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

Section 2a - Consolidation of Pending Actions Arising Out of Same Accident or Transaction - Section 2A. Whenever cross actions between the same parties or...

Section 2b - Actions Arising Out of Same Accident or Transaction Pending in Both Superior and District Courts; Transfer to Superior Court - Section 2B. Whenever cross actions between the same parties or...

Section 2c - Actions Arising Out of Same Accident or Transaction; Procedure After Transfer - Section 2C. Whenever any action or proceeding is transferred to...

Section 3 - Transitory Actions; Enumeration - Section 3. Every action for rent, use and occupation or...

Section 4 - Replevin Actions - Section 4. An action brought pursuant to chapter two hundred...

Section 5 - Actions by the Commonwealth - Section 5. A civil action in which the commonwealth is...

Section 6 - Counties; Actions by or Against - Section 6. A local or transitory action by a county...

Section 7 - Defective Ways, etc.; Negligence Actions - Section 7. An action against a town or person to...

Section 8 - Corporations; Actions by or Against - Section 8. Transitory actions, except those mentioned in the preceding...

Section 8a - Reciprocal or Inter-Insurance Exchange; Transitory Actions by or Against Subscribers - Section 8A. Transitory actions by or against the subscribers to...

Section 9 - Transitory Actions by or Against City of Boston - Section 9. An action by or against the city of...

Section 10 - Actions by City of Boston; Transfer From County of Suffolk - Section 10. The defendant in an action brought in Suffolk...

Section 11 - Executors or Administrators; Transitory Actions by or Against - Section 11. A transitory action by or against an executor...

Section 12 - Land Title Actions - Section 12. If a tract of land lies in two...

Section 13 - Change of Venue - Section 13. If the supreme judicial or superior court finds...

Section 14 - Forfeitures - Section 14. A civil action for the recovery of a...

Section 15 - Erroneous Venue; Procedure - Section 15. If an error in venue is discovered at...

Section 19 - Unknown Defendant; Procedure - Section 19. In a civil action if the name of...

Section 20 - Process; Issuance - Section 20. Process in the supreme judicial and superior court...

Section 31 - Summons; Leaving at Last Known Address, Etc. - Section 31. In an action brought in the district court,...

Section 31a - Summons; Service Upon Persons Engaged in Voting - Section 31A. Personal service of a writ or summons upon...

Section 34 - Further Notice to Absent Defendant - Section 34. If the defendant is out of the commonwealth,...

Section 35 - Process; Duty of Officer to State Place of Service in Return - Section 35. When process is served by an officer by...

Section 37 - Corporations; Persons Authorized to Be Served - Section 37. In an action against a county, city, town,...

Section 38 - Foreign Corporations - Section 38. In an action against a foreign corporation, except...

Section 39 - Foreign Insurance Company; Manner of Service - Section 39. In an action against a foreign insurance company...

Section 39a - Service on Certain Insurance Companies Severally, or Jointly and Severally, Liable - Section 39A. In an action against insurance companies severally liable...

Section 39b - Reciprocal or Inter-Insurance Exchange; Service on Attorney in Fact of Subscribers - Section 39B. In an action against the subscribers of a...

Section 40 - Voluntary Associations, Service On - Section 40. In an action against a voluntary association or...

Section 42 - Property Subject to Attachment - Section 42. All real and personal property liable to be...

Section 42a - Amount Liquidated or Ascertainable by Calculation; Limitation on Attachment - Section 42A. In an action or suit for an amount...

Section 43 - Cars and Vessels; Attachment - Section 43. Railroad cars and engines and street railway cars,...

Section 44 - Ships or Vessels; Conditions Precedent - Section 44. No ship or vessel shall be attached in...

Section 44a - Motor Vehicles; Conditions Precedent - Section 44A. Motor vehicles registered under the law of this...

Section 45 - Property of Newspaper Offices - Section 45. The press, type, stands, cases, paper and other...

Section 45a - Attaching Officer; Powers to Require Security - Section 45A. If there is reasonable doubt as to the...

Section 47 - Successive Attachments on Different Writs - Section 47. Personal property which has been attached or taken...

Section 48 - Keeper; Appointment; Costs - Section 48. An officer directed to make an attachment of...

Section 49 - Attached Personalty; Keeping on Owner's Premises - Section 49. Personal property which has been attached may, subject...

Section 50 - Bulky Goods - Section 50. If an attachment is made of articles of...

Section 52 - Personalty; Attachment of Proceeds of Sale - Section 52. If personal property has been sold or disposed...

Section 53 - Further Attachment of Replevied Property - Section 53. Property which has been replevied from an officer...

Section 54 - Replevin; Liability of Plaintiff for Value - Section 54. If there is judgment for a return of...

Section 55 - Death or Removal of First Attaching Officer - Section 55. If an officer dies or is removed from...

Section 56 - Death or Removal of First Attaching Officer; Procedure in Subsequent Attachment - Section 56. The officer who makes such later attachment shall...

Section 57 - Replevied Property; Mode of Attaching - Section 57. Property which has been replevied from an attaching...

Section 58 - Death of Attaching Officer; Continuance of Attachment - Section 58. Property which has been attached by an officer,...

Section 59 - Duration of Attachment After Judgment - Section 59. Upon judgment for the plaintiff in a civil...

Section 62 - General Provisions - Section 62. In attaching land, or a right or interest...

Section 63 - Copy of Writ; Deposit in Registry of Deeds - Section 63. No attachment of land or of any leasehold...

Section 64 - Attaching Officer; Duty - Section 64. The officer who makes such attachment shall deposit...

Section 65 - Register; Duty; Fees - Section 65. The register of deeds shall note on such...

Section 66 - Attachment; Time of Taking Effect - Section 66. If the copy of the writ is deposited,...

Section 67 - Fraudulently Conveyed Realty; General Provisions - Section 67. If an attachment on mesne process is made...

Section 68 - Fraudulently Conveyed Realty; Duty of Register - Section 68. The register in such case, in addition to...

Section 69 - Papers in Actions in Federal Courts; Duties of Registers - Section 69. Registers of deeds shall perform the same duties...

Section 70 - Encumbered Realty - Section 70. An attachment of land which is subject to...

Section 71 - Attachment of Shares of Stock Prohibited - Section 71. Shares of stock shall not be attached in...

Section 72 - Attachment of Property in Possession of Bailee; Limitation - Section 72. If goods are delivered to a carrier or...

Section 73 - Carrier or Warehouseman; Property in Possession - Section 73. Except as provided in the preceding section, property...

Section 74 - Mortgaged or Sold Under Conditional Sales Contract - Section 74. Personal property of a debtor which is subject...

Section 75 - Mortgagee, Lienor, or Conditional Vendor; Duty to State Account - Section 75. Within a reasonable time after such property has...

Section 76 - Excessive Demands; Penalty - Section 76. If the mortgagee, pledgee, lienor or conditional vendor,...

Section 77 - Proceeds of Sale; Payment of Creditors - Section 77. If property which has been attached and redeemed...

Section 78 - Redemption of Mortgage; Duty of Debtor to Repay Redemption Price - Section 78. If the attaching creditor, after having redeemed the...

