Legal Service Upon the RMV

Information on summons, complaints, subpoenas, and bankruptcy petitions/notices.

Matters that may be served:

• The RMV accepts service of most legal documents at the MassDOT Office of General Counsel.
• Do not attempt to serve legal process at an RMV service center. This may delay the RMV's ability to receive and/or address the document(s) in a timely manner.

The RMV reserves the right to challenge the validity of service in any matter.

Summons and Complaints

• If you are attempting to serve process upon an out-of-state resident relative to an motor vehicle accident which took place within the Commonwealth, please see our Summons and complaints related to motor vehicle accidents page for information on service.
• If you are attempting to serve a summons and complaint which names the RMV as a named party or defendant, you may serve the same in accordance with the applicable provisions of Massachusetts and/or Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, upon the following:

MassDOT Office of General Counsel
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3510
Boston, Massachusetts, 02116
Attn: Litigation Center of Excellence

Subpoenas

Subpoenas directed at the RMV (either for testimony by an RMV witness or for the production of RMV documents) may be served in accordance with the applicable Massachusetts and/or Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, upon the following:

MassDOT Office of General Counsel
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3510
Boston, Massachusetts, 02116
Attn: Corporate and Regulatory Center of Excellence

Please note that the RMV requires a minimum of 30 days from the time of receipt to process a subpoena, and will notify you within the 30-day period if:

• processing the subpoena will take longer than the stated deadline.
• the RMV questions the validity of the subpoena.
• a witness fee is required, but has not been paid.
• the subpoenaed record contains highly restricted information and you need to take additional action to obtain this information.

Bankruptcy Petitions/Notices

Persons commencing a bankruptcy petition in which the RMV is named as a creditor must list the following address on the petition in order to ensure the RMV is timely placed on notice of your petition and able to comply with any resulting provisions of bankruptcy law:

MassDOT Office of General Counsel
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3510
Boston, Massachusetts, 02116
Attn: Corporate and Regulatory Center of Excellence

Do not list the address of an RMV service center, as this may delay the RMV’s ability to receive and process notice of your petition.