Law Library  Massachusetts Trial Court Rules

Table of Contents

• Rule I: Uniform Summary Process Rules
  • Trial Court Rule I: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Scope and applicability of rules 
  • Rule 2: Form of Summons and Complaint; Entry of action; Scheduling of trial date; Service of Process 
  • Rule 3: Answer 
  • Rule 4: Transfer of action 
  • Rule 5: Counterclaims 
  • Rule 6: Motions 
  • Rule 7: Discovery 
  • Rule 8: Jury Trial 
  • Rule 9: Equitable relief 
  • Rule 10: Entry of default; Entry of dismissal; Entry of judgment after trial, default or dismissal; Notice 
  • Rule 11: Relief from judgment 
  • Rule 12: Appeals 
  • Rule 13: Execution 
• Rule II: Uniform Magistrate Rules
  • Trial Court Rule II: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Scope and applicability of rules 
  • Rule 2: Uncontested non-evidentiary motions 
  • Rule 3: Pretrial Conferences 
  • Rule 4: Mediation of small claims actions 
  • Rule 5: Petitions for review of dog orders 
  • Rule 6: Preliminary probation revocation hearings 
• Rule III: Uniform Small Claims Rules
  • Trial Court Rule III: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Scope and applicability of rules; Definitions 
  • Rule 2: Filing a statement of claim 
  • Rule 3: Notice to defendant; Answer to claim 
  • Rule 4: Transfer 
  • Rule 5: Amendments and discovery 
  • Rule 6: Attachments 
  • Rule 7: Trials, hearings and judgments 
  • Rule 7A: Payment hearing required 
  • Rule 7B: Conducting the payment hearing 
  • Rule 8: Relief from judgment or order 
  • Rule 9: Enforcement of judgments 
  • Rule 10: Appeal 
• Rule IV: Uniform Rule Requiring Disclosure of Pending and Concluded Care or Custody Matters 
• Rule V: Issuance of Standing Orders 
• Rule VI: Uniform Rules for Permanency Hearings
  • Trial Court Rule VI: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Purpose 
  • Rule 2: Scope of Rules and Definitions 
  • Rule 3: Scheduling the permanency hearing 
  • Rule 4: Permanency reports 
  • Rule 5: Notice 
  • Rule 6: Submission of report and response or objections 
  • Rule 7: Counsel 
  • Rule 8: The permanency hearing 
  • Rule 9: Orders 
  • Rule 10: Appeals 
• Rule VII: Uniform Rules on Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions 
• Rule VIII: Uniform Rules on Impoundment Procedure
  • Trial Court Rule VIII: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Applicability and definitions 
  • Rule 2: Motion for Impoundment 
  • Rule 3: Ex parte impoundment 
  • Rule 4: Service 
  • Rule 5: Opposition 
  • Rule 6: Involvement of interested nonparties 
  • Rule 7: Hearing 
  • Rule 8: Order of impoundment 
  • Rule 9: Clerk's duties 
  • Rule 10: Modification or termination of order of impoundment 
  • Rule 11: Material impounded by statute, court rule, standing order, or case law 
  • Rule 12: Appellate review 
  • Rule 13: Maintaining confidentiality of impounded material 
• Rule IX: Uniform Rules on Subpoenas to Court Officials
  • Trial Court Rule IX: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Subpoena to a justice, magistrate or probation officer 
  • Rule 2: Subpoena duces tecum to court officials 
  • Rule 3: Subpoena duces tecum for records of the Office of the Commissioner of Probation 
• Rule X: Uniform Rule Requiring Disclosure of Present or Past Receipt of Public Assistance Benefits by Minor Children 
• Rule XI: Uniform Rule for Probable Cause Determinations for Persons Arrested Without a Warrant 
• Rule XII: Interdepartmental Judicial Assignments 
• Rule XIII: Uniform Trial Court Rules for Civil Commitment Proceedings for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders G. L. c.123 s.35
  • Trial Court Rule XIII: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Commencement of proceedings 
  • Rule 2: Review of petition 
  • Rule 3: Issuance of warrant or summons; Execution of warrant 
  • Rule 4: Appointment of counsel 
  • Rule 5: Order for examination 
  • Rule 6: Conduct of the hearing; Standard of proof 
  • Rule 7: Evidence 
  • Rule 8: Findings and issuance of commitment order 
  • Rule 9: Security of respondent 
  • Rule 10: Proceedings when a respondent appears before a court other than the court that issued the warrant or summons 
  • Rule 11: Appeal 
• Rule XIV: Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records
  • Trial Court Rule XIV: Table of Contents 
  • Rule 1: Scope and definitions 
  • Rule 2: Access to court records in a courthouse 
  • Rule 3: Requests for Compiled Data 
  • Rule 4: Requests for bulk data 
  • Rule 5: Remote access to electronic court records 
  • Rule 6: Correction of clerical error in electronic docket entry 
  • Addendum: Records excluded from public access 
• Rule XVI: Uniform Rule on Limited Assistance Representation