Housing assistance and court resources for Barnstable, Edgartown, Falmouth, Nantucket, and Orleans District Courts

Summary process (eviction) resource information for towns and cities served by the following courts: Barnstable District Court, Edgartown District Court, Falmouth District Court, Nantucket District Court, and Orleans District Court.

Table of Contents

Important Information (as required under St. 2022, c. 42)

If you are a party to a residential summary process (eviction) case based only on the non-payment of rent, certain protections may apply to you under the law. (See St. 2020, c. 257, as amended by St. 2022, c. 42). Specifically, a residential summary process (eviction) case may be continued (delayed) if:

  1. the residential summary process (eviction) case is based only on non-payment of rent;
  2. the non-payment of rent was due to a financial hardship related or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
  3. a tenant proves, to the satisfaction of the court, a pending application for short-term emergency rental assistance.  

In addition, if the three (3) requirements above are met, the court must issue a stay of execution on a judgment for possession (pause a move-out order after a judgment for the landlord). The court must also not enter a judgment or issue an execution (a move-out order) before the emergency rental assistance application has been approved or denied. 

Additional Information about Resources

Court Service Centers

Court Service Centers help people navigate the court system. Centers are available to all court users without lawyers, and there are no income or immigration status requirements. Court Service Center staff can provide legal information, such as how the court works and different options available to you. They cannot provide legal advice.  As of February 28, 2022, Court Service Centers offer in-person and remote services. For more information, go Mass.gov's Court Service Centers page.

Additional Resources

Date published: March 19, 2024
Last updated: March 19, 2024

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