Process serving · Massachusetts
How to serve small claims papers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's Small claims, Boston Municipal Court, District Court or Housing Court lists this method: The clerk mails the Statement of Claim and Notice to the defendant. Because the court starts that step itself, you may not need a private server unless the court tells you service failed.
Massachusetts's court guides spell out who delivers a small claims case to the defendant; this page repeats it and says when we can help.
| Court | Small claims, Boston Municipal Court, District Court or Housing Court |
|---|---|
| Service | The clerk mails the Statement of Claim and Notice to the defendant. |
| Where the case is filed | District Court or Boston Municipal Court where at least one party lives, works or has a business, or (landlord-tenant) where the rental property is; Housing Court where the rental property is. |
| Small claims limit | $7,000. Not more than $7,000 unless the claim is for property damage from a car accident. Some consumer protection and landlord-tenant claims may carry statutory damages above $7,000. |
| Filing fees | claim of $500 or less: $40; $501 to $2,000: $50; $2,001 to $5,000: $100; $5,001 to $7,000: $150; car accident claim above $7,000: $150; eFiling service fee: $7 |
| Who can file | A person, a person doing business under a trade name, a corporation or a trust. Claims for money owed in a trade or business have extra requirements. |
When we can help in Massachusetts
If the court lets you use a private server, send us the filed papers, the address and your deadline. A vetted local server makes the attempts and you get the proof of service on the court's form if it has one.
The full Massachusetts small claims page, with limits and fees, is here.
Alabama · all states · serving someone in another state
If you represent yourself, you are responsible for your documents: what they say, that they are complete and signed, which court they go to and that they are filed on time. We are not lawyers, we do not give legal advice or draft pleadings, and we cannot guarantee any legal outcome. We file, serve or pull exactly what you send.
Sources
Before you send
- Send the papers to serve as a PDF, with every page in order.
- Give the best address, a description or photo of the person, and the times they're usually home.
- Up to three attempts at different times of day are included.
- You get a notarized affidavit of service once service is made.
- Rules on who may serve papers vary by state. The desk confirms them for your state before assigning a server.
Prefer to talk?
Call the desk and we'll take the request by phone.
Questions
Who serves small claims papers in Massachusetts?
The court's guide says: The clerk mails the Statement of Claim and Notice to the defendant.
What does a Massachusetts serve cost?
Outside New Jersey every serve is quoted per job, because local server rates and travel differ. We confirm the price before any work starts.
Can you tell me if service was done correctly?
No. The Massachusetts court decides whether service was proper. We send you the server's proof of service so you can file it.