What are Court Service Centers?

Court Service Centers are run by the Massachusetts Trial Court. You can contact them by phone, Zoom, or in-person. They are free to use, but remember there may be other fees that are part of your case.

Court Service Centers can help you:

• Complete legal forms,
• Get legal information,
• Find helpful programs in your community,
• Provide you an interpreter and
• Refer you to legal help.

Note

The Court Service Center cannot give you legal advice, represent you in court, or represent you if you have a lawyer.

What can Court Service Centers help with?

Court Service Center staff cannot help with every legal question. But they may be able to help with:

• 209A Abuse Prevention/Restraining Orders
• 258E Harassment Prevention Orders
• Civil Commitments: Alcohol or Substance Misuse (Section 35) and Mental Illness (12)
• Custody, child support, parenting time, and divorces (1B and Fault)
• Eviction Answer and Discovery
• Guardianship of minors and adults
• Petitions for name changes or corrections of marriage/birth/death certificates
• Small Claims ($7,000 or less)
• Voluntary Administrations

See the Court Service Center website for more information on the types of cases Court Service Centers can and cannot help with.

Or see the Court Service Center’s interactive tool, Can the Court Service Center help me?

How to Contact a Court Service Center

You can contact a Court Service Center by phone, Zoom or in person.

Virtual Court Service Center

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM

Contact by Zoom

Join the Zoom video meeting. Then:

• You will enter a “virtual waiting room.”
• The staff ask you questions to make sure you have all the information and documents they need to help you. They list this information in their handout "What you will need to bring for assistance."

Contact by phone

Call (646) 828-7666. When the recording asks for your Meeting ID, type in 1615261140 then press # #.
See more information on what to expect when contacting the Virtual Court Service Center.

Visiting the Court Service Center in Person

You can visit the Court Service Centers on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 AM and 1 PM, or between 2 AM and 4:30 PM.

Go to the Court's website to find out the locations of the Court Service Centers.

Note

If you decide to visit a Court Service Center in person, arrive early. They are first come first served.

Before you visit a Court Service Center in person, make sure to read their handout "What you will need to bring for assistance."

Information in Other Languages

Download the Court Service Center brochures in 10 languages including English.