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How do I know if I have a remote hearing?
The court will let you know if your court hearing will be held remotely. The court may contact you by U.S. mail, email, or phone. The court will also let the other parties in your case know.
How do I request a remote hearing?
You must contact the Clerk’s, Register’s, or Recorder’s Office to request a remote hearing.
Make your remote hearing request in advance of your next court date so the court has time to consider it.
While many court hearings are now remote (usually held on Zoom), only some types of court cases and events may be held remotely.
Each court department has rules (called “Standing Orders”) about the specific types of court hearings and events that may be held remotely. All of these rules are available at: Remote Hearings Standing Orders.
Links to each court department’s rules on remote hearings are also below:
- Boston Municipal Court Standing Order
- District Court Standing Order
- Housing Court Standing Order
- Juvenile Court Standing Order
- Land Court Standing Order
- Probate and Family Court Standing Order
- Superior Court Standing Order
Generally, you may file a written request or motion with the court to request a remote hearing or make an oral request for a remote hearing while in court for your next hearing date(s).
The court will review your request for a remote hearing and will let you know if your request is allowed or denied. If your request is allowed, the court will provide you with separate instructions about accessing your remote hearing.
How do I contact the court?
Contact the court at the phone number or email address provided in your court notice or go to the Courthouse Locator to find out how to contact the court that serves you. You may also go to Remote or Virtual Court Services to see if your court has a virtual registry.
Will the court tell me how to join the remote hearing?
Yes. The court will send you instructions on how to join your remote hearing by video or by phone.
The Trial Court uses Zoom.
Preferably, you should join the remote hearing through a computer, tablet, or smartphone with access to video.
For additional instructions, contact the court before the day of your scheduled hearing.
What if I cannot join the remote hearing at the scheduled time?
You must have a good reason why you cannot participate in the remote hearing at the scheduled time. And you must tell the court as soon as possible after receiving the notice. Please contact the court where your hearing is scheduled for more information on how to change your hearing date.
What if I don’t have internet or a phone?
Contact the court as soon as possible. You might be able to attend the hearing in person. Or, the court may postpone the hearing until everyone can participate or help you find a way to participate. You may access Zoom at select court locations in their Trial Court Zoom Rooms or learn about our Access to Justice Library Initiative where many Trial Court services are available remotely.
What if I need an interpreter?
To request an interpreter, contact the court.
How do I prepare for a remote hearing?
Read these Remote Hearing Tips to help you prepare for your remote hearing.
What should I expect during the remote hearing?
- On the day of your remote hearing, your hearing may be one of many hearings held that day. Your remote hearing may not begin right away. You may need to wait. Please be patient and stay signed in to your remote hearing.
- The judge or clerk will make sure you can hear and talk, and go over all the rules.
- If you are on Zoom with video, you can choose either speaker view, where the person speaking will be displayed, or gallery view to see all participants.
- Your hearing is live and will be recorded. Everyone there can hear what you say. Most court hearings are open to the public.
- A remote hearing is an official court hearing. You must dress professionally and act as if you were attending in person in the courtroom.
Can I take photos of, broadcast, or record the remote hearing?
No. You may be connecting from a remote location, but a remote hearing is still a court hearing. You may not record, broadcast, or take photos or screenshots of the proceedings without receiving permission from the court.
Each Trial Court department has a rule that says:
No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, of a remote or hybrid court hearing, without prior authorization from the judge or clerk magistrate having immediate supervision over the remote or hybrid hearing, consistent with Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19, which governs electronic access to the courts.
How can a member of the public access a remote hearing?
Generally, for purposes of public access to in-person, remote, or hybrid hearings that are open to the public, members of the public may access court hearings as follows:
- For in-person hearings, where no party appears remotely, members of the public shall attend in person.
- For remote hearings, where all parties attend remotely, members of the public may access the hearing remotely.
- For hybrid hearings, where at least one party attends in person, while at least one other party or participant appears remotely, members of the public shall attend in person. Members of the public may seek permission from the court to access a hybrid hearing remotely.
Members of the public seeking specific information or instructions on public access to in-person, remote, or hybrid hearings in a particular case shall contact the Clerk’s, Register’s, or Recorder’s Office for further details.
Additional information on public access to remote hearings is available in each court department’s Standing Order and in the public access pages below:
Where can I submit feedback or suggestions about remote hearings?
The Trial Court welcomes your comments and suggestions about remote hearings. Please submit them here: Notify the Trial Court of Questions, Feedback or Suggestions.
| Date published: | May 15, 2026 |
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| Last updated: | May 15, 2026 |