Section 79 - Holder of Encumbrance; Summoning; Examination - Section 79. Personal property upon which a mortgage or lien...

Section 80 - Amount Due; Determination - Section 80. If, upon such examination, or, upon the verdict...

Section 81 - Validity of Mortgage; Determination - Section 81. If the attaching creditor denies the validity of...

Section 82 - Creditor to Retain Amount Paid by Him - Section 82. When the creditor has paid to the mortgagee,...

Section 83 - Creditor; Right to Hold Property Until Repaid Upon Failure to Recover Judgment - Section 83. If the attaching creditor, after having paid the...

Section 83a - Application of Secs. 74 to 83 - Section 83A. Sections seventy-four to eighty-three, inclusive, shall not apply...

Section 84 - Insufficient Service of Process; Dismissal of Action or Further Service - Section 84. If in a civil action the defendant makes...

Section 86a - Equitable Attachments; Allowance After Entry of Judgment - Section 86A. Upon motion of the plaintiff at any time...

Section 87 - Sale of Attached Personal Property - Section 87. Personal property which has been attached on one...

Section 88 - Perishable Property; Appraisal and Sale - Section 88. If an attachment is made of animals or...

Section 89 - Perishable Property; Appraisal and Sale; Proceedings - Section 89. Upon such application, the attaching officer shall give...

Section 90 - Absent Defendant; Notice - Section 90. If the defendant is not within the commonwealth...

Section 91 - Appraisers; Manner of Appointment - Section 91. One appraiser shall be appointed by the creditor...

Section 92 - Perishable Property; Sale After Appraisal - Section 92. The appraisers shall examine the attached property and,...

Section 93 - Perishable Property; Delivery to Debtor; Condition - Section 93. The property so appraised shall, if he requires...

Section 94 - Bond; Duty to Return With Writs - Section 94. The officer who takes such bond shall return...

Section 95 - Action on Bond; Executions for Costs Against Attaching Creditors - Section 95. If judgment is rendered for the defendants in...

Section 97 - Action on Bond; Distribution of Money by Court - Section 97. The court may, upon a hearing, determine the...

Section 98 - Action on Bond; Protection of Prior Attachments - Section 98. No judgment or execution shall be awarded for...

Section 99 - Action on Bond; Right of Creditor Not Joining - Section 99. A creditor who is entitled to the benefit...

Section 100 - Action on Bond; Limitation - Section 100. No creditor whose cause of action on such...

Section 101 - Creditors; Payment and Satisfaction - Section 101. If property which has been sold, or appraised...

Section 102 - Appraisal at Request of Part Owner - Section 102. If personal property of two or more part...

Section 103 - Delivery to Part Owner; Conditions Precedent - Section 103. The property so appraised shall be delivered to...

Section 104 - Pledge of Property - Section 104. If such appraised value or any part thereof...

Section 105 - Restoration - Section 105. If the attachment is dissolved, the party to...

Section 106 - Dissolution of Prior Attachment: Application - Section 106. If real or personal property has been attached...

Section 107 - Affidavit and Bond - Section 107. The petitioner, or a person in his behalf,...

Section 108 - Dissolution of Prior Attachment; Finding of Court - Section 108. If the court finds that a part of...

Section 109 - Dissolution of Prior Attachment; Effect of Pleadings - Section 109. The proceedings between the adverse claimants or plaintiffs...

Section 110 - Dissolution of Prior Attachment; Defences - Section 110. No attachment shall be dissolved as aforesaid by...

Section 111 - Costs; Damages - Section 111. The court may, upon such inquiry, award to...

Section 112 - Proceeding Upon Appeal - Section 112. If, during the pendency of the proceedings, the...

Section 113 - Judgment; Force and Effect - Section 113. The judgment of the court upon such an...

Section 113a - Method of Dissolving, Discharging or Reducing Attachments - Section 113A. Attachments in all cases in law, equity or...

Section 114 - Excessive or Unreasonable Attachments; Manner of Reduction or Discharge - Section 114. If an excessive or unreasonable attachment, by trustee...

Section 114a - Real Estate Attachments; Expiration by Operation of Law - Section 114A. An attachment of land, or of a right...

Section 115 - Dissolution of Attachment Upon Exhaustion of Appellate Review - Section 115. If the judgment in a civil action is...

Section 115a - Failure of Service Upon Defendant - Section 115A. If real property of the defendant is attached...

Section 116 - Death of Defendant - Section 116. An attachment of real or personal property shall...

Section 117 - Attaching Officer; Liability for Net Proceeds - Section 117. If the officer has, before such demand, sold...

Section 118 - Liability of Creditor for Proceeds Paid Over to Him - Section 118. If the officer in such case has, before...

Section 119 - Counterclaim - Section 119. The defendant, in an action founded on either...

Section 120 - Dissolution of Attachment Upon Giving of Bond - Section 120. A defendant whose property has been attached in...

Section 121 - Bond; Hearing Before Approval - Section 121. Before such bond is approved, the defendant, or...

Section 122 - Debtor's Fees and Costs - Section 122. If the attachment is dissolved and the defendant...

Section 123 - Debtor's Bond; Filing - Section 123. Such bond and the bond required by section...

Section 124 - Release of Sureties of Insolvent Debtor - Section 124. If, within four months after an attachment of...

Section 125 - Bond to Pay Value of Property - Section 125. A defendant may, at any time before execution,...

Section 126 - Fees - Section 126. The magistrate may adjourn such hearing from time...

Section 127 - Fraudulently Conveyed Realty - Section 127. If an attachment of real property is made...

Section 128 - Deposit - Section 128. A defendant may dissolve an attachment by depositing...

Section 129 - Individual Property of One Defendant - Section 129. A defendant whose individual property has been attached...

Section 130 - Dissolution of Attachment Upon Appointment of Receiver - Section 130. An attachment of property shall be dissolved by...

Section 131 - Discharge of Receiver - Section 131. If an attachment has been dissolved in the...

Section 132 - Dissolution of Attachment of Real Estate Upon Release by Plaintiff - Section 132. An attachment of real estate shall be dissolved...

Section 133 - Persons Authorized; Approval - Section 133. A bond which is required to be given...

Chapter 223a - Jurisdiction of Courts of the Commonwealth Over Persons in Other States and Countries

Section 1 - Person Defined - Section 1. As used in this chapter, ''person'' includes an...

Section 2 - Domicile, Organization or Place of Business for Personal Jurisdiction - Section 2. A court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a...

Section 3 - Transactions or Conduct for Personal Jurisdiction - Section 3. A court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a...

Section 4 - Service Outside Commonwealth - Section 4. When the exercise of personal jurisdiction is authorized...

Section 5 - Forum Non Conveniens - Section 5. When the court finds that in the interest...

Section 6 - Mode of Service Outside Commonwealth; Proof of Service - Section 6. (a) When the law of this commonwealth authorizes...

Section 7 - Individual Making Service Outside Commonwealth - Section 7. Service outside this commonwealth may be made by...

Section 8 - Service Outside Commonwealth Upon Designated Individuals - Section 8. When the law of this commonwealth requires that...

