Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers

Section 3 - Superintendence of Inferior Courts; Power to Issue Writs and Process - Section 3. The supreme judicial court shall have general superintendence...

Section 3a - Administrative Assistant - Section 3A. The justices of the supreme judicial court may...

Section 3b - Conferences of Judges - Section 3B. The justices of the supreme judicial court may...

Section 4 - Removal of Officers - Section 4. A majority of the justices may, if in...

Section 4a - Transfer of Causes Between Supreme Judicial Court and Lower Courts - Section 4A. The supreme judicial court or a justice thereof...

Section 5 - Questions of Law; Hearing by Full Court - Section 5. Questions of law arising upon exceptions, report, or...

Section 6 - Questions of Law; Reservation - Section 6. Questions of law arising upon a trial or...

Section 7 - Questions of Law; Argument; Order - Section 7. Unless the court for cause shown directs otherwise,...

Section 8 - Judgment or Rescript After Decision - Section 8. The full court shall, as soon as may...

Section 9 - Records and Rescripts; Contents - Section 9. The records and rescripts which are made after...

Section 10 - Frivolous Appeals; Costs and Interest - Section 10. If, upon the hearing of an appeal in...

Section 12 - Law Sittings; Adjournments - Section 12. The supreme judicial court shall hold sittings for...

Section 14 - Transfer of Cases by Full Court - Section 14. The full court sitting in any county, or...

Section 15 - Criminal Cases; Hearings - Section 15. The exceptions alleged at the trial of a...

Section 16 - Hearing in Boston of Questions Arising in Other Counties - Section 16. If the justice before whom an action or...

Section 17 - Jury Sittings; Times and Places of Sittings - Section 17. Jury sittings of the court shall be held...

Section 18 - Sittings at Fall River; Adjournments - Section 18. If the public business so requires, the court...

Section 19 - Dukes or Nantucket County Cases; Place of Trial - Section 19. An action, suit or proceeding arising or pending...

Section 20 - Powers of Justices at Jury and Law Sittings - Section 20. Four or more justices present at a jury...

Section 21 - Audit of Accounts - Section 21. The full court, sitting for the commonwealth, shall...

Section 22 - Salaries of Justices; Expenses; Practice of Law Prohibited - Section 22. The chief justice shall receive a salary of...

Section 23 - Court Employees - Section 23. The justices of the court shall be allowed...

Section 24 - Services of Retired Justices - Section 24. (a) A retired chief justice or associate justice...

Section 25 - Disability Benefits Project - Section 25. There is hereby created under the superintendence of...

Section 26 - Program for Evaluation of Judicial Performance - Section 26. A majority of the supreme judicial court, in...

Section 26a - Questionnaires for Performance Evaluation Program; Contents; Distribution, Collection, etc.; Frequency of Evaluations - Section 26A. The program for performance evaluation, as described in...

Section 26b - Judicial Evaluation Standards; Disciplinary Procedures - Section 26B. The majority of the supreme judicial court shall...

Section 27 - Pre-Service and In-Service Training Programs for Justices; Administration - Section 27. The supreme judicial court may adopt rules requiring...

Section 28 - Leave of Absence for Study, Research, etc.; Restrictions - Section 28. The chief justice of the supreme judicial court...

Chapter 211a - Appeals Court

Section 1 - Appeals Court; Establishment - Section 1. There shall be an intermediate appellate court to...

Section 2 - Justices; Salaries; Expenses; Limitation of Practice - Section 2. The chief justice shall receive a salary of...

Section 3 - Quorum; Panels; Presiding Justice - Section 3. Three justices shall constitute a quorum to decide...

Section 4 - Sitting of Court; Quarters and Facilities; Sessions - Section 4. The appeals court shall sit in the city...

Section 5 - Powers and Authority; Jurisdiction - Section 5. The appeals court shall be vested with all...

Section 6 - Clerk and Assistant Clerks; Terms; Salaries - Section 6. The justices of the appeals court shall appoint...

Section 7 - Estimate for Maintenance of Court and Revenue - Section 7. The chief justice shall annually prepare and submit...

Section 8 - Clerk to Serve as Administrative Officer; Cost of Maintaining Office; Duties - Section 8. The clerk shall serve as the administrative officer...

Section 9 - Decisions, Opinions and Rescripts - Section 9. In the determination of causes, all decisions of...

Section 10 - Concurrent Appellate Jurisdiction With Supreme Judicial Court; Limitations - Section 10. Subject to such further appellate review by the...

Section 11 - Further Appellate Review of Certain Cases by Supreme Judicial Court - Section 11. There shall be no further appellate review by...

Section 12 - Report to Supreme Judicial Court; Transfers to and From Supreme Judicial Court - Section 12. The appeals court may, prior to or after...

Section 13 - Presentation of Cases; Law Governing; Adoption of Rules - Section 13. The law governing the presentation of cases to...

Section 14 - Vacancy in Office of Chief Justice - Section 14. In the case of a vacancy in the...

Section 15 - Frivolous Appeals or Exceptions; Costs and Interest - Section 15. If, upon the hearing of an appeal or...

Section 16 - Services of Retired Justices - Section 16. (a) A retired chief justice or associate justice...

Section 17 - Leave of Absence; Restrictions - Section 17. The chief justice of the appeals court may,...

Chapter 211b - Trial Court of the Commonwealth

Section 1 - Organization - Section 1. There shall be a trial court of the...

Section 2 - Number of Trial Court Justices; Appointments - Section 2. There shall be 82 justices appointed to the...

Section 3 - Justices Assigned to Other Departments; Powers and Duties - Section 3. Any justice appointed to a department, or a...

Section 4 - Salaries; Practice of Law; Expenses; Vacation and Sick Leave; Special Justices - Section 4. The salaries of the justices of the trial...

Section 5 - Chief Justices; Appointment; Term; Removal - Section 5. The office of the chief justice of a...

Section 5a - Deputy Court Administrators; Appointment; Term; Removal; Submission of Disputes to Chief Justice of the Trial Court and Court Administrator - Section 5A. The office of the deputy court administrator of...

Section 6 - Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Appointment; Term; Removal - Section 6. The office of the chief justice of the...

Section 6a - Advisory Board - Section 6A. There shall be an advisory board to assist...

Section 6b - Office of Court Management; Court Administrator - Section 6B. There shall be an office of court management...

Section 7 - Vacancies in Office - Section 7. In the case of a vacancy in the...

Section 8 - Advisory Committee on Personnel Standards - Section 8. There shall be an advisory committee on personnel...

Section 9 - Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Powers and Duties - Section 9. The chief justice of the trial court, in...

Section 9a - Employees of Chief Justice for Administration and Management; Powers and Duties - Section 9A. The court administrator, subject to the superintendence power...

Section 9b - Domestic and Sexual Violence Training for Court Personnel - Section 9B. The chief justice of the trial court department...

Section 10 - Chief Justice and Deputy Court Administrators; Powers and Duties - Section 10. Subject to the superintendence authority of the supreme...

