Service of Process in the Courts | Mass.gov

offered by

Executive Office of the Trial Court

Massachusetts Court System

“Service of Process” is the way you deliver court papers to the person required to respond to them. This person is called the “defendant.”

You must tell the defendant, in writing: there is a case, what the case is about, what the defendant must do, if there is a court hearing, and when and where to come to court.

Top tasks

Learn about Service of process of domestic relations complaints in Probate and Family Court Complete a service of process in the Boston Municipal Court, District Court or Housing Court

All other tasks

Completing service of process if you don't know where the defendant lives

Learn about service of process in Boston Municipal Court, District Court or Housing Court Service of process in the Land Court Learn about completing service of process when the defendant doesn't live or work in Massachusetts