You are here

Serving the Self-Represented Litigant: A Guide For Massachusetts Court Staff

Date: 
06/30/2010
Author: 
Massachusetts Trial Court
lock_open

Serving the Self-Represented Litigant: A Guide For and By Massachusetts Court Staff

 * Prepared by the Court Personnel Working Group of the Supreme Judicial Court Steering Committee on Self-Represented Litigant

This Guide

  • provides court personnel with practical guidelines to help them provide effective assistance and useful information to court users. 
  • sets forth guidelines for distinguishing "legal information" from "legal advice"
    • specifically provides that "Court staff may provide to court users as much information and as many options as possible, without interfering in or directing the decision to be made by court users or affecting their legal rights." 
  • sets forth specific frequently asked questions, with sample responses, for issues that arise in the following courts: 
    • Supreme Judicial Court
    • Appeals Court
    • Superior Court Department
    • Land Court Department
    • Probate and Family Court Department
    • Housing Court Department
    • District Court Department
    • Boston Municipal Court Department
    • Juvenile Court Department