Which Massachusetts court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court / BMC: Small Claims | Up to $7,000 | M.G.L. c. 218, § 21 |
| General civil | District Court / Superior Court District Court and Superior Court have concurrent civil jurisdiction; the District Court uses a $50,000 'procedural amount' threshold (cases likely to recover more go to Superior). | No limit | M.G.L. c. 212, § 3; c. 218, § 19 |
No hard lower-court civil cap; the $50,000 figure is a procedural threshold, not a jurisdictional ceiling.
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Mass. R. Civ. P. 12(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
19 Massachusetts forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Massachusetts practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) Mass. R. Civ. P. 8: initiating pleading; District/BMC to $50,000 (G.L. c. 218, § 19A)
- Proof of Service by MailProof of service by first-class mail: MA
- Civil Action Cover SheetMA civil cover sheet: required in Superior Court
- SummonsMass.R.Civ.P. 4: 20-day answer
- Request for Default (Rule 55(a))Clerk enters default: Mass.R.Civ.P. 55(a)
- Request for Default Judgment (Rule 55(b))Sum certain → clerk enters; other → court hearing
- Affidavit of Amount DueDamages computation with interest
- Affidavit of Military StatusMass.R.Civ.P. 55(b)(4) / SCRA
- Affidavit of IndigencyFee waiver: G.L. c. 261, §§ 27A-27G
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalMass.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(i)
- ExecutionG.L. c. 235: levy on debtor's property
- Application for Supplementary ProcessG.L. c. 224: post-judgment debtor examination
- Motion for Trustee ProcessMass.R.Civ.P. 4.2: MA's garnishment (requires court approval)
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Massachusetts matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Civil Action Cover Sheet · Summons · Proof of Service by Mail
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Civil Action Cover Sheet · Summons
Collections: Default Judgment
Request for Default (Rule 55(a)) · Request for Default Judgment (Rule 55(b)) · Affidavit of Amount Due · Affidavit of Military Status
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Execution · Application for Supplementary Process · Motion for Trustee Process
Affidavit of Indigency
Affidavit of Indigency
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Massachusetts county are in the 1Court Directory: Massachusetts.
How it works
Upload your case document
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.