Section 9 - Documents Issued in Proceedings Outside Commonwealth; Service Within Commonwealth - Section 9. (a) A court of this commonwealth may order...

Section 10 - Taking Depositions Outside Commonwealth; Issuance of Commissions or Letters Rogatory - Section 10. (a) A deposition to obtain testimony or documents...

Section 11 - Discovery Within Commonwealth for Proceedings Outside Commonwealth - Section 11. A court of this commonwealth may order a...

Chapter 224 - Arrest on Mesne Process and Supplementary Proceedings in Civil Actions

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. The word ''court'', in this chapter, shall include...

Section 6 - Arrest of Debtor on Execution; Proceedings for Examination, Commitment or Discharge; Venue; Recognizance; Bail; Sureties; Liability for Escape - Section 6. All proceedings for the examination, commitment or discharge...

Section 7 - Surrender of Principal on Recognizance by Surety; New Recognizance - Section 7. Whoever recognizes as surety for another as provided...

Section 8 - Recognizances and Bonds; Breach; Remedies - Section 8. If the condition of a recognizance or bond...

Section 12 - Support in Jail; Discharge - Section 12. If the defendant or debtor while confined in...

Section 14 - Supplementary Process; Application; Corporations and Certain Trusts; Service; Proceedings - Section 14. A judgment creditor or a person in his...

Section 15 - Judgment Debtor; Examination - Section 15. The judgment debtor, if appearing, shall be examined...

Section 16 - Dismissal of Proceedings; Orders to Produce Property or Make Payment; Failure to Obey Orders - Section 16. If the court finds that the debtor has...

Section 17 - Redemption of Property Transferred; Refusal or Acceptance of Transfer by Creditor - Section 17. The debtor may redeem real property within one...

Section 18 - Contempt; Procedure; Effect; Appeal - Section 18. The court may issue warrants for arrest and...

Section 19 - Charges of Fraud; Procedure; Sentence; Appeal - Section 19. At any time pending the examination of the...

Section 20 - Transfer of Property Pending Examination; Commitment for Contempt; Exceptions - Section 20. If at the examination of the debtor it...

Section 21 - Supplementary Proceedings; Dismissal; Discharge of Debtor - Section 21. Supplementary proceedings shall be dismissed, and if the...

Section 22 - Habeas Corpus - Section 22. The court may issue a writ of habeas...

Section 23 - Process Servers - Section 23. Constables qualified to serve civil process, as well...

Section 24 - Debtors of Commonwealth; Discharge - Section 24. If a debtor committed to prison on a...

Section 25 - Debtors of Commonwealth; Examination - Section 25. If he represents to the jailer that he...

Section 26 - Debtors of Commonwealth; Appointment of Special Counsel - Section 26. If the district attorney does not reside in...

Section 28 - Persons Committed for Non-Payment of Tax; Manner of Discharge - Section 28. A person who has been committed to jail...

Section 29 - Insolvency or Bankruptcy; Effect - Section 29. If a person arrested on execution becomes an...

Section 30 - Adjournments; Attendance of Witnesses - Section 30. In any proceeding under this chapter the court...

Chapter 225 - Process After Judgment for Necessaries or Labor - [Repealed, 1927, 334, Sec. 6; 1986, 557, Sec. 216.]

Chapter 226 - Bail - [Repealed, 1975, 377, Sec. 53.]

Chapter 227 - Proceedings Against Absent Defendants and Upon Insufficient Service

Section 1 - Actions in Personam - Section 1. A personal action shall not be maintained against...

Section 2 - Counterclaims - Section 2. If an action is brought by a person...

Section 5 - Agents for Service of Process; Duty to Appoint by Certain Individuals; Penalty - Section 5. Every individual not an inhabitant of the commonwealth...

Section 5a - Appointment of City or Town Clerk as Agent for Service of Process by Certain Non-Residents; Certificate; Notice of Action; Filing - Section 5A. Except as provided in section five, every non-resident...

Section 6 - Attachment of Realty; Dismissal of Action Upon Failure of Notice - Section 6. If real property of a non-resident is attached...

Section 7 - Notice - Section 7. If a defendant in a civil action is...

Section 8 - Default - Section 8. If, after such notice, the defendant does not...

Section 9 - Bond - Section 9. If judgment in a personal action is rendered...

Section 11 - Execution Levied on Land - Section 11. If the execution in an action under this...

Section 12 - Judgment in Real Actions - Section 12. If the original judgment was for seisin of...

Section 13 - Tort Actions - Section 13. An action of tort against several defendants, any...

Section 14 - Contract Actions - Section 14. An action of contract against several defendants, any...

Section 15 - Prosecution Against Persons Served; New Action - Section 15. An action of contract against several defendants in...

Section 16 - Real Actions; Absence of One of Several Defendants - Section 16. Real actions against several defendants, any one of...

Section 17 - Mixed Actions - Section 17. The provisions of this chapter relative to judgment,...

Chapter 228 - Survival of Actions and Death and Disabilities of Parties

Section 1 - Enumeration - Section 1. In addition to the actions which survive by...

Section 2 - Death of Party in Suit Against Officer - Section 2. An action of replevin or tort by or...

Section 3 - Judgment for or Against Executor or Administrator of Officer - Section 3. If judgment in such case is rendered for...

Section 4 - Death of Sole Plaintiff or Defendant - Section 4. In a personal action the cause of which...

Section 4a - Substitution of Executor or Administrator - Section 4A. In civil actions which are governed by the...

Section 5 - Prosecution or Defense of Actions by Executor or Administrator; Citation - Section 5. In civil proceedings which are not governed by...

Section 5a - Commencement of Action for Order to Executor or Administrator to Appear and Defend Notwithstanding Failure to Take Out Citation Within Time Limit of Preceding Section; Further Orders for Determination on Merits - Section 5A. The plaintiff in a personal action which is...

Section 5b - Failure of Legal Representative to Give Timely Notice of Death to Plaintiff as Ground for Relief Authorized by Sec. 5a - Section 5B. Whenever, upon the trial of a civil action...

Section 5c - Prior Payment or Distribution Unaffected by Relief Authorized by Sec. 5a or Rules of Civil Procedure - Section 5C. Neither the relief authorized by section five A...

Section 6 - Nonsuit or Default - Section 6. If the executor or administrator does not appear...

Section 7 - Death of Joint Plaintiff or Defendant - Section 7. If any of several plaintiffs or defendants in...

Section 8 - Prosecution by Devisee or Heir - Section 8. If, in a real or mixed action, the...

Section 9 - Death of One of Several Plaintiffs - Section 9. If any of several plaintiffs in a real...

Section 10 - Prosecution by Survivor - Section 10. If the interest of the deceased party passes...

Section 11 - Death of Defendant - Section 11. If the defendant in a real or mixed...

Section 13 - Insanity of Party During Pendency of Action - Section 13. If, during the pendency of an action or...

Section 14 - Removal, Resignation or Death of Appointed Public Officer or Trustee - Section 14. An action on a note, bond, contract or...

Chapter 229 - Actions for Death and Injuries Resulting in Death

Section 1 - Damages for Death From Defective Ways; Persons Entitled - Section 1. If the life of a person is lost...

