The Housing Court Department 
CIVIL INFORMATIONAL SHEET 

¡Importante! ¡Traducir! Enpòtan! Tradwi! Quan Trọng! Dich! 

IMPORTANT!  Your court event will be held by Zoom or in person.  Check your court notice to determine 

If you do not attend or participate, the court may rule for the other side.
how to participate in your court event.  You MUST attend all of your scheduled court 
events.  

 

Your Court Case 

Enroll in Text Reminders

To sign up for text message reminders 
of upcoming court events in a specific 
case, scan the QR code and complete 
the eReminder form.  Texts will be 
sent 4 days before, and 1 day before, 
the court event. 
Lawyer for the Day Program 

A Lawyer for the Day Program (LDP) 
is a program through which volunteer 
attorneys are available to provide free 
legal advice and assistance to 
unrepresented landlords and tenants. 

For more information, please contact: 

If you filed the case, you are the plaintiff.  If the case was filed against you, you are 
the defendant, and you should file your written response to the case, called an 
Answer, as soon as possible.  Contact the Clerk’s Office or a Housing Specialist for 
more information. 

Whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant, every time you file a document with 
the Court, you must make sure the other side gets a copy.   

To look up your case file online, please visit: https://masscourts.org 
E-Filing your documents with the Court

To file any forms, documents, or evidence, you can mail it to the Court or file it 
electronically through the Court’s E-Filing website: http://www.Efilema.com. There 
is no cost to file into an existing case. 

Please see the Housing Court E-Filing Guide: 
https://www.mass.gov/guides/efiling-in-the-housing-court 

 
Online Court Forms can be downloaded from: 
https://www.mass.gov/lists/housing-court-forms 

At all stages of the case both parties must follow all Court rules. To look up Court 
rules go to: https://www.mass.gov/law-library/massachusetts-trial-court-rules 
Clerk Magistrate’s Office

For any questions related to your case file or the filing process you may contact the 
Clerk’s Office at  
Housing Specialist Department

Housing Specialists (HSD) are employees of the court who serve as neutral 
mediators and assist parties in reaching an agreement. The Housing Specialist can 
provide help with the court process and can connect the parties to resources that 
are available in the local community. Contact HSD at 

 

Emergency Rental & Mortgage Assistance 
Attention Renters, Homeowners, and Landlords:

utilities or mortgage payments, or for more information, go to 
www.mass.gov/CovidHousingHelp. You can also call 211 at any time. 

 To apply for help with rent, 

Need an Interpreter or Reasonable Accommodation? 

If you have trouble participating in a court event or need a free interpreter or reasonable accommodations, 
please call  

Connecting to Zoom 

How to connect with the Court virtually 

Using the Zoom app, you can connect with court personnel 
remotely through the Court’s virtual counter.  For example, you 
may ask questions, get information about your case, and seek 
general procedural guidance.  

Availability Monday through Friday on Zoom: 

Virtual Counter 

Meeting ID

Password

 

 

Housing Specialist Department 

Clerk Magistrate’s Office 

You can also access the virtual counters by telephone (646) 828-7666 and entering the 
above Meeting ID and password. 

Tenancy Preservation Program 

The Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) is a program that works with tenants, 
including families with children, facing eviction as a result of behavior related to a 
disability. TPP functions as a neutral party and works with the property owner and 
tenant to determine whether the disability can be reasonably accommodated, and 
the tenancy preserved. To contact TPP, please call:  

Other Agencies & Programs: 

You can connect to your hearing 
through the Zoom app. Zoom is 
available both by computer and by 
phone.  

For more information: 
https://www.mass.gov/info-
details/remotevirtual-court-services 
Need Help? 

Contact the Court and notify court 
staff if you do not have access to Zoom 
or having difficulties logging on. 
Please call 
TIPS ON USING ZOOM 

Make sure you test your online 
connection and video/audio on the 
Zoom app the date of your court 
event. 
Smartphone 

1. Go to your app store
2. Look for “Zoom Cloud Meetings”
3. Click Download
4. Create an account
5. Click Join Meeting
6. Enter Meeting ID
7. Enter Passcode

Computer 

1. Go to https://zoomgov.com
2. Click Join Meeting
3. Enter Meeting ID
4. Enter Passcode

Land line/Telephone 

1. Call (646)828-7666 (Zoom

phone number) 

2. When prompted dial the

3. when prompted dial the

Meeting ID

Passcode

Court Service Center 

Court Service Centers help people navigate the court system, but do not provide 
legal advice. Centers are available to assist you with filling out court documents 
and guiding you through the court process. All of the services in the Court Service 
Centers are free. You can learn more about the Court Service Center at: 
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-court-service-centers