Supreme Judicial Court fees
To find out which forms of payment are accepted for fees, please call ahead of time.
| Fee type | Amount | Statutory authority / rule |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Single Justice Petition / Complaint | $315.00 | G.L. c.262 §4; c.262 §4c |
| Filing Petition for Bar Admission by Examination | $815.00 | G.L. c.221 §37; c.262 §4c |
| Filing Petition for Bar Admission by Motion | $1,015.00 | G.L. c.221 §37; c.262 §4c |
| Filing Petition for Bar Admission Transfer of Uniform Bar Examination Score Previously Earned in Another Jurisdiction | $815.00 | |
| Filing Foreign Legal Consultant Petition | $1,015.00 | SJC Rule 3:05 ; c.262 §4c |
| Entering Appeal (per appealing party) | $300.00 | G.L. c.262 §4 |
| Entering Application for Further Appellate Review (per application) | $270.00 | G.L. c.262 §4 |
| Photocopy (per page) | $0.05 | 950 CMR 32:06 |
| Certified / Attested copies (per page) | $2.50 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| Computer printout (non-party) (per page) | $0.50 | 950 CMR 32:06 |
| Copy of Bar Petition (cert / uncertified) | $10.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| List of Bar Petitioners (per exam) | $45.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| List of Newly Admitted Attorneys | $45.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $15.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| Blank Summons | $5.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
| Compact Disc of Proceedings (non party) (per case) | $10.00 | G.L. c.221 §15 |
Pro Hac Vice registration fee
The general practice is for a member of the Massachusetts Bar to file a motion on behalf of the out-of-state attorney with the clerk of the court where the case is pending. See M.G.L. c.221 §46A.
As of September 4, 2012, SJC Rule 3:15 requires that before filing a motion to have out-of-state counsel admitted pro hac vice in the SJC, out-of-state counsel must pay a non-refundable pro hac vice registration fee of $301 per case to the Board of Bar Overseers (Board), except when counsel is providing pro bono publico legal assistance to an indigent client. In this situation, the pro hac vice fee is waived. For information about the Board's procedures for paying the fee and FAQs, see the Board's website.
Where counsel has paid the appropriate registration fee in the trial court ($301 per case in the Superior Court or Land Court, and $101 per case in any other court, including the Appellate Division of the District Court and the Boston Municipal Court), and the case is appealed, you don't need to pay any additional fee. Within 7 days of receiving payment of the registration fee, the Board will send an acknowledgment to the attorney seeking admission.
The motion for pro hac vice admission in the SJC must aver that the registration fee required by Rule 3:15 has been paid or include as an attachment a copy of the Board acknowledgment. An attorney who's exempt from paying a registration fee because they will provide pro bono publico legal assistance to an indigent client must aver that the attorney will provide such assistance.
After the registration fee is paid to the Board, if the motion for pro hac vice admission isn't filed with the SJC or is denied by the court, the fee is non-refundable.
Contact for Supreme Judicial Court filing fees
Online
Phone
Maura A. Looney, Esq., Acting Clerk
Maura S. Doyle, Clerk
Jennifer Donahue, Public Information Officer