Massachusetts Self Help and Legal Research
This page provides information about Self Help and Legal Research resources in Massachusetts.
Links are grouped by those that cover courts statewide, for multiple counties, and then by individual county.
Massachusetts - Statewide Courts Self Help
Foreclosure Prevention Resources
View resources for preventing foreclosure in Massachusetts, including local housing counseling agencies, a state hotline, state and non-profit agencies, and a link to legal aid providers.
Child Support Services
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue offers information about child support services, including how to apply, payments, and modification and enforcement of orders. Links to the online application and payment systems, guidelines and calculators, and forms are provided.
Law Libraries
View information about Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries, including locations, hours, an online catalog, and available materials and services. Services include an "Ask a Law Librarian" service by online chat, text, or email; document delivery; links to online legal research resources, downloadable e-books of court rules and other legal documents; and links to Massachusetts laws, court rules and opinions, regulations, and administrative agency materials.
Legal Information and Resources
Find information and assistance on a variety of legal issues in multiple languages. Legal aid eligibility, free and low-cost program referrals, and self-help resources are also provided.
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Information
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles offers online information about vehicle registration, driver licenses, traffic laws and hearings, manuals, forms, and service center locations.
Massachusetts Laws
Search Massachusetts General Laws by keyword or chapter and section, or browse by table of contents. Search uncodified session laws by keyword, year, or chapter and type. Search historical laws and documents, and view a guide to researching legislative history. Laws and regulations may also be browsed by popular name in alphabetical order.
Court Rules and Standing Orders
View Massachusetts rules of civil, criminal, and appellate procedure; all trial court rules; dispute resolution rules; and trial court standing orders. Most court rules and Land Court standing orders are also available as downloadable e-books.
Fee Waiver Requests
View instructions for requesting a waiver of Massachusetts court fees and costs due to inability to pay. Links to the indigency guidelines and application forms are included.
Self-Help Resources
View information by legal topic for individuals representing themselves in Massachusetts courts. Topics include court procedure, terminology, legal assistance, consumer protection, abuse and harassment prevention, criminal law, family matters, guardianship, housing, probate, small claims, and traffic. Links to forms are provided.
Civil Self-Representation
View information about representing yourself in a civil case, including types of cases and courts, use of attorneys, court personnel, how to start a case, trail procedure, and settlement. Links to additional print and online resources are provided.
Legal Terminology
View a glossary of legal terms used in Massachusetts courts.
Superior Court Business Litigation Sessions
View information about Superior Court Business Litigation Sessions, which handle complex commercial and business cases. These sessions are located at Suffolk County Superior Court, but may hear cases from other counties. Links to procedural orders, formal guidance documents, forms, and additional online resources are provided.
Problem-Solving Courts
View information about specialty court sessions that can set up supervision and treatment in lieu of incarceration for some offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems, including Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts, Veterans' Treatment Courts, Mental Health Courts, Homeless Court, and other local specialized sessions. Program descriptions, locations, manuals, brochures, and forms are provided.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
View information about court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which helps parties resolve disputes without going to trial. Links to approved programs and guidelines are provided.
Housing Court Mediation
View information about Massachusetts Housing Court mediation, which can help parties resolve disputes without going to trial.
Massachusetts Multiple County Courts Self Help
Cape and Islands Domestic Violence Information
The Cape and Island District Attorney's Office offers information about domestic violence issues in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties, including types of domestic violence, prosecution, offenders, and victims.
Cape and Islands Victim and Witness Information
The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office offers information for crime victims and witnesses in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties, including victim's rights and an explanation of the court process.
Cape and Islands Elder Abuse Information
The Cape and Island District Attorney's Office offers information about elder abuse issues in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties, including signs of abuse, who should report, and how to avoid being a victim.
Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire County Veterans Justice
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office offers information about the Veterans Justice Partnership in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties, which can set up treatment in lieu of incarceration for some veterans in the criminal justice system with substance abuse or mental health problems.
Franklin and Hampshire County Criminal Procedure
The Northwesten District Attorney's Office offers answers to frequently asked questions about the criminal justice process, including victims' rights, subpoenas, victim impact statements, and return of property. A glossary of legal terms is also provided.