Section 10a - First Justices; Powers and Duties - Section 10A. A first justice, in addition to his judicial...

Section 10b - Appointment of Assistant Clerks - Section 10B. (a) The exclusive authority to select and appoint...

Section 10c - Limitation of Powers, Duties or Responsibilities of Clerks or Registers of Probate - Section 10C. The general superintendence and administrative authority of the...

Section 10d - Court Officers; Applicants for Appointment as Court Officer; Written Examination; Investigation and Interview; Promotion - Section 10D. (a) Each applicant for initial appointment as a...

Section 12 - Office of Court Management; Court Administrator - Section 12. There shall be an office of court management...

Section 13 - Estimates of Expenses, Costs and Revenue - Section 13. The first justice of each division or court...

Section 14 - Services of Retired Justices - Section 14. (a) A retired justice of the trial court...

Section 16 - Judicial Institute; Training Judicial and Nonjudicial Personnel - Section 16. The chief justice for administration and management shall...

Section 17 - Operation and Maintenance of Court Facilities; Long-Range Planning and Capital Budget Requests; Occupancy Fees - Section 17. The court administrator, in consultation with the chief...

Section 19 - Mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution Program - Section 19. The chief justice of the trial court may...

Section 20 - Leave of Absence; Restrictions - Section 20. A chief justice of the trial court may,...

Section 21 - Publication of Notice in Newspaper; Notice Requirements Deemed Met - Section 21. Whenever a department established under this chapter is...

Section 22 - Delivery of Criminal Case Disposition Information to Department of State Police - Section 22. For the purposes of updating the criminal history...

Chapter 211c - Commission on Judicial Conduct

Section 1 - Establishment; Membership; Expenses; Term; Chairman - Section 1. There shall be a commission on judicial conduct...

Section 2 - Investigations, Hearings and Recommendations - Section 2. (1) All judges of the trial court, the...

Section 3 - Report; Appropriations; Offices; Rules; Immunity; Executive Director; Proceedings - Section 3. (1) The commission shall report only to the...

Section 4 - Annual Report - Section 4. The commission shall submit annually to the general...

Section 5 - Initiation of Proceedings; Inquiry, Investigation and Evaluation; Detailed Complaint or Statement of Allegations; Formal Charges - Section 5. (1) Commission proceedings relating to the conduct of...

Section 6 - Confidentiality - Section 6. (1) Except as provided in this section, all...

Section 7 - Hearing; Recommendation for Discipline; Attorneys' Fees - Section 7. (1) The commission shall schedule a hearing without...

Section 8 - Informal Adjustment; Sanctions - Section 8. (1) With the agreement of the judge, the...

Section 9 - Charges Against Supreme Judicial Court Member - Section 9. The chief justice and the six most senior...

Section 10 - Physical or Mental Disabilities - Section 10. (1) The commission shall have authority to receive...

Section 11 - Advisory Committee - Section 11. The supreme judicial court may establish an advisory...

Chapter 211d - Committee for Public Counsel Services

Section 1 - Committee for Public Counsel Services; Establishment - Section 1. There shall be a committee for public counsel...

Section 2 - Indigency; Definition, Standards and Procedures for Determination - Section 2. The committee for public counsel services shall establish...

Section 2a - Verification of Claim of Indigency; Waiver by Claimant Allowing Access to Information; Reassessments Following Appointment of Counsel; Reporting - Section 2A. (a) Except for a person under 18 years...

Section 2b - Appointment of Counsel for Criminal Defendant Charged With Misdemeanor or Municipal Ordinance or Bylaw Violation - Section 2B. A person charged with a misdemeanor or a...

Section 3 - Accepting of Gifts, Grants or Contributions; Contracts - Section 3. Said committee may accept gifts, grants or contributions...

Section 4 - Rules and Regulations; Annual Report; Training; Rotating Appointment Mechanism - Section 4. Said committee shall adopt such rules and regulations...

Section 5 - Appointment or Assignment of Counsel - Section 5. Said committee shall establish, supervise and maintain a...

Section 6 - Public Defender and Private Counsel Divisions; Duties - Section 6. (a) In carrying out its duties as prescribed...

Section 6a - Establishment of Children and Family Law Program; Utilization of Certified Private Counsel - Section 6A. In carrying out its duties as prescribed in...

Section 6b - Payment of Counsel - Section 6B. Not more than 1 counsel assigned or appointed...

Section 8 - Assignment of Case of Indigent Accused of Murder - Section 8. Upon a determination by a court that a...

Section 9 - Division Standards - Section 9. The committee shall establish standards for the public...

Section 10 - Committee Monitoring of Standards Compliance; Review of Client Complaints - Section 10. The committee shall monitor and evaluate compliance with...

Section 11 - Compensation Rates; Limitation on Annual Billable Hours Payable; Limitation on New Appointments - [ Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2021. For text...

Section 12 - Private Counsel Compensation; Audit and Oversight Department; Submission of Invoices for Payment - Section 12. (a) The committee shall establish policies and procedures...

Section 13 - Chief Counsel; Deputies; Staff; Compensation - Section 13. The committee shall appoint a chief counsel, whose...

Section 15 - Community Advisory Board; Roxbury Community; Consultation - Section 15. The committee shall consult regularly with a community...

Section 16 - Appointment of Counsel; Sex Offender Registry Classification System - Section 16. The committee shall establish, supervise and maintain a...

Chapter 211e - Massachusetts Sentencing Commission

Section 1 - Massachusetts Sentencing Commission; Members; Powers and Duties - Section 1. (a) There is established, as an independent commission...

Section 2 - Purpose of Sentencing Commission - Section 2. The purposes of the Massachusetts sentencing commission shall...

Section 3 - Recommended Sentencing Guidelines - Section 3. (a) (1) The commission, by affirmative vote of...

Section 4 - Review of Sentence - Section 4. (a) A defendant may file a notice of...

Chapter 211f - Office of Community Corrections

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. The following terms as used in this chapter...

Section 2 - Office of Community Corrections; Executive Director - Section 2. (a) There is hereby established subject to appropriation...

Section 3 - Sentence to Community Corrections Program; Duration; Conditions; Eligibility - Section 3. (a) Any court exercising jurisdiction is authorized to...

Section 3a - Participation in a Pretrial Services Program in Lieu of Bail or as Condition of Release - [Subsections (a) and (b) applicable as provided by 2018, 72,...

Section 3b - Utilization of Programs Offered Through Community Corrections Program for Persons Not Sentenced to Community Corrections Program Under Sec. 3 - [Text of section applicable as provided by 2018, 72, Sec....

Section 4 - Community Correction Plans - Section 4. (a) The executive director is hereby authorized and...

Section 5 - Biannual Report - Section 5. The commissioner shall submit an annual report no...

Section 6 - County Community Corrections Advisory Boards - Section 6. (a) There is hereby established within each county...