Section 2 - Wrongful Death; Damages - Section 2. A person who (1) by his negligence causes...

Section 2b - Damages for Death of Employee by Negligence of Employer, Etc. - Section 2B. Except as otherwise provided in chapter one hundred...

Section 5a - Death of Tortfeasor; Effect - Section 5A. The causing of a death under such circumstances...

Section 6 - Conscious Suffering; Recovery of Damages - Section 6. In any civil action brought under section two...

Section 6a - Insufficiency of Estate to Pay Certain Expenses, etc.; Preferences - Section 6A. All sums recovered under section one, two, two...

Section 6b - New Assets - Section 6B. In the event that any sum recovered under...

Section 6c - Amount Recoverable - Section 6C. Except as otherwise provided in chapter one hundred...

Section 6d - Amendments of Actions Brought Under Wrong Law - Section 6D. If an action is brought under section two...

Section 6e - Death or Death and Conscious Suffering of Employee; Assessment of Damages; Amount - Section 6E. If under section two B or section six...

Section 6f - Notice of Injury; Laws Applicable - Section 6F. An action under section two B or section...

Section 11 - Interest - Section 11. In any civil action in which a verdict...

Chapter 230 - Actions by and Against Executors and Administrators

Section 1 - Survival of Actions - Section 1. An action which would have survived if commenced...

Section 2 - Torts; Amount of Damages - Section 2. If an action of tort is commenced or...

Section 3 - Recovery of Goods or Damages for Benefit of Another - Section 3. If the executor or administrator of a trustee,...

Section 4 - Accounting for Property Returned Pursuant to Judgment - Section 4. If judgment for a return of property is...

Section 5 - Refusal to Enforce Claim; Action by Heir, Legatee or Creditor - Section 5. It shall be unnecessary to remove an executor...

Section 6 - Writs of Attachment and Executions - Section 6. Writs of attachment and executions against executors or...

Section 7 - Attachments; Permission of Probate Court Required - Section 7. The real and personal property of a deceased...

Section 8 - Costs - Section 8. If a judgment for costs is rendered against...

Section 9 - Damages and Costs; Separate Executions - Section 9. If the judgment is for damages and costs,...

Section 10 - Liability of Executor or Administrator for Unsatisfied Judgment - Section 10. Upon the return unsatisfied of an execution upon...

Section 11 - Death or Removal of Executor or Administrator; Effect on Pending Action - Section 11. If an executor or administrator dies or is...

Section 12 - Death or Removal of Fiduciary After Judgment - Section 12. If an executor or administrator dies or is...

Section 13 - Appeal - Section 13. If judgment is rendered for or against an...

Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice

Section 6 - Assignee of Claim Assigned by Executor or Administrator, Proceedings - Section 6. In an action for the recovery of an...

Section 6b - Interest Added to Damages in Tort Actions - Section 6B. In any action in which a verdict is...

Section 6c - Interest Added to Damages in Contract Actions - Section 6C. In all actions based on contractual obligations, upon...

Section 6d - Damages for Pain and Suffering in Tort Actions Arising Out of Operation, etc., of Motor Vehicles; Restrictions - Section 6D. In any action of tort brought as a...

Section 6e - Definitions Applicable to Sections 6e to 6g - Section 6E. As used in sections 6E to 6G inclusive,...

Section 6f - Costs, Expenses and Interest for Insubstantial, Frivolous or Bad Faith Claims or Defenses - Section 6F. Upon motion of any party in any civil...

Section 6g - Appeals; Motions for Expenses for Insubstantial, Frivolous or Bad Faith Claims or Defenses - Section 6G. Any party aggrieved by a decision on a...

Section 6h - Interest on Damages - Section 6H. In any action in which damages are awarded,...

Section 6i - Interest Rate; Schedule - Section 6I. Interest required to be paid by the commonwealth...

Section 9 - Action to Recover Possession of Real Property - Section 9. In an action to recover possession of real...

Section 13a - Invalidity of Stipulation Waiving Service of Process or Authorizing Confession of Judgment; Vacation of Judgment - Section 13A. Any judgment entered in an action upon a...

Section 13b - Ad Damnum or Monetary Amount Claimed - Section 13B. No complaint in any civil action shall contain...

Section 21 - Pleading Following Answer in Abatement - Section 21. If an answer in abatement filed in the...

Section 22 - Pleading the General Issue; Evidence - Section 22. In real and mixed actions in the land...

Section 31 - Equitable Defenses - Section 31. In the district courts, the defendant may allege...

Section 35 - Reply Avoiding Defense in Equity - Section 35. In civil proceedings which are not governed by...

Section 39 - Real and Mixed Actions at Issue in Land Court - Section 39. Real and mixed actions in the land court...

Section 42 - Endorsement of Pleading or Process Before Filing or Entry; Residence - Section 42. Any initial pleading or process by which an...

Section 43 - Late Endorsement of Pleading or Process - Section 43. If a plaintiff, not an inhabitant of the...

Section 44 - Endorsement When Plaintiff Removes From Commonwealth - Section 44. If, after the commencement of a proceeding mentioned...

Section 45 - Procuring New Responsible Endorser - Section 45. If an endorser removes from the commonwealth or...

Section 47 - Dismissal on Failure to Obtain Endorser - Section 47. If a plaintiff fails to procure an endorser...

Section 48 - Substitute Endorser - Section 48. The court may permit the name of an...

Section 51 - Amendments as to Parties, Process or Pleading - Section 51. In all civil proceedings, the court may at...

Section 52 - Amendment After Demurrer - Section 52. In all civil proceedings which are not governed...

Section 58a - Notice of Default to Company Issuing Motor Vehicle Liability Policy or Bond; Assessment of Damages Deferred - Section 58A. Damages shall not be assessed, except by special...

Section 59a - Advancing Action for Speedy Trial - Section 59A. In any action before the supreme judicial court...

Section 59c - Request of Either Party - Section 59C. An action pending before the superior court which...

Section 59d - Speedy Trial of Actions Involving Election Laws - Section 59D. An action commenced in any court of this...

Section 59e - Request of Either Party - Section 59E. At the request of any party a proceeding...

Section 59f - Speedy Trial for Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Older - Section 59F. In any civil action in any court of...

Section 59g - Dismissal for Failure to File a Timely Request for Trial; Vacation of Judgment - Section 59G. After notice of judgement a judgement of dismissal...

Section 59h - Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation; Special Motion to Dismiss - Section 59H. In any case in which a party asserts...

Section 60b - Malpractice Actions Against Providers of Health Care; Tribunal - Section 60B. Every action for malpractice, error or mistake against...

Section 60c - Malpractice Complaints; Ad Damnum Prohibited - Section 60C. No writ or complaint for malpractice, error or...

Section 60d - Claim by Minor Against Provider of Health Care; Limitations - Section 60D. Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven of chapter...

Section 60e - Malpractice Action; Professional Examination of Claimant - Section 60E. In any civil action for malpractice, error or...

Section 60f - Award of Damages; Elements and Itemization of Amounts - Section 60F. (a) In every action for malpractice, negligence, error,...

Section 60g - Reduction of Award of Damages; Collateral Sources of Benefits - Section 60G. (a) In every action for malpractice, negligence, error,...

