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Home > Laws by Source > Mass. Primary Law > Court Rules > Domestic Relations

Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure

Including amendments effective December 1, 2009

I. Scope of Rules--One Form of Action

Rule 1 Scope of Rules
Rule 2 One Form of Action

II. Commencement of Action; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions and Orders

Rule 3 Commencement of Action
Rule 4 Process
Rule 4.1 Attachment
Rule 4.2 Trustee Process
Rule 4.3 Arrest; Supplementary Process; Ne Exeat
Rule 5 Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers
Rule 6 Time

III. Pleadings and Motions

Rule 7 Pleadings Allowed: Form of Motions
Rule 8 General Rules of Pleading
Rule 9 Pleading Special Matters
Rule 10 Form of Pleadings
Rule 11 Appearances and Pleadings
Rule 12 Defenses and Objections--When and How Presented--By Pleading or Motion
Rule 13 Counterclaim and Cross-Complaint
Rule 14 (Deleted)
Rule 15 Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
Rule 16 Pre-Trial Procedure: Formulating Issues

IV. Parties

Rule 17 Parties Plaintiff and Defendant: Capacity including corrective amendment effective Dec. 1, 2009
Rule 18 (Deleted)
Rule 19 Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication
Rules 20-23.2 (Deleted)
Rule 24 Intervention
Rule 25 Substitution of Parties

V. Depositions and Discovery

Rule 26 General Provision Governing Discovery
Rule 27 Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal
Rule 28 Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken
Rule 29 Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure
Rule 30 Depositions Upon Oral Examination
Rule 30A Audiovisual Depositions
Rule 31 Depositions of Witnesses Upon Written Questions
Rule 32 Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings
Rule 33 Interrogatories to Parties
Rule 34 Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes
Rule 35 Physical and Mental Examination of Persons
Rule 36 Requests for Admission
Rule 37 Failure to Make Discovery: Sanctions

VI. Trials

Rule 38 (Deleted)
Rule 39 Trial by Jury or by the Court
Rule 40 Assignment of Cases for Trial: Continuances
Rule 41 Dismissal of Actions
Rule 42 Consolidation: Separate Trials
Rule 43 Evidence
Rule 44 Proof of Official Records
Rule 44.1 Determination of Foreign Law
Rule 45 Subpoena
Rule 46 Exceptions Unnecessary
Rules 47-50 (Deleted)
Rule 51 Argument
Rule 52 Findings by the Court
Rule 53 Masters

VII. Judgment

Rule 54 Judgments: Costs
Rule 55 (Deleted)
Rule 56 Summary Judgment
Rule 57 Declaratory Judgment
Rule 58 Entry of Judgment
Rule 59 New Trials: Amendment of Judgments
Rule 60 Relief from Judgment or Order
Rule 61 Harmless Error
Rule 62 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment
Rule 63 Disability of a Judge

VIII. Provisional and Final Remedies and Special Procedures

Rule 64 Report of Case
Rule 65 Injunctions
Rule 65.1 Security: Proceedings Against Sureties
Rule 66 (Deleted)
Rule 67 Deposit in Court
Rule 68 (Deleted)
Rule 69 Execution
Rule 70 Judgment for Specific Acts: Vesting Title
Rule 71 (Deleted)
[Rules 72-76 RESERVED]

IX. Courts and Clerks

Rule 77 Courts and Clerks
Rule 78 Motion Day
Rule 79 Books and Records Kept by the Clerk and Entries Therein
Rule 80 Stenographic Report or Transcript

X. General Provisions

Rule 81 Applicability of Rules
Rule 82 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Rule 83 Supplemental Rules
Rule 84 Forms
Rule 85 Title