The person who begins a civil lawsuit is the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff fills out the Summons form. This includes details about the case. The Plaintiff then serves the Summons (and the Complaint) on the person being sued (the Defendant). The Summons is the official notice to the Defendant that they are being sued.
The first step is for the Plaintiff to buy a Summons from the court. Both paper Summons forms and eSummons forms can be purchased from the court. They are used the same way. The information on this page is an overview of how to purchase an eSummons. It is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or other advice. To purchase an online eSummons, visit the Land Court’s payment portal.
About eSummonses
The Land Court’s eSummons is an electronic (or digital) version of the Summons form. Users can electronically buy, download, and print an eSummons from the Land Court. This saves them from traveling to the courthouse or waiting for a paper Summons to be mailed. An eSummons is easier, faster, and more convenient way to obtain a Summons from the Land Court.
Who can buy an eSummons?
Anyone with internet access may buy an eSummons from the Land Court. A valid payment method (like a credit card, debit card, or eCheck) is needed.
How do I buy an eSummons?
To buy an eSummons from the Land Court, visit the Land Court’s payment portal. You may buy up to 10 eSummonses per transaction. After you buy an eSummons, you will receive it by email in the form of a PDF.
How much does an eSummons cost?
An eSummons costs $5.00 each. There’s also a convenience fee per transaction. The convenience fee is either $1.50 or $0.40, depending on your payment method. Credit or debit cards have a $1.50 convenience fee and eChecks have a $0.40 convenience fee. The convenience fee is charged by a third-party payment processor (called Payment Express). This fee is not paid to the Land Court.
Acceptable methods of payment
A Land Court eSummons may be bought online (through Payment Express) using a valid, major debit or credit card, like American Express, Visa, Discover, and MasterCard. You can also pay with an eCheck. You cannot buy an eSummons with cash or a paper check.
If you want to pay with a paper check, you have to request a paper Summons from the Land Court Recorder’s Office either by mail or in person.
If you want to pay with cash, you have to request a paper Summons from the Land Court Recorder’s Office in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't want to buy and use an eSummons. Can I buy a paper Summons from the Land Court?
Yes. If you do not want to buy an eSummons, you can get a paper Summons. You can request a paper Summons by mail or in person. Contact the Land Court’s Recorder’s Office located on the 5th Floor at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108. Regular business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Do I still have to file an “original” copy of my eSummons if I eFile my case in the Land Court?
No, unless the Land Court requires it or orders otherwise. After you buy an eSummons and eFile your case, the Land Court treats the electronic document as the “original.” It does this using its unique identification number.
Can I use the same eSummons in more than one case?
No. Once an eSummons is used to initiate or file a case in the Land Court, it cannot be used again. Each eSummons is marked by a unique identification number.
Do I have to use a different eSummons for each Defendant?
Yes. Like with a paper Summons, you must use one eSummons for each Defendant named in the Complaint.
Is there a limit on the number of eSummonses that I can buy in one transaction?
Yes. You may buy up to 10 eSummonses per transaction. The eSummonses will be sent to you by email in one PDF attachment that contains all of the eSummonses you have purchased.
What happens if I buy an eSummons by mistake?
For help, please contact the Land Court Recorder’s Office.
What happens if I type an incorrect email address, and I never receive the eSummons that I bought?
For help, please contact the Land Court Recorder’s Office.
Is there a convenience cost or fee to purchase an eSummons?
Yes. An eSummons costs $5.00 each. If you pay by credit or debit card, there is a $1.50 convenience fee per transaction. If you pay by eCheck, the convenience fee is $0.40 per transaction.
For example:
To purchase one eSummons in a transaction with a credit card, the cost is $5.00 for the one eSummons plus $1.50 convenience fee, for a total of $6.50 due at checkout.
To purchase three eSummonses in one transaction with a credit card, the cost is $15.00 for the three eSummonses plus $1.50 convenience fee, for a total of $16.50 due at checkout.
Can I recover the convenience cost or fee of the eSummons in my case?
At this time, no. The convenience fee is a non-recoverable cost because an eSummons is currently an option for convenience and is not mandatory.