Section 60h - Limitation of Damages for Pain and Suffering - Section 60H. In any action for malpractice, negligence, error, omission,...

Section 60i - Attorney Fees; Limitations on Contingency Fees - Section 60I. Attorney fees for services rendered on behalf of...

Section 60j - Negligence Actions for Serving Alcoholic Beverages to Minors or Intoxicated Persons; Summary Judgments - Section 60J. Every action for negligence in the distribution, sale...

Section 60k - Actions for Malpractice, Negligence, Etc. Against Health Care Providers; Damages; Rate of Interest - Section 60K. In any action for malpractice, negligence, error, omission,...

Section 60l - Written Notice Requirement for Actions Against Health Care Providers as Defined in Seventh Paragraph of Sec. 60b; Time for Filing; Exceptions; Contents; Provider's Access to Medical Records; Written Response - Section 60L. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section,...

Section 61 - Filing Interrogatories - Section 61. The provisions of this section and of sections...

Section 62 - Answers to Interrogatories - Section 62. The answers shall be in writing, on oath,...

Section 63 - Rules Governing Use of Interrogatories - Section 63. Interrogatories shall be filed in the clerk's office,...

Section 64 - Failure to Answer or to Amend or Expunge Answer - Section 64. If a party interrogated fails to answer interrogatories,...

Section 65 - Person Answering Interrogatories When Corporation, Municipal Corporation, Minor or Incompetent Is Party - Section 65. If a corporation is a party, the adverse...

Section 66 - Order for Costs - Section 66. Such order may be made respecting costs, in...

Section 67 - Non-Disclosure of Information Not Pertinent - Section 67. Sections sixty-one to sixty-six, inclusive, shall not affect...

Section 68 - Inspecting Documents - Section 68. Every party to any cause or proceeding may...

Section 69 - Demand for Admissions; Answer to Demand or Refusal of Admissions; Costs - Section 69. In the district courts in actions not governed...

Section 71 - Motions and Interlocutory Orders - Section 71. In civil proceedings which are not governed by...

Section 72 - Agreements Regarding Amendments and Trial Procedure - Section 72. In civil proceedings which are not governed by...

Section 81 - Charges as to Facts, Etc. - Section 81. The courts shall not charge juries with respect...

Section 82 - Designation of Place of Trial - Section 82. In counties containing two or more shire towns,...

Section 83 - Interrupting Examination of Witnesses - Section 83. During the trial of a case in which...

Section 84a - Consolidation of Actions Involving Same Subject Matter - Section 84A. If two or more actions to recover damages...

Section 85 - Comparative Negligence; Limited Effect of Contributory Negligence as Defense - Section 85. Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in any...

Section 85a - Prima Facie Evidence of Owner's Responsibility for Operation of Motor Vehicle - Section 85A. In all actions to recover damages for injuries...

Section 85b - Action for Consequential Damages; Presumption of Automobile Owner's Responsibility - Section 85B. In any action to recover the consequential damages...

Section 85c - Action to Enforce Liability Policy or Bond; Presumption of Insured's Consent to Operation of Vehicle - Section 85C. In any civil action, under section one hundred...

Section 85d - Imputing Negligence of Parent or Custodian to Infant - Section 85D. In all actions to recover damages for injury...

Section 85e - Motor Vehicles; Defenses in Subrogation Claims - Section 85E. In any action to recover for damage to...

Section 85f - Imputation of Negligence of Operator of Motor Vehicle to Passenger-Owner - Section 85F. In an action to recover damages for death...

Section 85g - Parents' Liability for Willful Acts of Minor Children - Section 85G. Parents of an unemancipated child under the age...

Section 85h - Leased Property; Failure to Return; Conversion; Presumption - Section 85H. In any civil action for damages, failure to...

Section 85i - Emergency Care, Etc. of Injured Persons by Members of Ski Patrols; Exemption From Civil Liability - Section 85I. No member of a ski patrol duly registered...

Section 85j - Fraud or Deceit in Sale of Personal Property; Treble Damages - Section 85J. Whoever, by deceit or fraud, sells personal property...

Section 85k - Limitation of Tort Liability of Certain Charitable Organizations; Liability of Directors, Officers or Trustees of Educational Institutions - Section 85K. It shall not constitute a defense to any...

Section 85l - Recovery of Damages Against Operator of Motor Vehicle by Guest; Ordinary Negligence - Section 85L. In an action of tort for personal injuries,...

Section 85m - Disclaimers of Liability by Parking Facilities Not a Defense and Void - Section 85M. In any action of contract or tort in...

Section 85n - Liability of Licensed Members of Certain Professional Societies and Committees for Damages Resulting From Official Acts - Section 85N. No member of a professional society or of...

Section 85o - Contracts; Age of Legal Capacity and Liability in Civil Actions - Section 85O. Any person who has attained the age of...

Section 85p - Age of Majority; Legal Capacity - Section 85P. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, any...

Section 85p1/2 - Child Performers; Contracts; Court Approval - Section 85P1/2. (a) No person shall employ, or exhibit or...

Section 85q - Standard of Care Owed Children; Maintenance of Artificial Condition Upon Land - Section 85Q. Any person who maintains an artificial condition upon...

Section 85r - Boat Races or Regattas; Liability for Injuries - Section 85R. No member of a sailboat racing committee, club...

Section 85r1/2 - Liability for Damage to Property as a Result of Shoplifting or Attempted Larceny; Recovery - Section 85R1/2. Whoever: causes damage to the property of a...

Section 85s - Physical Alteration or Destruction of Fine Art - Section 85S. (a) The general court hereby finds and declares...

Section 85t - Negligence Action for Serving Alcohol to Intoxicated Person Prohibited; Exceptions - Section 85T. In any action for personal injuries, property damage...

Section 85u - Death or Injury to Unlawful Dwelling Occupants; Liability of Lawful Occupants - Section 85U. No person who is a lawful occupant of...

Section 85v - Sports Program Volunteers' Liability; Definitions - Section 85V. As used in this section, unless the context...

Section 85w - Officers and Directors of Charitable Corporations; Tort Liability - Section 85W. Except as provided otherwise in this section and...

Section 85x - Loss of Consortium of a Dependent Child; Cause of Action - Section 85X. The parents of a minor child or an...

Section 85y - Child Care Facilities; Liability of Owner of Property for Injury or Damage on Premises - Section 85Y. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the...

Section 85z - Conveyances Without Fair Consideration by Persons in Contempt of an Order or Judgment for Child Support; Civil Action - Section 85Z. A person who has been adjudged to be...

Section 85aa - Liability of Registered Rescue Volunteers - Section 85AA. No person duly registered by the department of...

Section 85bb - False Claim of Hours Worked Knowingly Submitted by Law Enforcement Officer - Section 85BB. (a) A law enforcement officer, as defined in...

Section 87 - Pleadings as Evidence; Effect - Section 87. In any civil action pleadings shall not be...

Section 88 - Effect of Unaccepted Offer of Judgment - Section 88. An offer of judgment made under the provisions...

Section 89 - Use at Trial of Answers to Interrogatories - Section 89. The answers of a party to interrogatories filed...

