Marriage—also known as matrimony or wedlock—is the legal and cultural process by which two people join their separate lives as one. The contractual rights and obligations of the parties to a marriage are generally defined by the state, as provided in the state’s statutes (often in the family code), unless otherwise agreed by the parties in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. Marriage is intended to last until death, but is often terminated sooner by separation or divorce.
In Massachusetts, marriage is legally recognized as a union between two people, which establishes rights and obligations between them as defined by state statutes. These laws are primarily found in the Massachusetts General Laws, which cover aspects such as the eligibility criteria for marriage, the process of obtaining a marriage license, and the legal effects of marriage on property, inheritance, and other legal matters. Couples in Massachusetts may also enter into prenuptial or postnuptial agreements to alter or specify the terms of their marriage contract, particularly regarding property and financial rights. While marriage is intended to be a lifelong commitment, it can be dissolved through legal separation or divorce, which is governed by the state's domestic relations laws. The process of divorce addresses the division of property, alimony, child custody, and support, among other issues.