| Adopted Date: | 02/01/2026 |
|---|
- This page, Supplement to the 2026 edition, is offered by
- Trial Court Law Libraries
- Massachusetts Court System
Guide to Evidence
Guide to Evidence Supplement to the 2026 edition
Contact
Trial Court Law Libraries
Online
Email a reference librarian:
Email Trial Court Law Libraries at lawlibraries@jud.state.ma.us
Table of Contents
Section 1106 Note: Standard for Abuse Prevention Order
Replace the definition of "Abuse" with the following text:
"Abuse” is defined as “the occurrence of any of the following acts between family or household members: (a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm; (b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm; (c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress; [or] (d) coercive control.” G. L. c. 209A, § 1.
''Coercive control'' can be demonstrated in two ways: either a pattern of defined conduct or a single act of certain specified conduct. In both situations, the conduct must be "intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce or compel compliance of a family or household member" and must cause that person "to reasonably fear physical harm or have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy."
A pattern of such conduct may include any of the following: "(i) isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives or other sources of support; (ii) depriving the family or household member of basic needs; (iii) controlling, regulating or monitoring the family or household member's activities, communications, movements, finances, economic resources or access to services, including through technological means; (iv) compelling a family or household member to abstain from or engage in a specific behavior or activity, including engaging in criminal activity; (v) threatening to harm a child or relative of the family or household member; (vi) threatening to commit cruelty or abuse to an animal connected to the family or household member; (vii) intentionally damaging property belonging to the family or household member; (viii) threatening to publish sensitive personal information relating to the family or household member, including sexually explicit images; or (ix) using repeated court actions found by a court not to be warranted by existing law or good faith argument." G. L. c. 209A, § 1.
A single act of any of the following also constitutes coercive control: "(i) harming or attempting to harm a child or relative of the family or household member; (ii) committing or attempting to commit abuse to an animal connected to the family or household member; or (iii) publishing or attempting to publish sexually explicit images of the family or household member.” G. L. c. 209A, § 1.
The Supreme Judicial Court has solicited amicus briefs regarding "[w]hether the 'coercive control' provision is vague and overbroad in violation of the First and Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution and cognate provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution." See G.P. v. S.P., SJC-13947.
Contact
Online
Email a reference librarian:
Email Trial Court Law Libraries at lawlibraries@jud.state.ma.us