Section 91 - Effect of Unproved Defense of Truth in Action of Slander or Libel; Proof of Statements Not Contained in Pleadings - Section 91. In an action of slander or libel, if...

Section 91a - Radio or Television Broadcast; Liability of Owner of Station, Etc. - Section 91A. The owner, operator or licensee of a radio...

Section 91b - Statement Relating to Bank Loan for Purchase of Goods or Services as Defense to Claim for Libel - Section 91B. It shall be a defense to any claim...

Section 92 - Truth as Justification for Libel - Section 92. The defendant in an action for writing or...

Section 93 - Retraction of Libel; Mitigation of Damages; Punitive Damages - Section 93. Where the defendant in an action for libel,...

Section 94 - Evidence in Mitigation of Damages - Section 94. In an action for libel, the defendant may...

Section 94a - Probable Cause as Defence in Action for False Arrest - Section 94A. If a person authorized to make an arrest...

Section 94b - False Arrest; Shoplifting; Defrauding Innkeepers; Defenses - Section 94B. In an action for false arrest or false...

Section 94c - False Arrest; Theft of Public Records; Defenses - Section 94C. In an action for false arrest or false...

Section 95 - Defense to Action on Default Judgment - Section 95. In an action upon a judgment obtained by...

Section 96 - Relief From Final Judgment; Vacation; Effect of Attachment - Section 96. On motion made pursuant to the Massachusetts Rules...

Section 97 - Appeal to Superior Court - Section 97. Unless a written waiver of the right of...

Section 98 - Appeal Bond - Section 98. No appeal, other than an appeal by a...

Section 99 - Deposit in Lieu of Appeal Bond - Section 99. The appellant or any person in his behalf,...

Section 101 - Record on Appeal to Superior Court; Transmission - Section 101. When an appeal is taken from a judgment...

Section 102 - Docket Entries on Taking Appeal - Section 102. When such appeal is taken, the names of...

Section 102c - Transfer of Action From Superior Court; Trial; Decision; Notice; Judgment; Retransfer; Trial - Section 102C. The superior court may of its own motion...

Section 103 - Waiver of Jury Trial and Right of Appeal in Cases Brought in District Court - Section 103. If a party elects to bring in any...

Section 104 - Removal From District Court to Superior Court - Section 104. Any other party, a plaintiff against whom a...

Section 104a - Multiple Judgments Specification for Removal to Superior Court - Section 104A. In any action brought by or against two...

Section 106 - Deposit in Lieu of Removal Bond - Section 106. Any party, in lieu of filing the bond...

Section 107 - Circumstances Making Removal Bond Unnecessary - Section 107. No bond or deposit under section one hundred...

Section 108 - Appellate Divisions of District Courts; Assignment and Compensation of Justices; Procedure - Section 108. There shall be an appellate division of each...

Section 109 - Appeal to Appeals Court From Appellate Division - Section 109. An appeal to the appeals court shall lie...

Section 110 - Powers of Appellate Division - Section 110. The appellate division of each district court shall...

Section 111 - Report by Single Justice - Section 111. A justice of the superior or land court...

Section 112 - Report by Single Justice of Supreme Judicial Court - Section 112. A justice of the supreme judicial court, after...

Section 112a - Appellate Proceedings Upon Report; Application of Rules of Appellate Procedure - Section 112A. Proceedings before the appeals court or the full...

Section 112b - Objections to Rulings or Orders - Section 112B. In civil actions, formal exceptions to rulings or...

Section 113 - Appeal From Final Judgment of Superior Court, Land Court and Housing Courts - Section 113. A party aggrieved by a final judgment of...

Section 114 - Appeal From Final Judgment of Single Justice of Supreme Judicial Court - Section 114. A party aggrieved by a final judgment of...

Section 115 - Disposition of Judgment on Appeal; Stay of Execution - Section 115. Upon an appeal the appeals court or the...

Section 116 - Protective Orders Pending Appeal - Section 116. Upon an appeal from a final judgment, the...

Section 117 - Temporary Appellate Relief From Final Judgments Pending Appeal - Section 117. After an appeal has been taken from a...

Section 118 - Temporary Appellate Relief From Interlocutory Orders; Appeals to Appeals Court or Supreme Judicial Court - Section 118. A party aggrieved by an interlocutory order of...

Section 118a - Appeal From Interlocutory Order for Equitable Relief - Section 118A. A party aggrieved by an interlocutory order of...

Section 119 - Harmless Error; Disposition of Judgment on Appeal - Section 119. No error in either the admission or the...

Section 124 - Determination of Questions of Law by Full Court on Appeal - Section 124. Whenever a question in dispute at the trial...

Section 125 - Appellate Court's Powers of Amendment; Additional Testimony - Section 125. Upon appeal in a civil action the appeals...

Section 125a - Further Report of Material Facts in Equity and Probate Appeals - Section 125A. Upon appeal in any case, in equity or...

Section 130 - Costs on Refusal of New Trial - Section 130. If a new trial is refused, the court...

Section 132 - Error Not Affecting Substantial Rights; Partial New Trial - Section 132. No new trial shall be granted in any...

Section 138 - Amendment of Pleadings; Notice and Hearing Requisite to Bind Certain Persons; Appeal - Section 138. No subsequent attaching creditor or purchaser of property...

Section 139 - Representation of Corporate Party by Officer or Agent - Section 139. If a corporation is a party to an...

Section 140a - Conclusiveness of Consent Judgment in Automobile Case - Section 140A. In an action to recover damages for injuries...

Section 140b - Advance Payments or Settlements of Claims by Insurers; Effect Upon Liability; Admissibility as Evidence; Credit Upon Judgment; Notice of Limitations to Claimant by Insurer; Accrual of Cause of Action - Section 140B. Any person against whom a claim or suit...

Section 140c - Settlement or Partial Payment by Insurer as Admission of Liability - Section 140C. No settlement or partial payment made under a...

Section 140c1/2 - Settlement of Claim of Minor or Incompetent; Judicial Powers; Petition for Settlement Approval - Section 140C1/2. The trial court may review and approve a...

Chapter 231a - Procedure for Declaratory Judgments

Section 1 - Power to Make Declaratory Determination; Jury Questions - Section 1. The supreme judicial court, the superior court, the...

Section 2 - Controversies to Which Declaratory Judgment Procedure Is Applicable - Section 2. The procedure under section one may be used...

Section 3 - Grounds for Refusing Declaratory Judgment - Section 3. The court may refuse to render or enter...

Section 4 - Review of Decisions - Section 4. All orders, judgments, decrees and refusals under this...

Section 5 - Further Relief - Section 5. Further relief based on a declaratory judgment or...

Section 6 - Declaratory Relief in Other Actions - Section 6. In any action heretofore or hereafter brought to...

Section 7 - Costs - Section 7. In an action wherein a judgment or other...

Section 8 - Necessary Parties; Class Actions - Section 8. When declaratory relief is sought, all persons shall...

Section 9 - Purpose and Construction of Declaratory Judgment Provisions - Section 9. This chapter is declared to be remedial. Its...

Chapter 231b - Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors

Section 1 - Right of Contribution; Subrogation - Section 1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter,...