Chapter 212 - The Superior Court

Section 1 - Number of Superior Court Justices; Chief Justice; Definitions - Section 1. The superior court department of the trial court...

Section 1a - Deputy Court Administrator - Section 1A. The deputy court administrator as provided under section...

Section 2 - Court; Manner of Holding - Section 2. The court shall be held by one of...

Section 3 - Exclusive Original Jurisdiction - [See Standing Order of the Supreme Court, dated July 17,...

Section 3a - Statement to Accompany Complaint for Civil Action for Damages - Section 3A. (a) A clerk-magistrate in the superior court shall...

Section 4 - Original Jurisdiction - Section 4. The court shall have original jurisdiction of all...

Section 5 - Appellate Civil Jurisdiction - Section 5. The court shall have jurisdiction of all civil...

Section 6 - Criminal Jurisdiction - Section 6. The court shall have original jurisdiction of all...

Section 7 - Indictments; Transmittal - Section 7. The clerk of the courts for the county...

Section 8 - Security in Civil or Criminal Cases to Stand on Appeal - Section 8. If an appeal or a bill of exceptions...

Section 9 - Orders or Decrees of Supreme Judicial Court; Recording - Section 9. Orders or decrees of the supreme judicial court...

Section 12 - Affirmation of Judgment on Non-Entry of Appeal - Section 12. If, upon an appeal in a civil action...

Section 13 - Late Entry of Appeal - Section 13. If, by mistake or accident, an appeal to...

Section 14 - Sittings of Court; Places - Section 14. A regular sitting or regular sittings of the...

Section 14a - Sittings; First Justices; Powers and Duties; Terms; Removal - Section 14A. Subject to section fourteen of chapter two hundred...

Section 19 - Clerk's Office - Section 19. The clerks of the courts, and in Suffolk...

Section 19a - Special Master - Section 19A. The justices of the superior court may appoint...

Section 20 - Civil and Criminal Business; Separation; Jurors - Section 20. Except as provided in section twenty-nine, in counties...

Section 20a - Central Pools of Jurors - Section 20A. The superior court may in counties where more...

Section 21 - Special Jury Sittings for Criminal Business - Section 21. The chief justice may, by written order to...

Section 22 - Return Day in Criminal Cases - Section 22. Every Monday shall be a return day in...

Section 23 - Grand Jury; Assembling - Section 23. The chief justice may, by written order to...

Section 24 - Precedence of Certain Prosecutions - Section 24. At a sitting of the court at which...

Section 25 - Continuance of Sitting - Section 25. If a case is on trial at the...

Section 26 - Records; Custody - Section 26. The records of courts which are transferred to...

Section 26a - Land Title Actions; Jury-Waived Civil Actions; Transfer to Land Court - Section 26A. The superior court may, upon the application of...

Section 29 - Speedy Trial of Persons Held in Default of Bail - Section 29. A prisoner held in jail for trial upon...

Section 30 - Labor Dispute Cases; Panel of Justices; Hearing; Review - Section 30. In any action or proceeding involving or arising...

Chapter 213 - Provisions Common to the Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts

Section 1 - Chief Justices; Vacancies - Section 1. In case of a vacancy in the office...

Section 1a - Concurrent Jurisdiction; Exception - Section 1A. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the superior court shall...

Section 1b - Questions of Law; Reservation; Report to Appeals Court - Section 1B. Questions of law arising in any proceeding of...

Section 2 - Process; Issuance in Other Counties - Section 2. If, in the opinion of a justice of...

Section 3 - Rules; Power to Make and Promulgate - Section 3. The courts shall, respectively, make and promulgate uniform...

Section 3a - Rules; Printing and Disposition of Copies - Section 3A. Copies of the rules, as provided for in...

Section 4 - Courts Always Open - Section 4. The courts shall always be open in every...

Section 5 - Transaction of Business in Any County - Section 5. The courts and the justices thereof, respectively, may...

Section 6 - Duration of Sittings; Adjournments - Section 6. Regular sittings of the courts for the transaction...

Section 7 - Simultaneous Sessions - Section 7. Two or more simultaneous sessions of the court...

Section 8 - Accounts and Expenses; Allowance - Section 8. The courts shall, respectively, receive, examine and allow...

Section 9 - Attendance of Justices - Section 9. The justices of each court, except as otherwise...

Section 10 - Adjournment to Another Shire Town - Section 10. If public business requires, either court may adjourn...

Section 11 - Adjournment in Absence of Justice; Sheriff's Duty - Section 11. If no justice is present at the time...

Section 12 - Written Order to Sheriff to Adjourn; Absence of Justice - Section 12. In such case, any justice may by a...

Chapter 214 - Equity Jurisdiction

Section 1 - General Equity Jurisdiction; Original and Concurrent - Section 1. The supreme judicial and superior courts shall have...

Section 1a - Remedy in Damages No Bar to Suit for Specific Performance of Contract - Section 1A. The fact that the plaintiff has a remedy...

Section 1b - Right of Privacy - Section 1B. A person shall have a right against unreasonable,...

Section 1c - Right to Freedom From Sexual Harassment - Section 1C. A person shall have the right to be...

Section 2 - Statutory Jurisdiction - Section 2. The supreme judicial court shall have original and...

Section 3 - Special Jurisdiction - Section 3. The supreme judicial and superior courts shall have...

Section 3a - Unauthorized Use of Name, Portrait or Picture of a Person; Injunctive Relief; Damages; Exceptions - Section 3A. Any person whose name, portrait or picture is...

Section 3b - Fair Information Practices of Public Holders; Violations of Chapter 66a; Remedies; Limitation - Section 3B. Any holder, as that term is defined in...

Section 4 - Process; Issuance - Section 4. Each court may, if necessary to secure justice...

Section 5 - Venue - Section 5. Civil actions in which equitable relief is sought...

Section 6 - Labor Disputes; Injunctions; Issuance; Conditions Precedent; Procedural Requisites - Section 6. (1) No court shall have jurisdiction to issue...

Section 6a - Jurisdictional Labor Disputes; Temporary Injunctive Relief; Arbitration; Definition - Section 6A. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of section six...

Section 7 - Construction of Wills; Notice - Section 7. In actions for the construction of wills, or...

Section 7a - Damage to the Environment; Temporary Restraining Order as Additional Remedy; Definitions; Requisites; Procedure - Section 7A. As used in this section, ''damage to the...

Section 7b - Noise Pollution; Shooting Ranges; Exemption From Liability; Hours of Operation - Section 7B. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special...

Section 8 - Determination by One Justice - Section 8. Civil actions in which equitable relief is sought...

Section 9 - Acts and Proceedings Other Than Trials Upon the Merits - Section 9. All acts and proceedings in civil actions other...

Section 10 - Cases Pending in Another County; Hearing - Section 10. A justice of either court or the full...

Section 10b - Proceedings for Application of Cy Pres Doctrine to Failure of Charitable Gifts; Deviation; Notice; Parties - Section 10B. Upon a petition commenced after the death of...

