Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department
Section 20 - Transfer of Civil Actions

Section 20. Any civil action within the jurisdiction of the housing court department which is pending in another court department may be transferred to the housing court department by any party thereto.
Whenever cross actions between the same parties or two or more actions, including for the purposes hereof other department proceedings, arising out of or connected with the same housing accommodation are pending, one or more in the housing court department, the district court department, the probate and family court department, or in the superior court department, the chief justice of the housing court or the first justice upon motion of any party to any of such actions, may order that the action or actions pending in the district court department and in the probate and family court department and in the superior court department with all papers relating thereto, be transferred to the housing court department; and such action or actions shall thereafter proceed in the housing court department as though originally entered there.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations

Title I - Title to Real Property

Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department

Section 1 - Housing Court Department; Composition; Definitions

Section 2 - Superior and General Jurisdiction; Presumption; Processes

Section 3 - Concurrent Jurisdiction; Powers of Superior Court Department; Enforcement Authority

Section 4 - Sittings of Court

Section 5 - Time for Transaction of Business

Section 6 - Seal

Section 7 - Rules and Forms of Procedure

Section 8 - Justices; Appointment; Disputes Between Justices and Clerks; Appeals; Removal

Section 8a - Chief Justice Authority and Responsibility

Section 8b - Deputy Court Administrator

Section 9 - Clerks; Appointment; Disputes Between Justices and Clerks

Section 9a - Salaries of Clerks and Assistant Clerks; Practice of Law

Section 10 - Temporary Clerks

Section 11 - Assistant Clerks

Section 12 - Oath of Office of Clerks

Section 13 - Bond of Clerks

Section 14 - Powers and Duties of Clerks

Section 15 - Court Officers

Section 16 - Housing Specialists

Section 17 - Practice of Law by Clerks or Housing Specialists

Section 18 - Recording System; Procurement of Law Books, Stationery, Etc.

Section 19 - Commencement of Proceedings; Fees; Non-Willful Offense Deemed Non-Criminal

Section 20 - Transfer of Civil Actions

Section 21 - Trial Without Jury; Exception; Report of Inspector as Prima Facie Evidence

Section 22 - Entry of Judgment or Order

Section 23 - Bond of Receiver