Section 2 - Pro Rata Shares of Tortfeasors in Entire Liability; Determination - Section 2. In determining the pro rata shares of tortfeasors...

Section 3 - Enforcement of Contribution; Limitation; Effect of Judgment Against One Tortfeasor; Judgment Determining Liability - Section 3. (a) Whether or not judgment has been entered...

Section 4 - Release or Covenant Not to Sue One or More Tortfeasors; Effect - Section 4. When a release or covenant not to sue...

Chapter 231c - Structured Settlement Contracts

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. For the purposes of this chapter the following...

Section 2 - Transfers of Structured Settlement Payment Rights - Section 2. (a) No direct or indirect transfer of structured...

Section 3 - Waiver of Secs. 2 to 4; Payee Penalty for Failure to Transfer - Section 3. (a) The provisions of sections 2 to 4,...

Section 4 - Violations of Discount/finance Charge Stipulation or of Disclosure Requirements; Penalties; Civil Actions by Attorney General - Section 4. (a) If in connection with a transfer of...

Section 5 - Applicability of This Chapter to Workers' Compensation Payment Rights - Section 5. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed...

Chapter 232 - Set-Off and Tender - [Repealed, 1975, 377, Sec. 111.]

Chapter 232a - Tender

Section 1 - Payment or Tender; Past Due Obligation - Section 1. The payment or tender of payment of the...

Section 2 - Acceptance of Tender; Stipulation of Dismissal - Section 2. If such tender is accepted, the parties shall...

Section 3 - Tender or Offer of Judgment in Lien Proceeding - Section 3. A person upon whose property a lien is...

Chapter 233 - Witnesses and Evidence

Section 1 - Issuance of Summonses for Witnesses - Section 1. A clerk of a court of record, a...

Section 2 - Service of Summons - Section 2. Such summons may be served in any county...

Section 3 - Witness Fees; Payment or Tender - Section 3. No person shall be required to attend as...

Section 3a - Representation of Commissioner of Banks - Section 3A. If the commissioner of banks is summoned as...

Section 4 - Liability for Nonattendance - Section 4. If a person who has been duly summoned...

Section 5 - Penalty for Nonattendance; Contempt - Section 5. Such failure to attend as a witness before...

Section 6 - Warrant for Nonattending Witness - Section 6. The court, justice, master in chancery, master, auditor...

Section 7 - Witnesses Before Executive Council - Section 7. Witnesses may be summoned to attend and testify...

Section 8 - Bodies Authorized to Summon Witnesses; Oath - Section 8. Witnesses may be summoned to attend and testify...

Section 9 - Warrant for Witness Failing to Attend Before Nonjudicial Tribunal - Section 9. If a witness who has been so summoned...

Section 10 - Enforcing Attendance Before Nonjudicial Tribunal - Section 10. A justice of the supreme judicial or the...

Section 11 - Requiring Testimony - Section 11. A justice of the supreme judicial or the...

Section 12 - Summons for Attendance at Criminal Trial Outside State - Section 12. A justice of the peace, upon receipt of...

Section 13 - Penalty for Nonattendance Outside State - Section 13. If the person on whom such summons is...

Section 13a - Attendance of Witnesses Outside State; Hearing and Summons; Failure to Attend - Section 13A. If a certificate wherein a judge of a...

Section 13b - Attendance of Witness From Another State; Fees; Failure to Attend - Section 13B. If a person in any state which by...

Section 13c - Exemption From Arrest and Process of Witnesses From Outside State - Section 13C. If a person comes into this commonwealth in...

Section 13d - Short Title; Construction of Law - Section 13D. Sections thirteen A to thirteen C, inclusive, may...

Section 14 - Persons Authorized to Administer Oaths - Section 14. Arbitrators, referees, masters and auditors appointed according to...

Section 15 - Mode of Administering Oaths - Section 15. The usual mode of administering oaths now practiced...

Section 16 - Mode Requested by Affiant - Section 16. If a person to be sworn declares that...

Section 17 - Affirmation by Quakers - Section 17. A Friend or Quaker when called on to...

Section 18 - Affirmation for Reasons of Conscience - Section 18. A person who declares that he has conscientious...

Section 19 - Oaths of Non–christians - Section 19. A person believing in any other than the...

Section 20 - Competency of Witnesses; Husband and Wife; Criminal Defendant; Parent and Child - Section 20. Any person of sufficient understanding, although a party,...

Section 20a - Privileged Communications; Communications With Clergymen - Section 20A. A priest, rabbi or ordained or licensed minister...

Section 20b - Privileged Communications; Patients and Psychotherapists; Exceptions - Section 20B. The following words as used in this section...

Section 20c - Immunity From Prosecution; Privilege Against Self-Incrimination - Section 20C. In any investigation or proceeding before a grand...

Section 20d - Crimes Subject to Immunity - Section 20D. A witness who is called or who may...

Section 20e - Application for Witness Immunity by Attorney General or District Attorney; Hearing; Representation of Witness; Notice or Waiver; Transcript - Section 20E. (a) A justice of the supreme judicial court,...

Section 20g - Scope of Immunity; Copies of Transcript of Testimony Compelled and Documents Furnished; Availability to Witness - Section 20G. A witness who has been granted immunity as...

Section 20h - Contempt of Court; Punishment; Appeal - Section 20H. If a witness has been granted immunity pursuant...

Section 20i - Necessity of Corroborating Testimony Of, or Evidence Produced By, Person Granted Immunity - Section 20I. No defendant in any criminal proceeding shall be...

Section 20j - Sexual Assault; Confidential Communications With Sexual Assault Counsellor; Disclosure; Discovery - Section 20J. As used in this section the following words,...

Section 20k - Domestic Violence Victims' Counselors; Confidential Communications - Section 20K. As used in this section the following words...

Section 20l - Confidentiality of Domestic Violence Victims' Program and Rape Crisis Center Locations - Section 20L. The location and street address of all domestic...

Section 20m - Disclosure of Confidential Communication Regarding Human Trafficking Victim by Caseworker - Section 20M. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Section 20n - Disclosure of Home Address or Personal Telephone Number of Social Worker Employed by the Department of Children and Families; Service of Process, Summons or Subpoena Upon Social Worker; State-Issued Identification Cards - Section 20N. (a) No court shall permit or require the...

Section 20o - Crisis Intervention Services for Emergency Service Provider; Confidentiality of Information - Section 20O. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Section 21 - Proof of Conviction of Crime to Affect Credibility - Section 21. The conviction of a witness of a crime...

Section 21a - Evidence of Reputation - Section 21A. Evidence of the reputation of a person in...

Section 21b - Evidence of Sex Crime Victim's Sexual Conduct; Admission Hearing; Findings - Section 21B. Evidence of the reputation of a victim's sexual...

Section 22 - Cross-Examination of Adverse Party; Corporation's Agent as Adverse Party - Section 22. A party who calls the adverse party as...

Section 23 - Impeachment of Party's Own Witness - Section 23. The party who produces a witness shall not...

Section 23a - Admissibility of Written or Recorded Statements of Party to Personal Injury Action - Section 23A. In any action to recover damages for personal...

