Equitable Division of Property

Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state meaning that all property, whenever or however acquired, regardless of legal title, is subject to equal or unequal division.
In Massachusetts under "Section 34" the judge must consider 15 mandatory factors before making an equitable property division or awarding alimony:
length of the marriage, conduct of the parties during the marriage, age, health, station in life (life-style), occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties, opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income, present and future needs of the children of the marriage
The court may also consider the:
contribution of each of the parties in the acquisition, preservation or appreciation in value of their respective estates; contribution of each of the parties as a homemaker to the family unit