Franklin and Hampshire County Consumer Protection, Domestic Violence, and Returned Check Information and Resources
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office offers information about consumer protection, domestic violence, and returned checks in Franklin and Hampshire Counties, with links to additional resources. The Consumer Protection Unit assists with letters and phone calls, provides a downloadable complaint form, and provides links to brochures and information about various scams. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit provides information about abuse, services for victims, prevention programs, restraining orders, and harassment orders; links and contact information for shelters; and downloadable brochures in multiple languages. Self-help information for handling returned checks includes instructions for demanding payment and filing a criminal complaint.
Franklin and Hampshire County Drug Diversion and Treatment
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office offers information about its Drug Diversion and Treatment Program in Franklin and Hampshire Counties, which can set up treatment in lieu of incarceration for some offenders with substance abuse problems.
Barnstable County - Courts Self Help Resources
Barnstable County Abuse Prevention
View information about Abuse Prevention Orders in Barnstable County Probate and Family Court, including procedure and links to forms.
Barnstable County Probate and Family Court Common Legal Terms
View a glossary of common legal terms used in Barnstable County Probate and Family Court.
Barnstable County Probate and Family Court Conciliation
The Barnstable County Bar Association offers a conciliation program for Probate and Family Court cases, which can help parties resolve disputes without going to trial.
Berkshire County - Courts Self Help Resources
Berkshire County Victim and Witness Information
The Berkshire County District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program offers information about victims' rights, how to respond to a summons, victim impact statements, and case status notification.
Bristol County - Courts Self Help Resources
Bristol County Abuse and Domestic Violence Resources
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office offers brochures and guides with information about elder abuse, dating violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Contact information and links to domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse hotlines, shelters, and services are also provided.
Essex County - Courts Self Help Resources
Essex County Diversion Programs
The Essex County District Attorney's Office offers information about its Juvenile and Youthful Diversion and Drug Diversion programs for first-time non-violent offenders.
Essex County Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
The Essex County District Attorney's Office offers information about domestic violence and restraining orders, with instructions for obtaining an order.
Hampden County - Courts Self Help Resources
Hampden County Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Victim/Witness Resources
The Hampden County District Attorney's Office offers an elder abuse hotline, a directory of elder abuse resources, a directory of domestic violence shelters and resources, information about domestic violence, and links to resources for crime victims and witnesses.
Middlesex County - Courts Self Help Resources
Middlesex County Criminal Procedure
The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office provides answers to frequently asked questions about the court system and criminal court procedure.
Middlesex County Juvenile Diversion
The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office offers information about its Juvenile Diversion Program, which can help some juvenile offenders avoid a criminal record.
Norfolk County - Courts Self Help Resources
Norfolk County Consumer Protection
The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office provides a mediation service to resolve consumer complaints, information about various types of scams, and links to additional resources.
Plymouth County - Courts Self Help Resources
Plymouth County Diversion Programs
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office offers information about its adult and juvenile diversion programs, which can help some offenders avoid a criminal record.
Plymouth County Family Protection
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office offers information about its family protection services, including child protection, domestic violence, and senior protection. Links to safety tips, relevant laws, and additional resources are provided.
Plymouth County Legal Publications
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office offers downloadable brochures and publications about elder abuse, domestic and teen dating violence, cyber security, senior issues, identity theft, diversion programs, victim assistance, and social host liability.
Plymouth County Parent Education Programs
View information about parent education programs required in divorce cases in Plymouth County, including links to program providers.
Plymouth County Probate and Family Court Self-Help Center
View information about the Plymouth County Probate and Family Court Self-Help Center, including filing instructions, an explanation of the court process, a glossary of terms, probation information, and downloadable brochures and pamphlets.
Worcester County - Courts Self Help Resources
Worcester County Adult Diversion
The Worcester County District Attorney's Office offers information about its Adult Diversion Program, which can help some first-time non-violent offenders from ages 17 to 22 avoid a criminal record.
Worcester County Victim and Witness Resources
The Worcester County District Attorney's Office offers information and links to resources for crime victims and witnesses, including domestic violence and sexual assault services, instructions for responding to a court summons, and information about restitution, victims' compensation, victim impact statements, and the Victim Witness Assistance Program.
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