This story is part of MassLive’s ongoing housing court guide series. You can read other stories in the series here.
Documents and motions can be mailed or brought in person to the clerk’s office of the relevant courthouse, or you can file online using the court system’s eFile system. If you wish to file by mail, be sure to do so with plenty of time before the deadline to file as mail can be slow.
If you’re filing by mail or in person, give the original to the court, and keep copies for yourself and your landlord.
To use eFile, you will first have to register for a self-represented account by providing your first and last name and email address and creating a password and security question and answer. You will also have to provide payment information for any fees associated with filing documents.
Once you have created an account, you will be able to create a new case in the appropriate court or file documents to an existing case. See this page for more information about eFile, and this PDF created by the court system for detailed instructions, or this page for video tutorials.
Whenever you file an answer or discovery form, motion or other documents in your case, you must also deliver a copy to your landlord or their legal team if they have one (If they have a lawyer, the lawyer’s contact information should be listed on the summons and complaint if you received one). You can always do this in-person or by mail. If you decide to mail documents, be sure to do so with plenty of time before the deadline as mail can be slow.
If your landlord, or their lawyer, agrees in writing (such as in an email or text) to receive documents by email or fax, you may also provide them in that format. If your landlord has a lawyer, the lawyer must be the one to make this agreement.
Keep in mind that anything you file in court becomes public record, so anyone can request to see it. If you are filing something that you do not want public, file a motion for impoundment and an affidavit in support of your motion. This motion and affidavit will be public record regardless of whether your motion is approved, so be sure not to include any sensitive information in what you write.
A hearing will be held on your motion within three days and if it is approved, the relevant filings will not be included in the public record.
Some documents, including affidavits of indigency, financial statements, harassment prevention orders and medical records, are automatically impounded when filed and do not require a motion.
For more information on impounded filings, visit this page.
