Mark Required Fields In Legal Massachusetts Civil Procedure Forms For Free

Trial Court Rules Rule 4: Appointment of counsel Unless the respondent is represented by counsel, the court shall appoint counsel pursuant to Supreme Judicial Court Rule (1)(f)(iii) before or upon the respondent's appearance before the court.

Rule 5(b) permits service to be made by delivering a copy to the attorney or party (if the party appears pro se), or by mailing one to him at his last known address; or if no such address is known, to the clerk of court. If a party has more than one attorney of record, service upon one of them suffices.

(a) When presented. (1) After service upon him of any pleading requiring a responsive pleading, a party shall serve such responsive pleading within 20 days unless otherwise directed by order of the court.

Duty to Avoid Unnecessary Expenses of Serving a Summons A defendant who is located in the United States and who fails to return a signed waiver of service requested by a plaintiff located in the United States will be required to pay the expenses of service, unless the defendant shows good cause for the failure.

(1) The filing of any pleading, motion, or other paper shall constitute an appearance by the attorney who signs it, unless the paper states otherwise. (2) An appearance in a case may be made by filing a notice of appearance, containing the name, address and telephone number of the attorney or person filing the notice.

A judgment is effective only when so set forth or filed and when entered as provided in Rule 79(a). Entry of the judgment shall not be delayed for the taxing of costs. Attorneys shall submit forms of judgment upon direction of the court. The court, on motion, may allow a hearing on the form of the judgment.