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Remote/virtual court services

Find helpful information on remote Trial Court services like remote hearings and virtual registries.
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Guide to remote hearings

Because of COVID-19, many court hearings are now remote. That means some or all of the people participate by video or phone. Please read the Guide to virtual hearings to learn how to prepare for a remote hearing. 

For more information on remote hearings, see the Massachusetts Bar Association's informational video on how remote hearings work.

Housing Court virtual front counter

Each Housing Court Clerk's Office and Housing Specialist Department provides a virtual front counter where court staff will be able to answer questions, help court users virtually, and provide information on available court resources. Court users can receive "face-to-face" help from court staff without being physically present at a courthouse. Please see the schedule and access information for each division's virtual counters below.

Clerk’s Office virtual front counters:

Housing Specialist Department virtual front counters:

Guided interview for an emergency Civil Complaint form

This guided interview creates an emergency Civil Complaint form. Once you complete it, you can email it directly to your court location.

Probate & Family Court virtual registries

The Probate & Family Court currently has 11 virtual registries where court users can get “face-to-face” virtual help from court staff while staying safe in their own homes.

Middlesex County Superior Court Virtual Help Desk

Get virtual “face to face” help from Clerk of Courts Michael A. Sullivan's Clerk’s Office while staying at home.

Access the Middlesex County Superior Court Virtual Help Desk

Superior Court protocols and tips for remote hearings

The Superior Court has put together protocols and tips for appearing in remote hearings.

West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court virtual clerk's office

Beginning February 16, 2021, the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court Department Clerk’s Office will offer virtual “face-to-face” front counter help while you stay safe in your own home or office. 

Virtual clerk’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

To learn more, please see West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court Department virtual clerk's office.

Trial Court Zoom Rooms

To make sure that access to technology doesn’t prevent access to justice, the Trial Court is setting up computer stations in select courthouses for users to participate in Zoom videoconferencing. For more information, please see the page Trial Court Zoom Rooms. 

Accessing Court Service Centers and Law Libraries remotely

 

Court Service Centers

Court Service Centers are operating a hybrid service model that includes in-person and remote services. Court Service Center locations provide in-person services on Tuesdays and Thursdays (8:30am-1pm; 2pm-4:30pm) with priority given to emergency cases, and remote services on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Zoom video conferencing software for both emergency, and non-emergency matters.

To connect with the Virtual Court Service Center, you can join the daily Zoom Meeting to receive help with legal information, court forms, and referrals to legal and community-based organizations. Before you call, please learn what information you will need to receive assistance.

Here is how you can join the Virtual Court Service Center through Zoom:

Law Library remote services

The Trial Court Law Libraries are open to the public, providing in-person and virtual services (email, zoom, chat, phone, text).

All virtual services (email, chat, phone, text) and remote research access continue to be available. Please contact the library in your area to verify the availability of services.

Last updated: May 22, 2023

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