Cloutier Hay v. Cloutier

In Ross v. Ross, 385 Mass. 30 (1982), this court dealt with the issue whether G. L. c. 208, § 34, as appearing in St. 1974, c. 565, effective October 17, 1974, was applied properly to a divorce proceeding in which a judgment nisi of divorce was entered on May 23, 1974, and became a judgment absolute after October 17, 1974. We held that G. L. c. 208, § 34, applied, but made it clear that we did not reach the issue whether G. L. c. 208, § 34, would apply retroactively to a judgment of divorce that became absolute before October 17, 1974. This case presents that issue. We hold today that G. L.…