- Trial Court Law Libraries
Note: Originally authored in 2014 and updated on September 10, 2025.
A Civil Action Cover Sheet, filed with the complaint, allows the Superior Court to determine whether it has the power to hear a civil case for money damages, and what “track” to assign to the case. Superior Court Standing Order 1-83: Civil action cover sheets. Civil Action Cover Sheets are available online and from the Superior Court’s Civil Clerk’s Office.
Filing a civil action cover sheet with the complaint is excused only if “the Clerk-Magistrate is satisfied by representation of the offering counsel or pro se party, by averments, in the Complaint, or otherwise, that the Statute of Limitations will run before the filing of the Civil Action Cover Sheet can be accomplished. In such event, the Civil Action Cover Sheet shall be filed within ten (10) days thereafter.” Superior Court Standing Order 1-83: Civil action cover sheets, paragraph 3.
The Superior Court can hear civil cases for money damages “only if there is no reasonable likelihood that recovery by the plaintiff will be less than or equal to $50,000, or an amount ordered from time to time by the supreme judicial court. Where multiple damages are allowed by law, the amount of single damages claimed shall control.” Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 212, section 3.
Each type of “track” (A, F, or X) has its own timing for completing the various stages of litigation. Superior Court Standing Order 1-88: Time standards.
The front of the form must be filled out by the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney; the back of the form contains information to help the plaintiff fill out the front of the form.
The form has the following parts to complete:
- Contact information for the parties
- Type of action (e.g., contract/business cases, equitable remedies, torts, real property, administrative civil actions, as listed and further broken down on the second page of the form). The type of action dictates the Code No. and the Track (e.g., A, F, X) to which the case will be assigned. The plaintiff must also declare whether a jury trial has been claimed in their complaint.
- An example can be found on the second page of the form, below the list of categories.
- Check “yes” or “no” whether the claim is under G.L. c. 93A (consumer protection act), and whether the claim is under Mass. R. Civ. P. 23 (class action).
- A statement of damages pursuant to General Laws Chapter 212, section 3A lists the amount of money damages. For tort claims, a plaintiff must also describe their injury, including the nature and extent of the injury. For contract claims, a plaintiff must also describe each claim in detail.
- Sign and date
- Related actions pending in Superior Court
- If an attorney represents the plaintiff, the attorney must certify that they have complied with requirement to discuss court-connected dispute resolution with the plaintiff pursuant to Uniform Dispute Resolution Rule 5 of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:18: Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution.
Written By: Sharon at Middlesex; updated by Kathy Ludwig.