Section 11 - Issues of Fact to Be Tried by Jury - Section 11. The supreme judicial court, upon request of a...

Section 12 - Summoning of Jury - Section 12. If there is no regular sitting of the...

Section 13 - Jury Issues in Superior Court - Section 13. The superior court, upon request of a party...

Section 14 - Continuous Sitting of Courts in Boston - Section 14. A justice of the supreme judicial court and...

Section 15 - Control of Action - Section 15. A justice of either court shall not dissolve...

Section 16 - Writs of Seisin and Execution - Section 16. The courts may issue writs of seisin and...

Section 17 - Receiver's Bond - Section 17. Where a bond is required of a receiver...

Section 18 - Pending Actions; Taking Papers From Files - Section 18. The original papers in a civil action pending...

Chapter 215 - Probate Courts

Section 1 - Divisions; Definitions; Courts of Record - Section 1. The probate and family court department established under...

Section 2 - Superior Jurisdiction; Presumption - Section 2. Probate courts shall be courts of superior and...

Section 3 - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; General Provisions - Section 3. Probate courts shall have jurisdiction of probate of...

Section 4 - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; Separate Estates of Married Women; Paternity, Custody and Support of Minors - Section 4. Probate courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of...

Section 5 - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; French Spoliation Awards - Section 5. Probate courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of...

Section 6 - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; Equity Jurisdiction - Section 6. The probate and family court department shall have...

Section 6a - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; Attachment by Injunction - Section 6A. In any proceeding before a probate court, an...

Section 6c - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; Modification of Judgment as to Care and Custody of Minor Children; Temporary Orders - Section 6C. Upon a complaint, after a judgment pursuant to...

Section 7 - Attachment of Jurisdiction; Control of Case - Section 7. If a case is within the jurisdiction of...

Section 8a - Courts and Their Jurisdictions; Change of Venue - Section 8A. If it appears before final judgment or decree...

Section 9 - Persons Entitled to Appeal - Section 9. A person aggrieved by an order, judgment, decree...

Section 9a - Fiduciaries; Acts During Appeal Period - Section 9A. The acts of an executor, administrator, guardian, conservator...

Section 10 - Appellate Procedure - Section 10. The procedure upon an appeal from an order,...

Section 11 - Appeals; Report of Facts - Section 11. In cases not governed by the Massachusetts Rules...

Section 13 - Reservation and Report of Case to Appeals Court - Section 13. A judge of the probate court by whom...

Section 14 - Interlocutory Judgments and Decrees; Revision on Appeal From Final Judgments or Decrees - Section 14. Interlocutory judgments and decrees not appealed from shall...

Section 17 - Appeals; Insolvent Estates - Section 17. In the case of an estate of a...

Section 18 - Appeals; Stenographers; Appointment - Section 18. At the trial of any issue of fact...

Section 19 - Consolidation of Appeals by Appellant - Section 19. An appellant from decrees of a probate court...

Section 20 - Consolidation of Appeals by Court - Section 20. The supreme judicial court may at any time,...

Section 22 - Effect of Appeal; Interlocutory Orders - Section 22. After an appeal has been claimed and filed...

Section 23 - Effect of Appeal; Equity Cases - Section 23. An appeal from a final or interlocutory order...

Section 24 - Effect of Appeal; Separate Support and Custody Cases - Section 24. The preceding section shall apply to orders or...

Section 25 - Removal of Fiduciary; Effect of Appeal - Section 25. A decree of a probate court removing an...

Section 26 - Appeals; Decree; Force and Effect - Section 26. A decree of a probate court made under...

Section 27 - Pending Appeals; Modification of Decrees - Section 27. After an appeal is claimed from an order...

Section 28 - Appeals; Reversal or Affirmance - Section 28. The supreme judicial court or appeals court may,...

Section 30 - Rules and Forms; Power of Judges to Make - Section 30. The judges of the probate courts or a...

Section 31 - Notice of Hearing; Rule Making Power of Courts - Section 31. The supreme judicial court and the probate courts...

Section 32 - Transaction of Business Out of Court - Section 32. Judges of the probate courts may transact business...

Section 33 - Notice; Ex Parte Matters - Section 33. Orders of notice and other official acts which...

Section 34 - Enforcement of Orders, Sentences, Judgments and Decrees; Punishing Contempts; Effect of Arrearages on Support Orders; Unemployment of Defendant - Section 34. Probate courts shall have like power and authority...

Section 34a - Contempt; Support or Custody Orders; Costs; Service; Attorney's Fees; Interest; Iv–d Agency; Arrest Warrants - Section 34A. (a) Actions for contempt against any party for...

Section 34b - Review of Contempt Order Prior to Order of Confinement - Section 34B. A judge of the probate court who has...

Section 35 - Warrants and Commissions; Revocation - Section 35. A warrant or commission for the appraisal of...

Section 36 - Judgments, Decrees and Orders; Necessity of Writing; Notices; Recording - Section 36. Judgments, decrees and orders of probate courts shall...

Section 37 - Docket and Index; Manner of Keeping; Public Inspection - Section 37. Each register shall keep a docket of all...

Section 38 - Oaths - Section 38. Oaths required in proceedings in the probate courts...

Section 39 - Administration of Estates; Compensation for Services; Power to Determine and Enforce - Section 39. Probate courts may ascertain and determine the amount...

Section 39a - Attorneys' Fees; Power of Court to Determine - Section 39A. At any time during the administration of an...

Section 39b - Attorneys' Fees; Allowance - Section 39B. When a judgment or decree is entered in...

Section 40 - Resignation or Removal of Fiduciary; Power to Compel Surrender of Property - Section 40. If an executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, trustee or...

Section 41 - Temporary Investments - Section 41. A probate court may, upon application of a...

Section 41a - Distribution of Limited Funds of Estates to Parents of Minors - Section 41A. A probate court may, upon application of an...

Section 42 - Appearances - Section 42. A duly authorized attorney at law may enter...

Section 43 - Interrogatories - Section 43. In any proceeding in a probate court, the...

Section 44 - Concealed Property; Examination of Suspects Under Oath - Section 44. Upon complaint to a probate court by a...

Section 45 - Costs - Section 45. In contested cases before a probate court or...

Section 46 - Summons or Citation; Service by Registered Mail - Section 46. When personal service is required of any summons...

Section 47 - Waiver of Notice - Section 47. The notice required in any proceeding in a...

Section 49 - Notices; Selection of Newspapers - Section 49. Parties to probate proceedings may select the newspapers...

Section 50 - Receipts and Releases of Fiduciaries; Recording; Fees - Section 50. A paper or instrument, discharging a claim or...

Section 52 - Original Will; Taking From Registry - Section 52. The probate court in which a will has...

Section 53 - Court Room and Room for Records; Duty to Provide - Section 53. The commonwealth shall provide and maintain suitable rooms...

Section 54 - Rooms for Records; Additional Space - Section 54. If in the opinion of the court administrator...

