Massachusetts: Civil Procedure, Foreclosure & UCC

Civil procedure in Massachusetts

Civil cases in Massachusetts state courts follow the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure. Federal courts located in Massachusetts follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and their own local rules. Individual Massachusetts courts also publish local rules, and judges may issue standing orders — read all of them before filing.

Our procedure library explains each federal motion and filing; look up the Massachusetts equivalent in the state rules, because names, deadlines and forms can differ.

Foreclosure in Massachusetts

The most common foreclosure process in Massachusetts is nonjudicial: property can be sold under a power-of-sale clause following the state statute, without a lawsuit. Judicial foreclosure is also available. The main statute: M.G.L. c. 244, § 1 et seq..

Federal mortgage servicing rules also apply to most residential loans — see federal pre-foreclosure protections. Read the current statute for notice periods, redemption rights and deficiency rules.

The Uniform Commercial Code in Massachusetts

Massachusetts enacted the Uniform Commercial Code and codified it in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 106 (Uniform Commercial Code). When a page on Lawtopolis cites a UCC section such as § 3-301 or § 9-406, read the matching section of Massachusetts’s enacted code, which may contain state-specific changes.

Research checklist

• Read the current state rules of civil procedure and the local rules of your court.
• Check the state judiciary’s self-help center and official forms.
• Read the state statutes that govern your type of case.
• Find binding decisions from the state’s appellate courts.
• Confirm each source is current before relying on it.

How to research a case in this state

To research your issue for a real matter, start with the primary sources. For example, read the statute, the rule and the documents in your own file. Then look for recent appellate decisions from your state, because they control how local courts read the law. After that, compare what you found with the federal rules that may also apply. Our state procedures guide and the Research Center can help you find and check each source.