Massachusetts General Laws cited in the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence

An inexhaustive list of Massachusetts General Laws cited in the 2024 edition of the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence.

Article I. General Provisions

• MGL c. 231, § 119 Harmless error disposition of judgment on appeal 
• MGL c. 231, § 132 Error not affecting substantial rights partial new trial 
• MGL c. 278, § 33E Capital cases review by supreme judicial court

Article II. Judicial Notice

• MGL c. 30A, § 6 Massachusetts Register shall be judicially noticed

Article III. Inferences, Prima Facie Evidence and Presumptions

• MGL c. 22C, § 39 Certificate of chemical analysis of narcotics 
• MGL c. 46, § 19 Birth, marriage, or death certificate
• MGL c. 90, § 24(4) Court record of a prior conviction of driving under the influence if accompanied by other documentation
• MGL c. 185C, § 21 Report of inspector in housing court
• MGL c. 233, § 79F Certificate of public way 
• MGL c. 269, § 11C Firearm with obliterated serial number

Article IV. Relevancy and its Limits

• MGL c. 231, § 60G Reduction of award, collateral sources of benefits 
• MGL c. 231, § 140B Evidence of payments by insurer not admissible 
• MGL c. 233, § 21 Evidence of prior convictions to affect credibility 
• MGL c. 233, § 21A Evidence of reputation 
• MGL c. 233, § 21B Evidence of sex crime victim's sexual conduct 
• MGL c. 233, § 23C Statements during mediation
• MGL c. 233, § 23D Admissibility of benevolent statements… relating to accident victim
• MGL c. 233, § 23F Past abuse of defendant 
• MGL c. 233, § 79G Medical services billing 
• MGL c. 233, § 79L Statements by health care provider 
• MGL c. 265, § 13B, § 13F, § 13H, § 22, § 22A, § 23, § 24, § 24B, and MGL c. 272, § 29A (Evidence of a victim’s sexual conduct cannot be introduced for any of the listed crimes)
• MGL c. 277, § 63 Corroborating evidence after 27 years for indictment

Article V. Privileges and Disqualifications

• MGL c. 4, § 7, Twenty-sixth (public records) and Fifty-ninth (evidence of gender identity)
• MGL c. 6, § 167 et seq. (Criminal Offender Record Information [C.O.R.I.]) 
• MGL c. 41, § 97D Reports of rape and sexual assault 
• MGL c. 62C, § 21, § 22 Tax returns 
• MGL c. 62C, § 74 Information from tax return preparer 
• MGL c. 66, § 10 Public records 
• MGL c. 66A, § 1, § 2 Personal data held by Commonwealth agencies
• MGL c. 71, § 34D Student records
• MGL c. 71B, § 3 Records for students with disabilities or special needs
• MGL c. 111, § 1, § 204, § 205 Medical peer review committee records
• MGL c. 111, § 70, § 70E Hospital records
• MGL c. 111, § 70F HIV test results
• MGL c. 111, § 70G Genetic testing
• MGL c. 111B, § 11 Alcohol treatment
• MGL c. 111E, § 18 Drug treatment
• MGL c. 112, § 129A Psychologist-patient communications
• MGL c. 112, § 135, § 135A, § 135B Social workers
• MGL c. 112, § 172, § 172A Allied mental health and human service professionals confidential communications waiver
• MGL c. 119, § 51A Mandatory reporting of child abuse except when confidentially shared with clergy
• MGL c. 119, § 51E Department of Children and Families records
• MGL c. 119, § 60, § 60A Juvenile records and delinquency cases
• MGL c. 123, § 36, § 36A Department of Mental Health records
• MGL c. 123B, § 17 Department of Developmental Services records
• MGL c. 127, § 29 Department of Correction records
• MGL c. 127, § 130 Parole board records
• MGL c. 148, § 32 Insurance policy records
• MGL c. 151A, § 46 Unemployment hearing privilege
• MGL c. 221, § 92A Admitting evidence with sign language interpreters, confidentiality
• MGL c. 221C, § 1, § 4 Interpreter-client privilege
• MGL c. 233, § 20 Competency of witnesses in criminal case: husband and wife, parent and child testifying against each other
• MGL c. 233, § 20A Communication with clergy
• MGL c. 233, § 20B Communication with psychologists and psychotherapists
• MGL c. 233, §§ 20D–20I (Statutes governing the granting of immunity)
• MGL c. 233, § 20J Sexual assault counselor privilege
• MGL c. 233, § 20K Domestic violence counselors privilege
• MGL c. 233, § 20M Communication between human trafficking victim & case worker
• MGL c. 233, § 21 Proof of conviction of crime to affect credibility of witness
• MGL c. 233, § 23B Statements made while undergoing psychiatric examination
• MGL c. 233, § 23C, MGL c.150, § 10A Mediators
• MGL c. 273, § 7 Spousal privileges exceptions
• MGL c. 278, § 23 Adverse inference from claim of privilege