Section 55 - Preservation of Dockets and Indexes - Section 55. If in the judgment of the chief justice...

Section 56 - Recording of Proceedings in Suffolk; Expense - Section 56. The expense of recording probate proceedings in Suffolk...

Section 56a - Investigations - Section 56A. Any judge of a probate court may appoint...

Section 56b - Contempt Proceedings Involving Child Care, Custody or Maintenance; Guardian Ad Litem; Appointment - Section 56B. Any judge of a probate court may appoint...

Section 56c - Transmission of Order of Probate Court Appointing Guardian or Conservator for Incapacitated Person to Department of Criminal Justice Information Services for Consideration in Background Checks for Firearm Sales or Licensing; Petition to... - Section 56C. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, to...

Section 57 - Sessions of the Courts; Contempt Powers of Judge, Etc. - Section 57. The judge of a probate court may keep...

Section 58 - Sessions of the Courts; Open Times - Section 58. The probate court shall be open daily on...

Section 59 - Sessions of the Courts; Adjournment - Section 59. A judge of a probate court may adjourn...

Section 60 - Sessions of the Courts; Holidays and Election Days - Section 60. If the regular time for holding a probate...

Section 62 - Times and Places for Holding Courts - Section 62. The court shall be held by one of...

Chapter 216 - Courts of Insolvency - [Repealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 127.]

Chapter 217 - Judges and Registers of Probate and Insolvency

Section 1 - Divisions; Justices; Definitions - Section 1. For each county there shall be a division...

Section 2 - Judges; Number in Certain Counties; First Justices, Powers, Terms - Section 2. There shall be six judges of probate in...

Section 3b - Hampshire County; Associate Justice - Section 3B. There shall be an associate justice of the...

Section 3c - Circuit Justices; Appointment; Expenses - Section 3C. There shall be 11 associate justices of the...

Section 4 - Registers of Probate and Insolvency - Section 4. There shall be in each county a register...

Section 5 - Oath of Judge - Section 5. Each judge of probate, before entering upon the...

Section 5a - Oath of Register - Section 5A. Each register, before entering upon the performance of...

Section 6a - Special Judge or Register; Interest in Proceedings; Prohibition - Section 6A. No special judge of probate, register, assistant register...

Section 6b - Prohibitions and Restrictions on Justices; Assignment to Another County - Section 6B. No justice, circuit justice or special justice sitting...

Section 7 - Judge and Register; Appointment as Guardian or Executor - Section 7. If a judge or register desires to be...

Section 8 - Chief Justice; Powers and Duties - Section 8. The justice provided for under the provisions of...

Section 81/2 - Deputy Court Administrator - Section 81/2. The deputy court administrator provided for under the...

Section 8a - Provision of Suitable Offices - Section 8A. The chief justice and deputy court administrator shall...

Section 9 - Out of County Authority; Probate Judges - Section 9. A judge of probate may, in any case...

Section 10 - Vacancy; Powers of Acting Judge; Bonds - Section 10. Bonds required to be given to the judge...

Section 11 - Judges; Inspection of Records; Forfeiture of Bonds of Registers; Notice - Section 11. Judges of probate shall semi-annually inspect the doings...

Section 12 - Bond of Register - Section 12. Each register shall give bond to the state...

Section 13 - Temporary Register - Section 13. Upon the death, resignation, removal or absence of...

Section 14 - Register; Duty to Certify Amount of Assistance - Section 14. The register shall certify upon his records and...

Section 15 - Register; Duties; Custody of Records, Etc. - Section 15. The register shall have the care and custody...

Section 15a - Register or Assistant; Printing or Typing of Names on Filed Instruments - Section 15A. The register or assistant register may print or...

Section 15b - Inventory Involving Real Estate in Registry District Other Than District in Which Filed; Recording of Information - Section 15B. Whenever the inventory or schedule filed by a...

Section 15c - Inventory Involving Real Estate Located in Another County; Duties of Registers - Section 15C. The register in each county shall, upon the...

Section 16 - Register; Copies of Certain Papers; Mailing to Commissioner of Revenue - Section 16. The register shall, except as herein provided, send...

Section 16a - Register; Copies of Petitions for Probate of Will, Appointment of Personal Representative, and Adjudication of Intestacy - Section 16A. The register in each county shall, upon the...

Section 17 - Register to Report Vacancy and Appointment of Assistant - Section 17. The register shall forthwith report to the state...

Section 18 - Register; Furnishing Copies; Fees - Section 18. The register shall furnish copies of records or...

Section 19 - Register; Reports to Division of Public Charities - Section 19. Whenever any instrument creating or increasing an estate...

Section 20 - Register to Account - Section 20. The register shall annually, on the first Mondays...

Section 21 - Register; Receipt of Complaints, Petitions, and Applications - Section 21. He may at any time receive and place...

Section 22 - Register; Power to Issue Attachments, Appoint Appraisers, Etc. - Section 22. The register may issue process of attachment and...

Section 22a - Identification of Husbands and Wives in Documents and Communications - Section 22A. Whenever the register, in any communication, document or...

Section 23 - First Assistant Registers - Section 23. The register of the respective courts of the...

Section 23a - Assistant Registers - Section 23A. In addition to the first assistant registers of...

Section 23b - Administrative Deputy Assistants - Section 23B. The registers of probate of the respective courts...

Section 23c - Judicial Case Managers - Section 23C. The first justice of the respective courts of...

Section 23d - Assistant Judicial Case Managers - Section 23D. In addition to the judicial case managers of...

Section 26 - Assistant Registers; Official Signatures - Section 26. The signing of the name of any second,...

Section 27 - Assistant Registers; Duties - Section 27. An assistant register shall perform his duties under...

Section 27a - Duties of Judicial Case Managers - Section 27A. A judicial case manager and an assistant judicial...

Section 28 - Suffolk County; Clerk to Administer Oaths in Probate Proceedings - Section 28. The first justice of the Suffolk county court...

Section 29 - Middlesex County; Clerk to Administer Oaths in Probate Proceedings - Section 29. The first justice of the Middlesex county court...

Section 29a - Dukes County; Clerk to Administer Oaths in Probate Proceedings - Section 29A. The first justice of the Dukes county court...

Section 29b - Nantucket County; Clerk to Administer Oaths in Probate Proceedings - Section 29B. The first justice for the Nantucket county court...

Section 29c - Barnstable Probate Court; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29C. The register of the Barnstable probate court may,...

Section 29d - Berkshire Probate Court; Deputy Assistant Register - Section 29D. The register of the Berkshire probate court may,...

Section 29e - Hampden Probate Court; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29E. The register of the Hampden probate court may,...

Section 29f - Worcester Probate Court; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29F. The register of the Worcester probate and family...

Section 29g - Bristol Probate and Family Court; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29G. The register of the Bristol probate and family...

Section 29h - Hampshire Probate Court First Justice; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29H. The register of the Hampshire probate and family...

