Massachusetts law about defending against a c.209A Order

Laws, cases, and web sources on defending against a c.209A abuse prevention restraining order.

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Abusive prevention orders for defendants
Find out what happens if someone files an abusive prevention order against you. Links to information about what an abuse prevention order does, what happens if you violate an abuse prevention order, and what you can do to change, end, or appeal an abuse prevention order.

Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 209A Abuse prevention

MGL c. 211A, § 10 Appellate jurisdiction

Selected cases

Forms

Web sources

Guidelines for judicial practice: abuse prevention proceedings, Administrative Office of the Trial Court, revised October 2021. 

Restraining orders in Massachusetts: your rights whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, prepared by the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, October 2012.

What is a certified batterer’s intervention program?, Mass Legal Help (2019).
Describes Massachusetts Health and Human Service’s Intimate Partner Abuse Education Programs (a list of the certified IPAEP Programs is available) for people who abuse their intimate partners. 

Print sources

“Any liar can get an order by merely asserting fear”:  Why Chapter 209A must be revamped to protect against the issuance of unnecessary abuse protection orders. Brittany Pierce, 47 New Eng. L. Rev. 427 (No. 2, Winter 2012).

Massachusetts Practice:

Obtaining, enforcing and defending c.209A restraining orders in Massachusetts, 3rd ed., MCLE, loose-leaf, Sections 2.10, 4.3, 4.6, 5.4.2.

Obtaining or fighting a restraining order, MCLE, 2021.

Contact for Massachusetts law about defending against a c.209A Order

Last updated: July 19, 2023

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