Article VI. Witnesses

• MGL c. 119, § 60 Delinquent children
• MGL c. 123, § 19 Mental condition
• MGL c. 221C, § 4 Interpreter oath
• MGL c. 231, § 87 Pleadings as evidence
• MGL c. 231, § 89 Use of answers to interrogatories
• MGL c. 233, § 19 Witness oaths for non-Christian religious beliefs
• MGL c. 233, § 20 Competency 
• MGL c. 233, § 21 Conviction of a crime to affect credibility 
• MGL c. 233, § 21A Evidence of reputation 
• MGL c. 233, § 22 Cross examination of adverse party 
• MGL c. 233, § 23 Impeachment of party’s own witness 
• MGL c. 233, § 23E Determining competency of witnesses with an intellectual disability 
• MGL c. 234A, § 39 Discharge of juror

Article VII. Opinion and Expert Evidence

• MGL c. 119, § 21, § 24 Child custody investigations, abandoned children 
• MGL c. 123, § 15 Competence to stand trial investigation 
• MGL c. 215, § 56A Court appointed experts, investigators

Article VIII. Hearsay

• MGL c. 46, § 19 Birth, marriage, and death records 
• MGL c. 79, § 35 Fair market value of real estate 
• MGL c. 90, § 30 Records of the Registry of Motor Vehicles 
• MGL c. 106, § 2-724 Admissibility of market quotations 
• MGL c. 111, § 70 Hospital records 
• MGL c. 111, § 195 Certain lead inspection reports 
• MGL c. 119, § 24 Court investigation reports 
• MGL c. 119, § 51A, § 51B Department of Children and Families reports
• MGL c. 123A, § 6A, § 9 Sexually dangerous person statute 
• MGL c. 123A, § 14 Court, juvenile, police reports on prior sexual offenses 
• MGL c. 139, § 9 Nuisance building, general reputation 
• MGL c. 152, § 20A, § 20B Medical reports 
• MGL c. 175, § 4(7) Report of Commissioner of Insurance as prima facie evidence 
• MGL c. 183, § 5A Statements relating to title 
• MGL c. 185C, § 21 Housing inspection report 
• MGL c. 207, § 45 Marriage records 
• MGL c. 231, § 89 Use of answers to interrogatories 
• MGL c. 233, § 65 Admissibility of declaration of decedent 
• MGL c. 233, § 65A Answers to interrogatories of deceased party 
• MGL c. 233, § 66 Evidence in actions against personal representative 
• MGL c. 233, § 69 Records of other courts 
• MGL c. 233, § 70 Judicial notice of foreign law 
• MGL c. 233, § 78, § 79J Business records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79 Hospital records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79B Publicly issued compilations of fact 
• MGL c. 233, § 79C Treatises in malpractice actions
• MGL c. 233, § 79F Certificate of public way
• MGL c. 233, § 79G Medical and hospital bills 
• MGL c. 233, § 79H Medical reports of deceased physicians 
• MGL c. 233, § 80 Official transcripts of court proceedings
• MGL c. 233, § 81, § 82 Admissibility of out-of-court statements, sexual contact, criminal, civil
• MGL c. 233, § 83 Admissibility of out-of-court statements, sexual conduct, child custody
• MGL c. 239, § 8A, ¶ 3 Board of health inspection report if certified by inspector who conducted the inspection
• MGL c. 276, § 58 Considerations for release on personal recognizance 
• MGL c. 276, § 58A Conditions for release, offenses physical force 
• MGL c. 278, § 16D Child witness testimony

Article IX. Authentication and Identification

• MGL c. 9, § 11 Great seal, copies as evidence 
• MGL c. 30A, § 6 Massachusetts Register 
• MGL c. 66, § 5 Municipal records 
• MGL c. 66, § 7 Town clerk, custody of old records 
• MGL c. 66, § 16 Surrender of old church records 
• MGL c. 90, § 30 Records of Registry of Motor Vehicles
• MGL c. 111, § 195 Lead poisoning detection report 
• MGL c. 209C, § 16 Paternity, testimony, evidence 
• MGL c. 209C, § 17 Genetic marker tests 
• MGL c. 231, § 69 Admissions, demand and answers
• MGL c. 233, § 68 Proof of signature 
• MGL c. 233, § 69 Records of courts of other states or U.S. 
• MGL c. 233, § 73 Foreign oaths and affidavits 
• MGL c. 233, § 74 Acts of incorporation 
• MGL c. 233, § 75 Printed copies of acts of legislative and administrative bodies 
• MGL c. 233, § 76 Authenticated records of government departments 
• MGL c. 233, § 76A Records of Securities and Exchange Commission 
• MGL c. 233, § 77 Records of banks 
• MGL c. 233, § 78 Impeachment of certain business records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79 Hospital records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79A Certified copies of public and private records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79B Occupational published statements of fact 
• MGL c. 233, § 79C Scientific publications 
• MGL c. 233, § 79D Photographic copy of newspaper in library 
• MGL c. 233, § 79G Medical and hospital services records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79J Business records 
• MGL c. 233, § 80 Court transcripts from stenographic notes