Section 29i - Plymouth Probate Court; Deputy Assistant Registers - Section 29I. The register of the Plymouth probate and family...

Section 29j - Essex Probate and Family Court; Deputy Assistant Register - Section 29J. The register of the Essex probate and family...

Section 29k - Franklin Probate and Family Court; Deputy Assistant Register - Section 29K. The register of the Franklin probate and family...

Section 29l - Norfolk Probate and Family Court; Deputy Assistant Register - Section 29L. The register of the Norfolk probate and family...

Section 30 - Court Officers; Appointment for Certain Counties - Section 30. The judges of probate for the counties of...

Section 33 - Allowance to Registers for Assistance - Section 33. The registers for the several counties shall annually...

Section 35 - Salaries of Registers, Administrative Deputy Assistants, Assistant Registers, etc.; Payment - Section 35. The salaries of registers, including administrative deputy assistants,...

Section 35a - Registers; Salaries - Section 35A. The salaries of the registers of the probate...

Section 35b - Assistant Registers, Judicial Case Managers and Administrative Deputy Assistants; Salaries - Section 35B. The salaries of first assistant registers, judicial case...

Section 39 - Court Officers and Messengers; Compensation - Section 39. The compensation of court officers for attendance at...

Section 42 - Traveling Expenses - Section 42. Judges, registers, judicial case managers, assistant judicial case...

Section 43 - Temporary Register; Compensation; Fees - Section 43. A temporary register shall be entitled to the...

Chapter 218 - District Courts

Section 1 - Territorial Jurisdiction and Place of Holding Court - Section 1. The district court department, established under section 1...

Section 2 - Boston Municipal Courts; Concurrent Jurisdiction Over Waters and Islands - Section 2. The municipal courts in Boston shall have concurrent...

Section 2a - Transfer of Civil Actions Brought in Wrong Court - Section 2A. Each district court shall have civil jurisdiction of...

Section 3 - Boston Municipal Courts; Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction Over Waters and Islands - Section 3. The central, Charlestown, South Boston, and East Boston...

Section 4 - District Court Jurisdiction; Seals - Section 4. District courts shall be courts of record. They...

Section 4a - Massachusetts Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act - Section 4A. (a) This section may be cited as the...

Section 5 - Contempt Cases; Service of Process - Section 5. Processes issued in contempt cases may be served...

Section 6 - Justices; Number; Terms; Compensation; Duties - Section 6. In each district court, as provided in section...

Section 6a - Special Justices of District Court; Certification of Full Time Duties; Restrictions on Employment - Section 6A. (a) Any special justice of a district court...

Section 7 - Oaths; Power to Administer - Section 7. Justices and special justices of district courts may,...

Section 8 - Clerks; Appointment; Number; Retirement; Vacation and Sick Leave - Section 8. Each district court shall have a clerk and...

Section 9 - Temporary Clerks - Section 9. In the case of the absence, death or...

Section 10 - Assistant Clerks - Section 10. The clerk of a district court may, subject...

Section 10a - Deputy Assistant Clerks; Power to Designate - Section 10A. The clerk of each district court, except the...

Section 11 - Temporary Assistant Clerks - Section 11. In case of the absence, death or removal...

Section 12 - Clerks; Oath of Office; Duties and Powers - Section 12. The clerks, assistant clerks, temporary clerks and temporary...

Section 13 - Records; Storage - Section 13. The records, papers and documents of the district...

Section 14 - Facsimile Signatures - Section 14. Clerks and assistant clerks of district courts may...

Section 15 - Times for Holding Trials; Office Hours - Section 15. The chief justice for the district court department,...

Section 16 - Bond of Clerk - Section 16. The clerk of a division of the district...

Section 17 - Justice, Clerk or Assistant Clerk; Restrictions on Practice of Law; Special Justices; Restrictions on Hearing or Trying Cases - Section 17. A justice, clerk or assistant clerk of a...

Section 18 - Justices and Clerks; Receipt of Certain Fees; Prohibition - Section 18. A justice, special justice acting in the place...

Section 19 - General Provisions - [See Standing Order of the Supreme Court, dated July 17,...

Section 19a - District Court or Boston Municipal Court; Statement of Facts in Support of Civil Action for Damages; Dismissal; Appeals - Section 19A. (a) A clerk-magistrate in a district court or...

Section 19b - District Court or Boston Municipal Court; Trial by Jury of Six; Appeals - Section 19B. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, all...

Section 19c - District Court Jurisdiction; Equity Powers and Rules - Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments...

Section 19d - Housing Specialists; Appointment; Knowledge Requisites; Powers and Duties - Section 19D. The first justice of a district court may...

Section 20 - Actions Against Executors and Administrators, and Against Bail - Section 20. District courts shall also have jurisdiction of civil...

Section 21 - Power to Establish Rules of Small Claims Procedure; Venue; Jurisdictional Amount; Hearings; Damages and Penalties - [ First paragraph effective until December 13, 2021. For text...

Section 22 - Procedure - Section 22. The procedure shall include the beginning of actions...

Section 23 - Initial Determination of Cause; Removal; Claim for Trial by Jury; Bond or Deposit; Finding as Evidence; Report to Appellate Division - Section 23. Every cause begun under the procedure shall be...

Section 24 - Transfer to Regular Docket - Section 24. The court may, in its discretion, transfer a...

Section 25 - Costs; Discretion of Court - Section 25. In any civil action begun by summons and...

Section 26 - General Provisions - Section 26. The district courts and divisions of the Boston...

Section 26a - Trial by Jury; Discovery; Jury-Waived Trial; Record of Proceedings; Probation - Section 26A. Trial of criminal offenses in the Boston municipal...

Section 27 - Imposition of Penalties - Section 27. The district court may impose the same penalties...

Section 27a - Jury Sessions - Section 27A. (a) Every division of the district court department...

Section 28 - Recognizances to Keep Peace - Section 28. District courts may require persons found guilty of...

Section 30 - Binding Over to Superior Court - Section 30. They shall commit or bind over for trial...

Section 32 - Complaints and Warrants - Section 32. District courts may receive complaints and issue warrants...

Section 32a - Inclusion of Offense-Based Tracking Number on Application for Complaint - Section 32A. An application for a criminal complaint submitted to...

Section 33 - Warrants and Process; Power of Clerks to Issue - Section 33. A clerk, assistant clerk, temporary clerk or temporary...

Section 34 - Arrest Without Warrant; Endorsement of Complaint by Arresting Officer - Section 34. Said courts may dispense with the issuing of...

Section 35 - Complaints, Warrants and Process; Power to Issue; Disqualification to Hear Case; Destruction of Applications for Complaints - Section 35. A justice or special justice of a district...

Section 35a - Process; Issuance on Complaints for Misdemeanors; Consideration of Criminal Records and Domestic Violence Records; Right to Hearing - Section 35A. If a complaint is received by a district...

Section 36 - Justice of Peace; Taking Bail - Section 36. The governor, with the advice and consent of...