Section 23b - Accused; Statements Made While Undergoing Psychiatric Examination; Admissibility - Section 23B. In the trial of an indictment or complaint...

Section 23c - Work Product of Mediator Confidential; Confidential Communications; Exception; Mediator Defined - Section 23C. All memoranda, and other work product prepared by...

Section 23d - Admissibility of Benevolent Statements, Writings or Gestures Relating to Accident Victims - Section 23D. As used in this section the following words...

Section 23e - Alternative Procedure for Determining Competency of Witnesses With an Intellectual Disability - Section 23E. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 23f - Admissibility of Past Physical, Sexual or Psychological Abuse of Defendant - Section 23F. In the trial of criminal cases charging the...

Section 24 - Depositions in Civil Cases Authorized - Section 24. Depositions may be taken as provided in this...

Section 24a - Medical Witnesses - Section 24A. At trial of a civil matter in the...

Section 25 - Grounds for Deposition - Section 25. If a witness or party whose testimony is...

Section 26 - Notice of Taking Deposition - Section 26. After service of process in an action, or...

Section 27 - Persons on Whom Notice May Be Served - Section 27. The notice may be served on the adverse...

Section 28 - Mode of Service - Section 28. The notice shall be served by delivering an...

Section 29 - Verbal Notice; Waiver of Notice, Etc. - Section 29. The justice or notary who takes the deposition...

Section 30 - Oath and Examination of Deponent - Section 30. The deponent shall be sworn or affirmed to...

Section 31 - Order of Examination - Section 31. The party producing the deponent shall be allowed...

Section 32 - Mode of Taking Deposition - Section 32. The deposition shall be written by the justice...

Section 33 - Certification of Deposition - Section 33. The justice or notary shall annex to the...

Section 34 - Delivery and Preservation of Deposition - Section 34. The deposition shall be delivered by the justice...

Section 35 - Exclusion of Deposition - Section 35. The court may exclude the deposition if it...

Section 36 - Objections to Deposition - Section 36. Objections to the competency or credibility of the...

Section 37 - Use of Deposition in Second Action - Section 37. If a plaintiff discontinues his action or becomes...

Section 38 - Compelling Giving of Deposition; Place - Section 38. A person may be summoned and compelled to...

Section 39 - Place of Taking Deposition of Nonresident Found Within Commonwealth - Section 39. A person not a resident of but found...

Section 40 - Rules for Taking Depositions - Section 40. The courts may make rules regulating the time...

Section 41 - Taking Deposition Outside Commonwealth - Section 41. The deposition of a person without the commonwealth...

Section 42 - Written Interrogatories; Notice to Adverse Party; Production of Documents - Section 42. Unless the court otherwise orders, a deposition taken...

Section 43 - Rules for Taking Depositions Outside of Commonwealth - Section 43. The courts may make rules for the issuing...

Section 44 - Foreign Depositions Obtained Contrary to Statute - Section 44. Depositions and affidavits taken without the commonwealth in...

Section 45 - Deposition for Use in Another State - Section 45. A person may be summoned and compelled, in...

Section 46 - Application to Take Deposition to Perpetuate Testimony - Section 46. If a person desires to perpetuate his own...

Section 47 - Notice of Taking Deposition; Compelling Testimony - Section 47. The justices or notaries shall thereupon cause notice...

Section 48 - Objections to Taking Deposition; Procedure - Section 48. If at the time and place so appointed...

Section 49 - Mode of Taking Deposition - Section 49. The deponent shall be sworn and examined, and...

Section 50 - Recording Deposition - Section 50. The deposition, the certificate and the application of...

Section 51 - Use of Deposition in Action - Section 51. If, at the time of taking such deposition...

Section 52 - Perpetuation of Testimony of Nonresidents - Section 52. Depositions to perpetuate the testimony of persons living...

Section 53 - Application to Perpetuate Testimony of Nonresidents - Section 53. The person who desires to take such deposition...

Section 54 - Notice of Taking Deposition - Section 54. The court shall order notice of such application...

Section 55 - Issuance of Commission - Section 55. If, upon hearing the parties who appear, the...

Section 56 - Written Interrogatories - Section 56. The deposition shall be taken upon written interrogatories...

Section 57 - Rules for Perpetuation of Testimony of Witnesses Without Commonwealth - Section 57. The supreme judicial court may make rules for...

Section 58 - Use of Deposition - Section 58. Depositions to perpetuate the testimony of witnesses which...

Section 59 - Perpetuation of Testimony for Use Against All Persons - Section 59. Depositions to perpetuate the testimony of witnesses within...

Section 60 - Application for Deposition - Section 60. The person who desires to have such deposition...

Section 61 - Naming Persons Interested; Notice of Taking Deposition - Section 61. The court shall, in addition to the proceedings...

Section 62 - Recording Deposition - Section 62. After such deposition has been taken, it shall...

Section 63 - Use of Deposition Against Any Person - Section 63. A deposition taken and recorded under the provisions...

Section 64 - Admissibility of Dying Declaration of Woman - Section 64. In prosecutions under section nineteen of chapter two...

Section 65 - Admissibility of Declaration of Decedent - Section 65. In any action or other civil judicial proceeding,...

Section 65a - Admissibility of Deceased Party's Answers to Interrogatories - Section 65A. If a party to an action who has...

Section 66 - Evidence in Actions Against an Executor or Administrator - Section 66. If a cause of action brought against an...

Section 67 - Evidence in Equity - Section 67. Evidence in any proceeding seeking equitable relief shall...

Section 68 - Proof of Signature to Attested Instrument - Section 68. A signature to an attested instrument or writing,...

Section 69 - Records of Courts of Other States or United States - Section 69. The records and judicial proceedings of a court...

Section 70 - Judicial Notice of Foreign Law - Section 70. The courts shall take judicial notice of the...

Section 73 - Foreign Oaths and Affidavits - Section 73. All oaths and affidavits administered or taken by...

Section 74 - Evidence of Acts of Incorporation - Section 74. Acts of incorporation shall be held to be...

Section 75 - Admissibility of Printed Copies of Acts of Legislative and Administrative Bodies - Section 75. The printed copies of all statutes, acts and...

Section 76 - Admissibility of Authenticated Records of Governmental Departments - Section 76. Copies of books, papers, documents and records in...

Section 76a - Authenticated Copies of Documents Filed With Securities and Exchange Commission - Section 76A. Photostatic or other copies of applications, reports, books,...

Section 76b - Printed Copies of Schedules, Classifications and Tariffs Filed With Interstate Commerce Commission - Section 76B. Printed copies of schedules, classifications and tariffs of...

Section 77 - Authenticated Copies of Records of Banks and Trust Companies - Section 77. Copies from the records, books and accounts of...

Section 77a - Bank Account Statement Together With Legible Copy of Check; Prima Facie Proof of Payment - Section 77A. A statement of account of a bank showing...

Section 78 - Entry, Writing or Record Made in Regular Course of Business; Impeachment - Section 78. An entry in an account kept in a...

Section 79 - Records and Copies of Records of Hospitals and Certain Institutions; Admissibility in Evidence - Section 79. Records kept by hospitals, dispensaries or clinics, and...

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

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