Article X. Contents of Writings and Records

• MGL c. 233, § 76 Attested-to records of governmental departments 
• MGL c. 233, § 76A Properly authenticated copies of documents filed with the SEC 
• MGL c. 233, § 77 Copies of books, etc., of trust companies and banks 
• MGL c. 233, § 78 Court may order originals
• MGL c. 233, § 79A Duly certified copies of public, bank, insurance, and hospital records 
• MGL c. 233, § 79D Duly certified copies of newspapers deposited in certain public and college libraries
• MGL c. 233, § 79E Reproductions made in the regular course of business
• MGL c. 233, § 79K Duplicate of a computer data file or program file unless issue as to authenticity or unfair to admit

Article XI. Miscellaneous

• MGL c. 6, § 178L Classification of sex offenders 
• MGL c. 30A, § 11 Agency adjudicatory proceedings 
• MGL c. 71B, § 3 Special education records, confidential, not privileged 
• MGL c. 79, § 22 Eminent Domain complaints 
• MGL c. 80, § 9 Trial procedure tax abatement 
• MGL c. 111, § 70 Hospital records 
• MGL c. 111B, § 11 Alcoholism treatment records 
• MGL c. 111E, § 18 Drug rehab treatment records 
• MGL c. 112, § 135, § 135A, § 135B Social worker communications
• MGL c. 119, § 21A Care & protection, evidence, qualified experts 
• MGL c. 119, § 24 Court reports, child custody investigator reports 
• MGL c. 119, § 29 Right to counsel 
• MGL c. 119, § 29D Foster and pre adoptive parents testimony 
• MGL c. 119, § 60 Delinquent children, admissibility of adjudication 
• MGL c. 123, § 1 Likelihood of serious harm, definitions 
• MGL c. 123, § 7, § 8 Commitment, dangerous persons 
• MGL c. 123, § 8B Hearing for treatment of persons with antipsychotic medication 
• MGL c. 123, § 35 Commitment substance abuse, alcoholism 
• MGL c. 123, § 36 Mental health facility records 
• MGL c. 123A, § 1, § 6A, § 9, § 12, § 13, § 14, § 15 Sexually dangerous persons 
• MGL c. 152, § 2 Investigations, Industrial Accidents Division 
• MGL c. 209A, § 1, § 3A, § 3B, § 4, § 5, § 7 Abuse prevention 
• MGL c. 210, § 3 Adoption plan report, testimony 
• MGL c. 218, § 21, § 22 Small claims 
• MGL c. 218, § 35A Pre-complaint hearing 
• MGL c. 233, § 20 Witness competency 
• MGL c. 233, § 20B Psychotherapists, communications 
• MGL c. 233, § 22 Cross of adverse witness, parent 
• MGL c. 233, § 78 Business records, impeachment 
• MGL c. 233, § 79 Records of hospitals, sanatoria, etc.
• MGL c. 233, § 79G Medical and hospital services, evidence
• MGL c. 233, § 82, § 83 Children’s out of court statements
• MGL c. 234A, § 67A Examination of jurors 
• MGL c. 234A, § 69A Jury viewing of premises, place, or property 
• MGL c. 253, § 7 Jury viewing of land alleged to be injured 
• MGL c. 258B, § 1 Restitution definition 
• MGL c. 258B, § 3 Rights of victims, witnesses 
• MGL c. 258E, § 1 Abuse, Harassment definitions 
• MGL c. 276, § 55 Discharge on acknowledgment of satisfaction for injury 
• MGL c. 276, § 57 Bail revocation 
• MGL c. 276, § 58A Pretrial dangerousness hearing 
• MGL c. 276, § 85 Probation officer duties, information for sentencing 
• MGL c. 276, § 85B Reports of Probate & Family Court probation in writing 
• MGL c. 276, § 87, § 87A Restitution, probation 
• MGL c. 276, § 92A Restitution, motor vehicle theft or fraudulent claims 
• MGL c. 276, § 100 Reports of probation work 
• MGL c. 277, § 68 Subpoenas by Attorney General and district attorneys
• MGL c. 279, § 1 Suspension of execution payment of fine probation revocation of suspension
• MGL c. 280, § 6 Costs as penalty

Last updated:	October 30, 2024