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Practice Areas in Massachusetts
Counties in Massachusetts
Browse 14 county legal-information pages
The Court System in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts court system operates under a unified structure that serves all 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. At the foundation are the Trial Courts, which handle the vast majority of cases through seven different departments: District Court, Superior Court, Housing Court, Land Court, Juvenile Court, Probate and Family Court, and Boston Municipal Court. These trial courts address everything from minor traffic violations to serious felonies and family disputes. Above the trial courts sits the Massachusetts Appeals Court, which reviews decisions from the trial level and serves as an intermediate appellate court. At the top of the hierarchy is the Supreme Judicial Court, the oldest appellate court in continuous existence in the Western Hemisphere, established in 1692. What makes Massachusetts distinctive is its unified court system model, meaning all courts operate under one administrative umbrella rather than separate county systems found in many other states. This creates more consistent procedures and better resource allocation across the state. Massachusetts also has specialized courts like the Housing Court for landlord-tenant matters and the Land Court for complex real estate disputes, reflecting the states focus on addressing specific legal needs efficiently. The state court system is entirely separate from federal courts, which handle federal crimes and constitutional issues. For official information about Massachusetts courts, visit mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-court-system.
Major Courts in Massachusetts
The Superior Court of Massachusetts is the states primary trial court for serious criminal cases and major civil matters, with locations in each county including Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, which handles the most complex cases in the state. The Boston Municipal Court serves Boston, Brookline, and Chelsea, handling criminal cases, civil matters under $25,000, and specialty sessions for domestic violence and drug court programs. Suffolk County District Court in Boston processes a high volume of criminal arraignments, misdemeanor cases, and preliminary hearings for felonies, making it one of the busiest courts in the state. The Central District Court of Worcester serves the Worcester area and surrounding communities, handling both criminal and civil cases for one of Massachusetts largest metropolitan areas outside Boston. Cambridge District Court covers Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, and surrounding areas, frequently dealing with cases involving Harvard and MIT students as well as general criminal and civil matters. The Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham serves the Norfolk County area and handles serious felony cases, major civil disputes, and appeals from lower courts. Each of these courts has specific jurisdictions and procedures, but all operate under the unified Massachusetts court system structure. The concentration of major courts in the Boston metropolitan area reflects the population density, but each serves distinct geographic regions and handles varying caseloads depending on local needs and demographics.
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