Booklets: Representing Yourself in an Eviction

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Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
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If you are facing eviction, use the information in the 12 booklets below to protect yourself. These booklets do not take the place of a lawyer, but they can help you represent yourself.

Many of the booklets are in multiple languages. You can download them as PDFs.

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Booklet 1: Protecting Yourself in an Eviction

What steps to take before going to court and what to bring to court. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 2: Housing Code Checklist

An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what conditions violate the State Sanitary Code. Reviewed January 2025.

Read the booklet online or

Download the booklet as a PDF:

You can also use the free self-help guided interview, MADE: Up To Code to help you find out if your home is safe according to the state sanitary code.

 

Booklet 3: The Answer

The Answer is a court form that tenants facing evictions can file with the court. In the Answer, you outline your legal claims and tell the court your side of the story. Reviewed January 2025.

English: 
Read the Answer booklet online or download it as a PDF:

Spanish: 
Read the Answer booklet online in Spanish (click "Also in: Español"). Or download it as a PDF:

You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services' free self-help guided interview, MADE. The interview is based on Booklet 3. It asks you questions and helps you build the Answer you need to file at court.

 

Booklet 3A: Late Answer & Discovery

This Booklet explains how to ask the court to accept your Answer and Discovery forms late. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services' free self-help guided interview, MADE. The interview is based on Booklet 3. It asks you questions and helps you build the Answer you need to file at court.

Booklet 4: Discovery

If you are a tenant facing eviction, Booklet 4 includes a form with instructions for how to get information to prepare for your trial. Updated June 2024.

Read the Discovery booklet online or download the Discovery booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 5: Transfer

If you are a tenant facing eviction in a District Court and you want to be in Housing Court, Booklet 5 explains how to transfer your case. It includes a transfer form that you can file. Updated January 2025.

Read the booklet online or

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 6: Removing Default

If you do not show up for your court date or you arrive after the case is called, the court enters a “default judgment.” The court decides your landlord wins the case because you did not show up for your court date. Booklet 6 explains how you can ask the court for a new court date. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

You can also use the free online guided interview from Court Forms Online to help you complete this form.

Booklet 7: Motion to Dismiss

You can use this sample Motion to Dismiss form to ask the court to dismiss your landlord’s claims against you in an eviction case. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 8: Appeals

If you lost your eviction trial and think you have a good case, you may appeal. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

  • If you lost your eviction trial in Housing Court, look at Appeals Booklet 8A. 

  • If you lost your eviction trial in District Court, look at Appeals Booklet 8B.

Booklet 9: Stay

If you lost your eviction case, or you agreed in a court judgment to move out and you need more time to move, you can ask the judge to let you stay in your home longer. This is called asking for a Stay of Execution. Booklet 9 explains how to ask the court for one. Updated January 2025.

Read the booklet online or

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 10: Affidavit of Indigency

If you need to go to court, but you cannot afford the fees and costs of your case, you may not have to pay them. The court can “waive” or not charge their fees and have the state pay other costs. Booklet 10 explains how you can ask the court for a waiver. Updated January 2025.

Read the booklet online or

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Spanish translation coming soon.

You can also use the guided interview on Court Forms Online. This free online tool helps you fill out the form by asking you questions. After you answer all the questions, the program will generate a completed form that you can then file with the court.

Booklet 11: Negotiating a Settlement of Your Case

Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Booklet 12: Error Correction Form

Booklet 12 tells you how to fix errors on your online court records. It includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again, and print when ready. Updated January 2025.

Download the booklet as a PDF:

Other housing forms, checklists, and letters
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