Section 37 - Process for Witnesses and Defendants in Criminal and Juvenile Cases; Direction and Service - Section 37. District courts, justices, special justices, clerks, assistant clerks,...

Section 38 - Access to Courts; Sittings; Adjournments; Filing of Complaints - Section 38. District courts and Boston municipal court divisions shall...

Section 39 - Books and Supplies - Section 39. Justices and clerks of district courts, except the...

Section 40 - Part-Time Special Justices; Authorized Cases - Section 40. A special justice of a district court who...

Section 41 - Special Justice; Powers and Duties - Section 41. A special justice of a district court shall...

Section 42 - Adjournment When Justice Absent - Section 42. If no justice or special justice is present...

Section 42a - Chief Justice; Powers and Duties - Section 42A. The justice, as provided under section 1 of...

Section 42b - Deputy Court Administrator - Section 42B. The deputy court administrator for the district court...

Section 43 - Uniform Rules of Practice and Procedure; Power to Make and Promulgate - Section 43. The chief justice shall from time to time...

Section 43a - Uniform Practices; Forms; Superintendence of Record Keeping - Section 43A. The chief justice shall be authorized to require...

Section 43b - Official Forms; Powers of Chief Justice - Section 43B. In addition to the powers set forth in...

Section 43e - Community Mediation Advisory Board; Coordinator - Section 43E. There shall be established a district court community...

Section 44 - Process; Formal Requisites; Territorial Jurisdiction - Section 44. Processes issuing from district courts shall be under...

Section 47 - Clerks; Duty to Make Payments and to Account; Penalty - Section 47. Clerks of district courts, except Boston municipal court...

Section 48 - Sentences to Deer Island - Section 48. In cases in which municipal courts in Boston...

Section 49 - Clerks; Duty to Pay Certain Fees; Advances; Accounting - Section 49. In the municipal courts in Boston, except the...

Section 50 - Justices; Number; Vacation and Sick Leave; Rule Making Power - Section 50. The Boston municipal court department established under section...

Section 51a - Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court Department; Powers and Duties - Section 51A. The justice provided for under section 1 of...

Section 52 - Justices and Special Justices; Assignment; Additional Sessions; Compensation, Etc. - Section 52. In addition to the powers conferred in section...

Section 52a - Clerks; Criminal and Civil Business - Section 52A. The central division of the Boston municipal court...

Section 53 - Clerks and Assistant Clerks - Section 53. In the central division of the Boston municipal...

Section 53a - Temporary Assistant Clerks - Section 53A. In case of the absence, death or removal...

Section 54 - Civil Jurisdiction - Section 54. In addition to the jurisdiction otherwise conferred and...

Section 55 - Recording Systems; Stenographic and Medical Services and Equipment - Section 55. The chief justice of the Boston municipal court...

Section 56 - Clerks; Accounting; Penalty - Section 56. The clerk shall, on or before the tenth...

Section 57 - Juvenile Courts; Divisions; Territorial Jurisdiction; Appeals - Section 57. The juvenile court department established under section one...

Section 57a - Chief Justice for the Juvenile Court Department; Powers and Duties - Section 57A. The justice provided for under section 1 of...

Section 57b - Deputy Court Administrator for the Juvenile Court Department - Section 57B. The deputy court administrator for the juvenile court...

Section 58 - Justices and Clerks; Assignment; Salaries; Vacation and Sick Leave; Interpreters - Section 58. The Suffolk county division of the juvenile court...

Section 58a - Administrative Assistant for Intergovernmental Relations - Section 58A. The Boston juvenile court shall have an administrative...

Section 58b - Special Justices of Boston Juvenile Court; Certification of Full-Time Duties; Restrictions on Employment - Section 58B. (a) Any special justice of the Boston juvenile...

Section 58c - Special Justices of Juvenile Court - Section 58C. (a) Any special justice of a juvenile court...

Section 59 - Powers, Duties and Procedure; Jurisdiction - Section 59. Except as otherwise provided by law, the divisions...

Section 60 - Jurisdiction Over Offenders; Rule Making Power - Section 60. Within the territorial limits prescribed in section fifty-seven,...

Section 66 - Boston Municipal Court Department; Messenger - Section 66. There shall be a messenger of the Boston...

Section 67 - Boston Municipal Court; Interpreters - Section 67. The chief justice of the Boston municipal court...

Section 68 - East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court Department; Interpreter - Section 68. The justice of the East Boston division of...

Section 69 - Clerks of Divisions of District Court Department; Allowance for Assistance - Section 69. Clerks of the divisions of the district court...

Section 70 - Clerks of Boston Municipal and Juvenile Court Departments; Allowance for Assistance - Section 70. The clerks of the Boston municipal court department...

Section 74 - Monthly Installments - Section 74. Salaries of justices and special justices appointed to...

Section 75b - Salaries of Assistant Clerks of Boston Municipal Court Department - Section 75B. The salaries of the first assistant clerks of...

Section 79 - Salaries of Clerks - Section 79. The salaries of the clerks of the district...

Section 80 - Compensation of Assistant Clerks; Practice of Law - Section 80. The salaries of the first assistant clerks of...

Section 80a - Boston Municipal Court Department; Salaries of Secretary and Assistant Secretary to Justices - Section 80A. The secretary and assistant secretary to the justices...

Section 81 - Traveling Expenses - Section 81. A justice of a division of the district...

Section 84 - Computation of Compensation - Section 84. Justices and clerks whose salaries are fixed in...

Chapter 219 - Trial Justices - [Repealed, 1953, 319, Sec. 1.]

Chapter 220 - Courts and Naturalization

Section 1 - Flags; Display in Courts - Section 1. The flag of the United States and the...

Section 2 - General Powers - Section 2. The courts of the commonwealth and the justices...

Section 3 - Conservators of Peace; Powers of Justices - Section 3. The justices of the supreme judicial court and...

Section 4 - First Day of Sitting; Designation - Section 4. In writs, processes, records and judicial proceedings, civil...

Section 5 - Change of Time and Place of Court; Notice - Section 5. If it is unsafe or inexpedient to hold...

Section 6 - Business Days; Exceptions - Section 6. The divisions of the departments of the trial...

Section 7 - Process Servers - Section 7. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and other officers shall...

Section 8 - Purchase of Claims by Attorney and Court Officers, etc., Prohibited; Penalty - Section 8. No attorney, justice of the peace, sheriff, deputy...

Section 9 - Criers - Section 9. Clerks or assistant clerks of courts, sheriffs or...

Section 10 - Judge, etc.; Interest of Town in Suit or Proceeding - Section 10. No person shall be disqualified from acting as...

Section 11 - United States Judicial Officer; Ineligibility for Certain Offices - Section 11. No person who holds a judicial office under...

Section 12 - Referee in Bankruptcy; Ineligibility for Certain Offices - Section 12. No person who holds the office of referee...

