp., Framingham, MA |
| Line 1a Base Pay | $576.00 |
| Line 1f Tips | $0.00 |
| Total Gross Weekly | $576.00 |
| Total Deductions | $144.20 |
| Net Weekly Income | $431.80 |
| Total Weekly Expenses | $612.40 |
| Assets — 2015 Honda Civic | FMV $7,000 / Loan $0 / Equity $7,000 |
| Liabilities — Discover Card | $4,200 balance / $35 weekly |
| Signature | Signed under pains and penalties of perjury, 05/22/2026 |
Scenario 2: James, Self-Employed Contractor Filing a Modification
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and Docket | Worcester Division — WO22D0456DR (Modification) |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | James P. Murphy / Linda K. Murphy |
| Occupation/Employer | General contractor / Murphy Home Repair LLC |
| Line 1d Self-Employment | $1,088.46 |
| Schedule B Gross Receipts | $78,000.00 (2025) |
| Schedule B Net Income | $56,600.00 |
| Total Deductions | $312.50 |
| Net Weekly Income | $775.96 |
| Total Weekly Expenses | $890.15 |
| Assets — 2018 Ford F-150 | FMV $18,000 / Loan $8,500 / Equity $9,500 |
| Assets — Fidelity 401(k) | $42,300 |
| Liabilities — SBA Loan | $22,000 balance / $90 weekly |
Scenario 3: Aisha, Unemployed Parent in a Paternity Action
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Division and Docket | Hampden Division — HD26W0456PA |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | Aisha N. Brown / Devonte M. Carter |
| Occupation/Employer | Unemployed / N/A |
| Line 1k Public Assistance (TAFDC) | $136.85 |
| Line 1m Other (SNAP) — note SNAP is excluded for support but disclosed | $0.00 (disclosed in cover letter) |
| Total Gross Weekly | $136.85 |
| Total Deductions | $0.00 |
| Net Weekly Income | $136.85 |
| Total Weekly Expenses | $298.40 |
| Assets — Bank of America Checking | $112.00 |
| Liabilities — Mass General Hospital | $1,800 balance / $10 weekly |
| Signature | Signed under pains and penalties of perjury, 05/22/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form CJD 301T
Massachusetts gives you three filing channels for the financial statement, and each has its own rules. The form itself carries no filing fee, but it must be served on the other party along with the Rule 410 mandatory disclosure documents.
By mail, send the original to the Registry of Probate in the division where the case is pending. The address list is on the Probate and Family Court locations page. Use certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of filing. Processing time runs 5–10 business days, and the date-stamped copy returns to you in the self-addressed envelope you should always include.
In person, walk the original and one copy to the Registry counter during business hours, typically 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk stamps both copies and hands one back as your proof of filing. There is no fee, and same-day filing is the practical advantage. Bring a photo ID, since some divisions require it.
Through eFileMA, log into the Massachusetts eFileMA portal, select your case, and upload the completed CJD 301T as a PDF. The portal accepts credit card or e-check for any related filing fees (the financial statement itself has none). Processing time is usually 1–2 business days, and the portal sends an email confirmation that serves as proof of filing.
You must also serve the form on the other party or their attorney by mail or hand delivery, because Rule 401 requires service, not just filing. Keep your stamped copy, your service certificate, and your Rule 410 cover letter together in a single folder for the duration of the case.
What Happens After You File
After you file, the Registry dockets the financial statement and the judge has it for any motion hearing or pretrial conference. The other side will review it line by line and may serve interrogatories or request supporting documents. If your numbers are credible and supported by Rule 410 attachments, the case usually advances to a four-way conference or a temporary orders hearing.
If the other side challenges your numbers, the judge can order supplemental discovery, a forensic accountant, or even imputed income if the form looks unrealistic. For example, if your weekly expenses exceed your weekly income with no growing debt, the judge will assume undisclosed income. Massachusetts case law, including Frederick v. Frederick, 478 Mass. 612, treats a financial statement as an evidentiary document the judge can rely on at trial.
The form must be updated and refiled any time circumstances change materially or at any new hearing where finances are at issue. Most divisions require a fresh statement filed no more than 60 days before each hearing. Filers who reuse a stale form risk a continuance and a sanctions motion.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out CJD 301T
- Mixing weekly and monthly figures. A monthly mortgage on a weekly line inflates expenses fourfold and destroys credibility.
- Hiding side-gig income. Failing to list DoorDash, Uber, or cash side work is concealment, and the other side often has Venmo records.
- Listing AGI instead of gross. AGI deducts retirement contributions and undercounts income for alimony.
- Padding expenses to fit income. Judges spot this instantly and discount your entire form.
- Omitting joint accounts. All joint accounts must be listed even if you do not control them.
- Skipping Schedule B for self-employment. Self-employed filers must complete Schedule B, not just write a number on Line 1d.
- Using a P.O. Box only. Service of process requires a street address.
- Signing before the form is complete. The perjury oath is voided if numbers are added later.
- Forgetting Rule 410 attachments. No tax returns or pay stubs means a sanctions motion.
