Table of Contents

• Chapter One: General rules
  • Rule 1:01: Definitions; conflict with other rules
  • Rule 1:02: Sittings of the Supreme Judicial Court
  • Rule 1:03: Uniform Certification of Questions of Law
  • Rule 1:04: Judicial Conference
  • Rule 1:05: Certain contracts by judicial officers
  • Rule 1:06: Records of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the Appeals Court, and of the Superior Court Department. Form, style, and size of papers
  • Rule 1:07: Fee generating appointments and the maintenance of appointment dockets in all courts
  • Rule 1:08: Case and filer information on papers filed in all courts
  • Rule 1:09: Form of original executions for all courts of the Commonwealth
  • Rule 1:10: Form of alias executions for all courts of the Commonwealth
  • Rule 1:11: Rule relative to the disposal of court papers and records
  • Rule 1:12: Rule relative to the disposal of stenographic notes of testimony taken in the courts of the Commonwealth
  • Rule 1:13: Time for report of material facts in the Probate and Family Court Department for cases under G. L. c. 215, § 11
  • Rule 1:15: Impoundment procedure in the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court
  • Rule 1:16: Judicial performance enhancement programs
  • Rule 1:17: Subpoenas to officials of the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court
  • Rule 1:18: Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution
  • Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts
  • Rule 1:20: Address confidentiality program
  • Rule 1:21: Corporate disclosure statement on possible judicial conflict of interest
  • Rule 1:22: Motions to recuse
  • Rule 1:23: Attorney General approved modifications of certain gift instruments under G.L. c. 180A, section 5
  • Rule 1:24: Protection of personal identifying information in publicly accessible court documents
  • Rule 1:25: Massachusetts Rules of Electronic Filing
  • Rule 1:26: Electronic signatures of attorneys and parties (Effective January 1, 2027)
• Chapter One A: General rules partially superseded by the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure or the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure
  • Rule 1:02A: Depositions and discovery
  • Rule 1:03A: Trustee process
  • Rule 1:04A: Attachment
• Chapter Two: Rules for the regulation of practice before the single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court
  • Rule 2:01: Fixing time for pleadings and proceedings
  • Rule 2:02: Form and indorsement of papers
  • Rule 2:03: Appearances
  • Rule 2:04: Giving of notice
  • Rule 2:05: Time for pleadings and proceedings when last day for performance falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday
  • Rule 2:06: Eliminating requirement for verification by oath or affirmation
  • Rule 2:07: Hearings before single justice. Notice
  • Rule 2:08: Jury issues
  • Rule 2:09: Copies to adverse parties
  • Rule 2:10: Money paid into court
  • Rule 2:11: Hearings upon motions grounded on facts
  • Rule 2:12: Postponement for want of evidence
  • Rule 2:13: Special masters and commissioners
  • Rule 2:14: Writ of protection
  • Rule 2:15: Objections
  • Rule 2:16: Requests for Rulings
  • Rule 2:17: Time for arguments
  • Rule 2:18: Order of business. Single justice sittings
  • Rule 2:19: Reviews of orders of Department of Public Utilities
  • Rule 2:20: Appeals from decisions of Appellate Tax Board
  • Rule 2:21: Appeal from single justice denial of relief on interlocutory ruling
  • Rule 2:22: Petitions under G. L. c. 211, § 3
  • Rule 2:23: Appeals in bar discipline cases
• Chapter Three: Ethical requirements and rules concerning the practice of law
  • Rule 3:01: Attorneys
  • Rule 3:02: Administration of justice
  • Rule 3:03: Legal assistance to the Commonwealth and to indigent criminal defendants and to indigent parties in civil proceedings
  • Rule 3:04: Limited practice by attorneys from other jurisdictions who are engaged in certain graduate law studies or programs of legal assistance
  • Rule 3:05: Licensing of Foreign Legal Consultants
  • Rule 3:06: Use of limited liability entities
  • Rule 3:07: Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Rule 3:09: Code of Judicial Conduct
  • Rule 3:10: Assignment of counsel
  • Rule 3:11: Committee on Judicial Ethics
  • Rule 3:12: Code of Professional Responsibility for Clerks of the Courts
  • Rule 3:13: Committee on Professional Responsibility for Clerks of the Courts
  • Rule 3:14: Advisory Committee on Ethical Opinions for Clerks of the Courts
  • Rule 3:15: Pro hac vice registration fee
• Chapter Four: Bar discipline and clients' security protection
  • Rule 4:01: Bar discipline
  • Rule 4:02: Periodic registration of attorneys
  • Rule 4:03: Periodic assessment of attorneys
  • Rule 4:04: Client's Security Board and Fund
  • Rule 4:05: Claims by clients for reimbursement of losses
  • Rule 4:06: Miscellaneous powers and duties of Clients' Security Board
  • Rule 4:07: Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Fund and Oversight Committee
  • Rule 4:08: Interpretation of Chapter Four of these rules
  • Rule 4:09: Amendment, modification, repeal