Massachusetts Court System, File an Eviction Case

Citation: Massachusetts Court System, File an Eviction Case
Jurisdiction: Greenfield (municipal)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-an-eviction-case ↗

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The answer date is the day when the tenant’s written answer must be filed if they have defenses to your legal claims that they want the court to consider. Answers, counterclaims, discovery requests, and pretrial motions can be served and filed anytime on or before the first Monday after the Monday entry date stated in the summons and complaint. You can contact the clerk’s office for information about service, entry, and answer deadlines as well as the trial date and courtroom session.

The trial date

The trial is the day when you and your tenant(s) come to court. If the tenant hasn't requested a jury trial in their answer, you may have a bench trial in front of a judge that day and your case will be resolved.

Otherwise, the trial date is usually scheduled for 10 days after the entry date (i.e. the Thursday following the answer date), however, if the tenant requests discovery, the trial date will be automatically postponed 2 weeks. This is called the rescheduled trial date.

More info

Can I also sue my tenant for money damages in a summary process (eviction) case?
In a summary process case, the landlord can sue the tenant for unpaid rent, even if the tenancy was ended for a reason other than not paying rent. The summons and complaint form includes a section for the landlord to specify the rent that’s owed. However, the landlord can’t include a claim for other types of damages, such as property damage or unpaid utilities, in a summary process case. The landlord can file a separate civil or small claims case to recover damages other than unpaid rent.

Downloads

Open PDF file, 897.07 KB,
Summary Process Summons and Complaint Sample

(English, PDF 897.07 KB)

Contact

District, Housing, and Boston Municipal Courts

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