Invitations to Comment
The court invites comments on the following new rules or proposed changes to existing rules. Invitations to comment that have expired are removed from the list.
Notice Inviting Comments on Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct (SJC Rule 3:07)
Comments due by: October 1, 2021
Rule Changes
The following are recent notices of rule changes and the date when each rule change goes into effect. Rule changes are removed from this list after the effective date has passed. Please refer to the Court's online listing of Rules of Court and Standing Orders to view updated rules and dates when rules were amended.
Amendments to Rules 3,5,6,10,11 and 77 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure
Effective: September 1, 2021
Amendments to Rules 1,19, 20, and 27.1 of the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure
Effective: September 1, 2021
Amendments to Superior Court Rules 9C and 30B, New Rule 74, and Repeal of Rules 76 and 77
Effective: The repeal of Rules 76 and 77 is effective immediately. The amendments to Rules 9C, 30B and new Rule 74 are effective September 1, 2021.
Land Court Standing Order 1-21: Dismissal Without Prejudice of Prematurely Filed Complaints for Certificate After Death
Effective: August 2, 2021
Repeal of Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-11
Effective: July 12, 2021
Amendments to Rules 3 and 8C of the District/Municipal Courts Rules for Appellate Division Appeal
Effective: July 1, 2021
Amendments to Rule V1.7 of the Rules of the Board of Bar Examiners
Effective: July 1, 2021
A listing of Rules of Court and Standing Orders are available on the court's website. Please note that not all Massachusetts Rules of Court are available online. Efforts have been taken to ensure accuracy in all rules on the court's website, but if there are discrepancies between the electronic versions of the rules found on the website and the official print versions that appear in a volume such as Massachusetts Reports, the print version should be considered authoritative.