| Organization: | Massachusetts Court System |
|---|---|
| Date published: | August 21, 2020 |
| Last updated: | July 24, 2024 |
COVID-19 and the Courts
While the federal and state COVID-19 public health emergencies expired on May 11, 2023, some orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic remain in effect. Those orders can be found on this page. All courts remain open for in-person business. Court operations, including the use of remote hearings, are governed by standing orders issued by individual court departments.
Contacting the court
You can contact the courts by phone.
Checking the status of your court case
You can find public case information on MassCourts.org. Please see how to search court dockets online and which types of cases are available to the public online for more information.
If you aren’t sure when your case will be heard or whether your case will be heard in person or virtually, please call your court. You can look up your court’s phone number using the Courthouse Locator.
How to pay court fees
For information on court fees, please see Court Filing Fees & Payment Information.
If you are eFiling, you can pay court fees through eFileMA. Please see Learn about eFiling in the Trial Court for more information.
Jury trials and jury service
Jury trials resumed in Massachusetts state courts on Monday, February 14.
Eviction
A new law provides certain tenant protections applicable in summary process (eviction) cases for nonpayment of rent, including mandatory continuances (pauses) and stays of execution (delayed evictions) pending a rental assistance application. See St. 2023, c. 28. Also, landlords are required to provided additional notice forms in summary process (eviction) cases for nonpayment. See G.L. c. 186, s. 31.
Learn how to get help with housing or housing payments if you are facing eviction.
Tenants and landlords can get legal help and information from the Eviction Diversion Initiative. Please see COVID-19 eviction information to learn more.
Table of Contents
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- Supreme Judicial Court Order rescinding seventh updated order regarding court operations under the exigent circumstances created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
- Supreme Judicial Court seventh updated order regarding court operations under the exigent circumstances created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
- Supreme Judicial Court updated order regarding remote depositions
- Supreme Judicial Court Supplemental order regarding virtual proceedings and administration of oaths and affirmations
- Supreme Judicial Court updated order authorizing use of electronic signatures by attorneys and self-represented parties
- Supreme Judicial Court Order concerning electronic signatures of judges and clerks
- Supreme Judicial Court Order for the administering of oaths at depositions via remote audio-video communication equipment
- Repealed SJC Orders in re: COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
- Appeals Court Administrative Order 20-6 - November 30, 2020
- Appeals Court Administrative Order 20-5 - November 20, 2020
- Trial Court Emergency Administrative Order 22-2: Temporary alternative procedures for bail magistrates and bail commissioners setting and taking bail after court hours during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Trial Court Omnibus Order of rescission of certain Trial Court Emergency Administrative Orders in light of the expiration of the state of emergency
- Trial Court Administrative Order 21-2: Trial Court order suspending certain provisions of Trial Court Rule I: Uniform Summary Process Rules
- Trial Court Administrative Order 21-1: Order concerning Trial Court policy on possession & use of cell phones & personal electronic devices
- Rescinded Trial Court Emergency Administrative Orders
- Boston Municipal Court Standing Order 1-23: Continuation of temporary modifications for summary process cases
- District Court Standing Order 1-21: Inventory and prioritization of jury trial-ready criminal cases
- District Court Standing Order 11-20: Jury trials under the exigent circumstances created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
- District Court Standing Order 4-20: Protocol Governing Requests for Release from Detention, and Requests to Revise or Revoke or to Stay Sentence, based on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Risks
- Juvenile Court Standing Order 2-21: Jury trials under the exigent circumstances created by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
- Juvenile Court Standing Order 5-20: Protocol Governing Requests for Release from Detention, and Requests to Revise or Revoke or to Stay Sentence, based on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Risks
- Land Court Standing Order 1-20: Videoconferencing of court events
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- Temporary changes to service of process, signatures, depositions, oaths and affirmations during COVID-19
- Revised Appellate Division guidelines regarding COVID-19 internal operating procedures
- District Court FAQs Related to COVID-19
- Housing Court frequently asked questions in reference to COVID-19
- Waiver of signature requirement for affidavit of indigency for appeals under G.L. c. 123, § 9(a) as a result of COVID-19
- Land Court Memo: Procedures for the processing of subsequent cases, condominium documents & document approvals
- Memo re: Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2020: An Act Providing for Virtual Notarization to Address Challenges Related to COVID-19 (the “Act”)
- Alternative options for resolving civil cases in the Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Superior Court Clerks’ policies on filing papers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Protocol for requesting a teleconference or videoconference hearing in Superior Court criminal cases and tips for participants
- Tips for attorneys and self-represented litigants appearing in remote civil hearings before the Superior Court
- Well-being and technical assistance for lawyers during COVID-19
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- معلومات عن ""كوفد 19"" (كورونا فايروس) باللغة العربية
- COVID-19 Informason na Kabuverdianu / COVID-19 information in Cape Verdean Creole
- 中文冠狀病毒資訊
- Enfòmasyon sou COVID – 19 an Kreyol Ayisyen
- ព័ត៌មានអំពីកូវីដ-19 ជាភាសាខ្មែរ
- Juízo de Comarca – Perguntas Frequentes relacionadas à COVID-19
- Informações em português acerca de COVID-19 (Probate & Family Court)
- Vara de Locações: perguntas frequentes sobre a COVID-19
- Информация о COVID-19 на русском
- Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Distrito en cuanto al COVID–19
- Información sobre el coronavirus (COVID-19) en español (Probate & Family Court)
- Preguntas Frecuentes del Tribunal de Vivienda ante la pandemia de COVID-19
- Thông tin đại dịch COVID-19 bằng tiếng Việt