I provide divorce mediation services for all cities and towns in Bristol County. With over 1,800 Massachusetts divorces successfully mediated, I am familiar with the Bristol County Probate and Family Court, its judges, its procedures, and its filing requirements.
All sessions are conducted via Zoom — no need to travel to an office. I prepare every court document and mail them to you with signing instructions and a pre-addressed envelope to the correct courthouse. Most couples complete mediation in two sessions. For a detailed walkthrough, see our mediation service page.
Bristol County is located in southeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Norfolk County to the north, Plymouth County to the east, Rhode Island to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. With a population of approximately 580,000, the county seat is Taunton.
Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Mansfield, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Westport
Bristol County includes both urban areas — Fall River and New Bedford, two of the state’s most affordable cities — and affluent suburban towns like Easton, Mansfield, and Seekonk. Divorce cases here span the full spectrum from straightforward to financially complex, and I have experience across the entire range.
Many Bristol County residents commute to Providence or Boston, and some work in Rhode Island while living in Massachusetts. Because Massachusetts divorce law governs regardless of where you work, you need a mediator who understands MA law — not Rhode Island law.
The county’s two courthouse locations (Taunton and Fall River) are convenient for residents across this geographically large county. As your mediator, I am familiar with both courts’ procedures and will address your filing envelope to the correct location.
Call Julia Rueschemeyer at 413-253-7484 for a free phone consultation about divorce mediation in Bristol County, or schedule an appointment online.
How mediation works | Transparent pricing | Client testimonials
Bristol County has two Probate and Family Court locations. Both serve all 20 Bristol County towns — you can file at either courthouse.
For a statewide directory, see our Where to File for Divorce in Massachusetts guide. For an overview of how Massachusetts divorce law works across all 14 counties, see Divorce Mediation in Massachusetts.
Address: 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: (508) 977-6040
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Virtual Registry (Zoom): M-F 9-12 & 2-4
Parking: Municipal parking lots and garages within walking distance. Metered parking surrounds the court — allow extra time.
Address: 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720
Phone: (508) 672-1751
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
| Role | Name | Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Judge | Hon. Susan Jacobs | 2013 |
| Judge | Hon. Paul M. Cronan | 2017 |
| Judge | Hon. Kimberly Moses Smith | 2020 |
| Judge | Hon. Bethany Brown | 2025 |
| Register of Probate | Thomas C. Hoye Jr. | 2019 |
Judicial assignments are subject to change. Confirm with the court registry.
If you and your spouse last lived together in Bristol County and at least one of you still lives here, you file in Bristol County. Otherwise, either spouse can file in their current county of residence. For complete filing rules, see our where to file guide. For a step-by-step walkthrough of every form and the filing process, see our uncontested divorce filing guide. The filing fee is $215.
Looking for information specific to your city? See our city-specific guides:
I mediate divorces throughout Massachusetts. See also our Divorce Mediation in Massachusetts overview.