Law Library  Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure

Table of Contents

• I. Scope of rules: One form of action
  • Rule 1: Scope of rules
  • Rule 2: One form of action
• II. Commencement of action; service of process, pleadings, motions and orders
  • Rule 3: Commencement of action
  • Rule 4: Process
  • Rule 4.1: Attachment
  • Rule 4.2: Trustee process
  • Rule 4.3: Arrest: Supplementary process: Ne exeat
  • Rule 5: Service and filing of pleadings and other papers
  • Rule 6: Time
• III. Pleadings and motions
  • Rule 7: Pleadings allowed: Form of motions
  • Rule 8: General rules of pleading
  • Rule 9: Pleading special matters
  • Rule 10: Form of pleadings
  • Rule 11: Appearances and pleadings
  • Rule 12: Defenses and objections - When and how presented - By pleading or motion
  • Rule 13: Counterclaim and cross-complaint
  • Rule 15: Amended and supplemental pleadings
  • Rule 16: Pre-trial procedure: Formulating issues
• IV. Parties
  • Rule 17: Parties plaintiff and defendant: capacity
  • Rule 19: Joinder of persons needed for just adjudication
  • Rule 24: Intervention
  • Rule 25: Substitution of parties
• V. Depositions and discovery
  • Rule 26: General provision governing discovery
  • Rule 27: Depositions before action or pending appeal
  • Rule 28: Persons before whom depositions may be taken
  • Rule 29: Stipulations regarding discovery procedure
  • Rule 30: Depositions upon oral examination
  • Rule 30A: Audio-visual depositions
  • Rule 31: Deposition of witnesses upon written questions
  • Rule 32: Use of depositions in court proceedings
  • Rule 33: Interrogatories to parties
  • Rule 34: Production of documents and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes
  • Rule 35: Physical and mental examination of persons
  • Rule 36: Requests for admission
  • Rule 37: Failure to make discovery: Sanctions
• VI. Trials
  • Rule 39: Trial by jury or by the court
  • Rule 40: Assignment of cases for trial: Continuances
  • Rule 41: Dismissal of actions
  • Rule 42: Consolidation: Separate trials
  • Rule 43: Evidence
  • Rule 44: Proof of official records
  • Rule 44.1: Determination of foreign law
  • Rule 45: Subpoena
  • Rule 46: Exceptions unnecessary
  • Rule 51: Argument
  • Rule 52: Findings by the court
  • Rule 53: Masters
• VII. Judgment
  • Rule 54: Judgments: Costs
  • Rule 56: Summary judgment
  • Rule 57: Declaratory judgment
  • Rule 58: Entry of judgment
  • Rule 59: New trials: Amendment of judgments
  • Rule 60: Relief from judgment or order
  • Rule 61: Harmless error
  • Rule 62: Stay of proceedings to enforce a judgment
  • Rule 63: Disability of a judge
• VIII. Provisional and final remedies and special procedures
  • Rule 64: Report of case
  • Rule 65: Injunctions
  • Rule 65.1: Security: Proceedings against sureties
  • Rule 67: Deposit in court
  • Rule 69: Execution
  • Rule 70: Judgment for specific acts: Vesting title
• IX. Courts and clerks
  • Rule 77: Courts and registers
  • Rule 78: Motion day
  • Rule 79: Books and records kept by the register and entries therein
  • Rule 80: Stenographic report or transcript
• X. General provisions
  • Rule 81: Applicability of rules
  • Rule 82: Jurisdiction and venue unaffected
  • Rule 83: Supplemental rules
  • Rule 84: Forms
  • Rule 85: Title