Section 13 - Exclusion of Minors as Spectators From Court Room - Section 13. Any court may exclude minors as spectators from...

Section 13a - Contempt Cases; Rights of Defendant - Section 13A. Any person who shall wilfully disobey any lawful...

Section 13b - Contempt Cases; Demand for Retirement of Justice Sitting - Section 13B. The defendant in any proceeding for contempt of...

Section 14 - Commitment for Contempt; Service of Process - Section 14. Commitments for contempt of court may be made...

Section 14a - Time Within Which Certain Decisions to Be Rendered - Section 14A. An associate justice of the superior court, who...

Section 15 - Jurisdiction - Section 15. The supreme judicial court and the superior court...

Section 18 - Declarations of Intention - Section 18. The superior court may authorize the execution and...

Chapter 221 - Clerks, Attorneys and Other Officers of Judicial Courts

Section 1 - Clerk of Court for Commonwealth; Appointment; Term, Etc. - Section 1. The justices of the supreme judicial court shall...

Section 2 - Duties - Section 2. The clerk shall attend all sessions of the...

Section 3 - Election of Clerks; Term - Section 3. There shall be a clerk for the supreme...

Section 4 - First Assistant Clerks; Appointment - Section 4. The justices of the supreme judicial court shall...

Section 5 - Assistant Clerks; Appointment - Section 5. In addition to the assistant clerks provided for...

Section 5a - Assistant and First Assistant Clerks; Practice of Law - Section 5A. The assistant clerks appointed under the provisions of...

Section 6a - Superior Court for County of Middlesex; Equity Clerk - Section 6A. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6b - Superior Court for County of Essex; Equity Clerk - Section 6B. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6c - Superior Court for County of Essex; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6C. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6d - Superior Court for County of Norfolk; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6D. The clerk of the courts for the county...

Section 6e - Superior Court for County of Worcester; Equity Proceedings Clerk - Section 6E. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6f - Superior Court for County of Worcester; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6F. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6g - Superior Court for County of Middlesex; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6G. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6i - Superior Court for County of Plymouth; Equity Proceedings Clerk - Section 6I. The justices of the superior court may designate...

Section 6j - Superior Court for County of Plymouth; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6J. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6k - Superior Court for County of Hampden; Equity Proceedings Clerk - Section 6K. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6l - Superior Court for County of Hampden; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6L. The justices of the superior court may designate,...

Section 6m - Superior Court for County of Bristol; Criminal Proceedings Clerk - Section 6M. The clerk of the courts for the county...

Section 6n - Superior Court for County of Bristol; Civil Proceedings Clerk - Section 6N. The clerk of the courts for the county...

Section 6o - Superior Court for County of Bristol; Equity Proceedings Clerk - Section 6O. The clerk of the courts for the county...

Section 7 - Deputy Assistant Clerks - Section 7. The clerks of the courts may designate such...

Section 8 - Temporary Clerks - Section 8. If by reason of illness or other cause...

Section 9 - Temporary Assistant Clerks; Manner of Appointment - Section 9. If an assistant clerk of the courts is...

Section 10 - Temporary Clerk; Appointment by Court - Section 10. If at a sitting of any court neither...

Section 11 - Oath of Clerk - Section 11. The clerk, assistant clerk, temporary clerk and temporary...

Section 12 - Bonds of Clerks - Section 12. The clerk and assistant clerk of the supreme...

Section 13 - Assistant Clerk; Notice to Secretary of State of Vacancies - Section 13. Each clerk shall forthwith report to the state...

Section 14 - General Duties of Clerks - Section 14. The clerks shall attend all the courts of...

Section 15 - Supreme Judicial Court in Suffolk; Duties of Clerk and Assistant Clerk - Section 15. The clerk of the supreme judicial court for...

Section 16 - Superior Court in Suffolk; Duties of Clerk - Section 16. The clerk of the superior court for civil...

Section 16a - Unified Session Clerk; Designation - Section 16A. The clerk of the superior court for criminal...

Section 17 - Facsimile of Signature of Clerk; Signature of Assistant Clerk - Section 17. A facsimile of the signature of the clerk...

Section 18 - Affidavits in Court Proceedings - Section 18. Any affidavit required in any action or proceeding...

Section 19 - Duty to Forward Notices of Appeal, etc., to Attorney General - Section 19. The clerks shall cause one or more copies...

Section 20 - Rescripts, Notice Of - Section 20. When a rescript is filed in a case...

Section 22 - Orders of Notice; Power of Clerk to Issue - Section 22. A clerk of the courts may issue any...

Section 23 - Alphabetical List of Parties - Section 23. Each clerk shall keep an alphabetical list of...

Section 26 - Physicians or Unregistered Practitioners Convicted of Crimes; Clerk to Report Convictions to Board of Registration in Medicine - Section 26. The clerk of any court in which a...

Section 27 - Extension of Papers on Record - Section 27. The supreme judicial court shall by rule or...

Section 27a - Obsolete or Useless Papers; Disposition, Destruction or Storage - Section 27A. The supreme judicial court may by rule or...

Section 28 - Records; Duty of Clerk to Exhibit - Section 28. The clerks of the courts in the several...

Section 29 - Records; Duty of Justices to Inspect - Section 29. The justices of the several courts shall inspect...

Section 30 - Forfeiture of Bond - Section 30. If any neglect causes a forfeiture of the...

Section 31 - Misconduct in Office; Liability - Section 31. The two preceding sections shall not exempt a...

Section 32 - Fees; Duty of Clerks to Account - Section 32. The clerks of the courts in the several...

Section 33 - Assistant Clerk; Duties - Section 33. Each assistant clerk shall under the direction of...

Section 34a - Establishment; Purpose; Membership; Term - Section 34A. There shall be a judicial council for the...

Section 34b - Reports to Governor; Rules of Practice and Procedure - Section 34B. The judicial council shall report annually on or...

Section 34c - Compensation; Clerical Expenses - Section 34C. No member of said council, except as hereinafter...

Section 34e - Members, Terms; Executive Director; Legal Advisors; Volunteer Legal Assistance Program; Information Program; Procedures; Funds - Section 34E. The justices of the supreme judicial court shall...

Section 35 - Appointment; Statements of Financial Interest - Section 35. There shall be a board of bar examiners...

Section 36 - Examinations for Admission to Bar; Eligibility; Board Expenses - Section 36. Said board may, subject to the approval of...

Section 36a - Admission to the Bar; Educational Requirements of World War II Veterans - Section 36A. No rule requiring that an applicant for admission...

Section 37 - Petition for Examination for Admission to the Bar; Fees - Section 37. A citizen of the United States, if over...

Section 38 - Oath of Office - Section 38. Whoever is admitted as an attorney shall in...

Section 38a - Aliens; Petitions and Examinations - Section 38A. Every alien who has made the primary declaration...

Section 39 - Attorneys From Sister States; Conditions for Admissions - Section 39. A citizen of the United States, whether man...

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Massachusetts General Laws Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers

Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers