General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 258E Harassment Prevention Orders

• Massachusetts General Laws - Definitions - Chapter 258E, Section 1
  As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:- “Abuse”, attempting to cause or causing...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Jurisdiction - Chapter 258E, Section 2
  Proceedings under this chapter shall be filed, heard and determined in the superior court department or the respective divisions of the district court department or...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Filing of complaint; impounding of case record information; filing fee; expiration of order; modification of order; time for filing; nonexclusivity of remedy - Chapter 258E, Section 3
  (a) A person suffering from harassment may file a complaint in the appropriate court requesting protection from such harassment. A person may petition the court...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Notice of nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings - Chapter 258E, Section 4
  Upon the filing of a complaint under this chapter, a complainant shall be informed that the proceedings hereunder are civil in nature and that violations...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Temporary orders - Chapter 258E, Section 5
  Upon the filing of a complaint under this chapter, the court may enter such temporary orders as it deems necessary to protect a plaintiff from...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Granting of relief without the filing of a complaint - Chapter 258E, Section 6
  When the court is closed for business or the plaintiff is unable to appear in court because of severe hardship due to the plaintiff’s physical...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Enforcement of protection order issued by another jurisdiction - Chapter 258E, Section 7
  Any protection order issued by another jurisdiction shall be given full faith and credit throughout the commonwealth and enforced as if it were issued in...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Law officer emergency response to prevent further abuse or harassment - Chapter 258E, Section 8
  Whenever a law officer has reason to believe that a person has been abused or harassed or is in danger of being abused or harassed,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Review and filing of records within court activity record information system and statewide domestic violence recordkeeping system; execution of outstanding warrants; service upon defendant; order for payment of damages - Chapter 258E, Section 9
  When considering a complaint filed under this chapter, the court shall order a review of the records contained within the court activity record information system...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Confidentiality of records - Chapter 258E, Section 10
  The records of cases arising out of an action brought under this chapter in which the plaintiff or defendant is a minor shall be withheld...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Adoption of suitable form of complaint - Chapter 258E, Section 11
  The chief justice of the trial court shall adopt a form of complaint for use under this chapter which shall be in such form and...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Assessment against persons referred to a treatment program as condition of probation - Chapter 258E, Section 12
  The court shall impose an assessment of $350 against any person who has been referred to a treatment program as a condition of probation. Such...

Last modified: September 11, 2015