Law Library  Massachusetts Rules of Civil 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 8.1: Special requirements for certain consumer debts
  • Rule 9: Pleading special matters
  • Rule 10: Form of pleadings
  • Rule 11: Appearances and pleadings (Effective until January 1, 2027)
  • Rule 11: Appearances and pleadings; signatures (Effective January 1, 2027)
  • Rule 12: Defenses and objections
  • Rule 13: Counterclaim and cross-claim
  • Rule 14: Third-party practice
  • Rule 15: Amended and supplemental pleadings
  • Rule 16: Pre-trial procedure: Formulating issues
• IV. Parties
  • Rule 17: Parties plaintiff and defendant: Capacity
  • Rule 18: Joinder of claims and remedies
  • Rule 19: Joinder of persons needed for just adjudication
  • Rule 20: Permissive joinder of parties
  • Rule 21: Misjoinder and non-joinder of parties
  • Rule 22: Interpleader
  • Rule 23: Class actions
  • Rule 23.1: Derivative actions by shareholders
  • Rule 23.2: Actions relating to unincorporated associations
  • Rule 24: Intervention
  • Rule 25: Substitution of parties
• V. Deposition and discovery
  • Rule 26: General provisions 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 31: Depositions of witnesses upon written questions
  • Rule 32: Use of depositions in court proceedings
  • Rule 33: Interrogatories to parties
  • Rule 34: Producing documents, electronically stored information, and tangible things, or entering onto 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 38: Jury trial of right
  • 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 47: Jurors
  • Rule 48: Number of jurors - Majority verdict
  • Rule 49: Special verdicts and interrogatories
  • Rule 50: Motion for a directed verdict and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
  • Rule 51: Argument: Instructions to jury
  • Rule 52: Findings by the court
  • Rule 53: Masters
• VII. Judgment
  • Rule 54: Judgments: Costs
  • Rule 55: Default
  • Rule 55.1: Special requirements for defaults and default judgments for certain consumer debts
  • 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: Unavailability of a judge; receipt of verdict
• VIII. Provisional and final remedies and special procedures
  • Rule 64: Report of case
  • Rule 65: Injunctions
  • Rule 65.1: Security: Proceedings against security provider
  • Rule 65.2: Redelivery of goods or chattels
  • Rule 65.3: Proceedings for civil contempt
  • Rule 66: Receivers
  • Rule 67: Deposit in court
  • Rule 68: Offer of judgment
  • Rule 69: Execution
  • Rule 70: Judgment for specific acts: Vesting title
  • Rule 71: Process in behalf of and against persons not parties
• IX. Courts and clerks
  • Rule 77: Courts and clerks
  • Rule 78: Motion day
  • Rule 79: Books and records kept by the clerk 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 85: Title