- Filing an outdated revision of the form. The clerk will reject it on sight.
- Listing the full Social Security number. This violates Trial Court Rule VIII on public access.
- Failing to refile before each hearing. Stale forms over 60 days old draw a continuance.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do convert every figure to a true weekly number, because the form is built on weekly math.
- Do attach all Rule 410 documents within 45 days, because the rule is mandatory.
- Do redact your Social Security number to the last four digits, because the file is public.
- Do list every asset and liability, even if it is in your spouse’s name and you are a co-signer.
- Do sign under the pains and penalties of perjury only after the form is complete.
- Do keep a date-stamped copy of the filed form for your records, because clerk files can be slow to update.
- Do update the form before each hearing, because judges expect a current snapshot.
Don’t:
- Don’t round to even dollars, because precision signals credibility.
- Don’t omit overtime, tips, or bonuses, because patterns are imputed when hidden.
- Don’t use the long-form CJD 301L if you earn under $75,000, because the wrong form draws a clerk hold.
- Don’t list voluntary 401(k) contributions in the mandatory deductions line, because only mandatory items count.
- Don’t file without serving the other side, because Rule 401 requires service.
- Don’t treat the form as confidential; only the SSN attachment is confidential.
- Don’t hand-write illegibly, because the clerk can refuse to docket an unreadable form.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se:
- Cost savings, because you avoid the $250–$400 hourly rate of a Massachusetts family law attorney.
- Speed, because you control your own schedule and do not wait on counsel.
- Direct knowledge of your finances, because no one knows your bills like you do.
- Free help is available at the court service centers and through MassLegalHelp.
- Simple cases with low income and few assets often resolve without a lawyer.
Cons of filing pro se:
- High error rate, because the form’s weekly math and Schedule B traps catch most pro se filers.
- No strategic advice on what to disclose or when, which costs in negotiations.
- No protection against opposing counsel who will use your form against you.
- Risk of perjury exposure if you misclassify income.
- Difficulty handling Schedule B when you are self-employed.
A practical middle ground is limited assistance representation, where an attorney reviews your form for one or two hours under SJC Rule 1:07. Janet, a 22-year marriage filer in Norfolk County, used a two-hour LAR review and caught a $9,000 understatement of her Vanguard IRA before her pretrial conference.
Short Form vs. Long Form at a Glance
| Feature | CJD 301T Short Form |
|---|---|
| Income threshold | Under $75,000 gross per year |
| Length | 4 pages |
| Schedules | Schedule A (rental), Schedule B (self-employment) |
| When to use | Most pro se divorce, paternity, modification cases under $75K |
| Long-form alternative | CJD 301L Long Form at $75K and above |
FAQs
Do I file CJD 301T or CJD 301L if I earned $74,000 last year but $80,000 this year?
No. Use the long-form CJD 301L because the threshold is based on current gross annual income, not last year’s, and crossing $75,000 requires the long form.
Can I file Form CJD 301T electronically?
Yes. The eFileMA portal accepts CJD 301T as a PDF upload, and the portal returns a stamped copy by email within one to two business days.
Is there a filing fee for the financial statement?
No. Form CJD 301T itself carries no fee, although the underlying complaint or modification may carry its own filing fee at the Registry.
Do I have to write my full Social Security number on the form?
No. Trial Court Rule VIII requires you to redact all but the last four digits and provide the full number on the separate confidential information sheet.
Do I list my spouse’s income on my own Form 301T?
No. Each party files a separate financial statement showing only their own income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, and the spouse files their own.
Should I include SNAP and TAFDC on Line 1k?
Yes. Public assistance must be disclosed on Line 1k for transparency, although SNAP is excluded from income under the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines.
Do I have to list a 401(k) my spouse cannot touch?
Yes. All retirement accounts in your name are marital property under G.L. c. 208, § 34, and must appear in the assets section.
Can I leave the docket number blank on the financial statement?
Yes. Leave it blank only if the case has not been assigned a number yet, and the Registry clerk will stamp it on at filing.
Do I count my fiancé’s income on the form?
No. Only your own income goes on your form; a fiancé’s contributions can be noted in the “other” expenses or income line if they pay your bills.
Is the form confidential once filed?
No. Financial statements are part of the public court file, which is why the Social Security number and account numbers must be redacted.
Do I need a notary for CJD 301T?
No. The form is signed under the pains and penalties of perjury, which substitutes for a notary stamp under Massachusetts practice.
Should I list my student loans even if they are in deferment?
Yes. Deferred student loans are still liabilities and must appear with the creditor, balance, and current weekly payment of zero if applicable.
Do I need to refile the form before every hearing?
Yes. Most divisions require a financial statement no more than 60 days old at any hearing where financial relief is at issue.
What happens if I forget to attach my tax returns?
No sanction is automatic, but the other side can move to compel under Rule 410 and the judge can award fees against you.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form CJD 301S (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form CJD 302 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form CJD 305 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form CJD 401 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form MPC 170 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form MPC 401 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form 1 (w/Examples) + FAQs