PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT:
Jennifer Donahue/Erika Gully-Santiago
Jennifer.Donahue@jud.state.ma.us
617-557-1114
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2019
Housing Court to Launch Mandatory eFiling
The Housing Court Department of the Trial Court of Massachusetts has announced that it will introduce mandatory eFiling for Small Claims and Summary Process for all attorneys on January 27, 2020. This means that all attorney filings of these case types will no longer be accepted in person at the courthouse or via mail to the courthouse. Filings by self-represented or pro se litigants will still be accepted in person and via mail, though they are welcome to eFile as well.
“Mandatory electronic filing of summary process and small claims case documents is a game changer for the Housing Court, which has six clerks' offices but holds sessions in 23 locations across the Commonwealth. It underscores the Trial Court’s mission to facilitate more efficient document filing and remote access across all departments as we continue to expand eFiling capabilities,” said Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey and Trial Court Administrator Jonathan S. Williams.
In preparation for the launch, training on how to eFile will be offered to attorneys across all Housing Court Divisions throughout the Commonwealth, beginning November 15th and through January 2020. Details on training session dates and locations are at the following eFiling training page: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/housing-court-efiling-training
This page will continue to be updated as additional training information is available.
Questions should be directed to either the Administrative Office of the Housing Court Department at 617-788-6500 or by email to Keith Tan, Housing Court Field Coordinator, at keith.tan@jud.state.ma.us.
Mass.gov has more information about how to eFile at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-e-filing-in-the-trial-court#how-to-submit-e-file-forms-
To initiate eFiling for court cases go to: www.eFileMA.com
The Housing Court consists of six divisions throughout Massachusetts, and has jurisdiction to hear cases involving landlord and tenant disputes, code enforcement matters, and general civil litigation. In 2018, the Court’s jurisdiction expanded to provide an additional two million people in 84 cities and towns with access to a housing court. The six divisions are: Central, Eastern, Metro South, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.
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