In Massachusetts, individuals who have experienced harassment have a legal pathway to seek protection through the court system via the Massachusetts Protection Harassment form. This comprehensive document, integral to the process under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 258E, serves as the initial step for petitioners—referred to as Plaintiffs—to formally request a Harassment Prevention Order against alleged harassers, or Defendants. Designed to cover various scenarios of harassment, including physical harm, fear of imminent serious physical harm, involuntary sexual relations through force or duress, and specific criminal violations such as stalking and indecent assault, the form is a critical tool in the Massachusetts Trial Court's efforts to prevent further abuse or intimidation. The form succinctly captures key information, including the identities and ages of the parties involved, any previous or ongoing legal actions between them, detailed incidents of harassment, and the specific protections sought by the Plaintiff. These range from prohibiting further abusive behavior and contact to demanding compensation for the Plaintiff's losses directly resulting from the harassment. Crucially, the form also addresses confidentiality concerns and the special protections in cases involving minors, underscoring the legal system's commitment to victim safety and privacy. With sections dedicated to defining the nature of the harassment experienced and the relief sought, including no-contact orders and financial restitution, the document embodies a multifaceted approach to addressing and preventing harassment within the state. Its use, alongside accompanying affidavits and confidential information forms, marks a vital step in navigating the legal measures available to individuals seeking respite from harassment, offering a structured process for obtaining a court-ordered shield against further abuse.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Massachusetts Protection Harassment Form |
| Form Length | 3 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 45 sec |
| Other names | massachusetts complaint harassment, massachusetts complaint harassment online, form complaint protection harassment, ma form harassment |
COMPLAINT FOR PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT |
DOCKET NO. (for court use only) |
Massachusetts Trial Court |
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G.L. c. 258E |
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A |
G BOSTON MUNICIPAL COURT |
G DISTRICT COURT |
G JUVENILE COURT |
G SUPERIOR COURT |
DIVISION |
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NAME OF PLAINTIFF (person seeking protection) |
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NAME OF DEFENDANT (person accused of harassment) |
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B |
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I am: |
G 18 or older |
G 17 |
G 16 or younger |
Are there any prior or pending actions between the plaintiff and the |
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The Defendant is: |
G 18 or older |
G 17 |
G 16 or younger |
defendant? |
G NO G YES |
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If so, list court, type of case, date and docket no. (if available) |
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CG I am under the age of 18 and _________________, my _________________________ (relationship to Plaintiff), has filed this Complaint for me.
I SUFFERED HARASSMENT WHEN:
Gon or about (dates) _____________________________________________ the Defendant committed 3 or more acts of willful and malicious conduct aimed at me which were committed with the intent to cause fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property and did in fact cause fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property.
DG on or about (date) ___________________________ the Defendant by force, threat or duress caused me to involuntarily engage in sexual relations.
Gon or about (date) ___________________________ the Defendant committed against me an act that constitutes a violation of one of the following statutes: G.L. c. 265, §§ 13B, 13F or 13H (indecent assault and battery), 22 or 22A (rape), 23 (statutory rape), 24 or 24B (assault with intent to rape), 26C (enticing a child), 43 (criminal stalking) or 43A (criminal harassment), or G.L. c. 272, § 3 (drugging for sexual intercourse).
THEREFORE, I ASK THE COURT:
G1. to order the Defendant not to abuse me by physically harming me, attempting to physically harm me, or placing me in fear of imminent serious physical harm, and to stop harassing me (1) by any willful and malicious conduct aimed at me and intended to cause fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property, or (2) by using force, threat or duress to make me engage in sexual relations unwillingly, or (3) by committing against me any act that constitutes a violation of any of the following statutes: G.L. c. 265, §§ 13B, 13F or 13H (indecent assault and battery), 22 or 22A (rape), 23 (statutory rape), 24 or 24B (assault with intent to rape), 26C (enticing a child), 43 (criminal stalking) or 43A (criminal harassment), or G.L. c. 272, § 3 (drugging for sexual intercourse).
G2. to order the Defendant not to contact me, unless authorized to do so by the Court.
EG 3. to order the Defendant to remain away from my residence (as listed on the PLAINTIFF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION form). G 4. to order the Defendant to remain away from my workplace (as listed on the PLAINTIFF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION form). G 5. to order the Defendant to pay me $ ____________ in compensation for the following losses suffered as a direct
result of the harassment:
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________________________________________________________________________________________. G 6. to order the relief I have requested, except for compensation for losses suffered, without advance notice to the Defendant because there is a substantial likelihood of immediate danger of harassment. I understand that, if the
Court issues such a temporary Order, the Court will schedule a hearing within 10 court business days to determine whether such a temporary Order should be continued, and I must appear in court on that day if I wish the Order to be continued.
Please complete the AFFIDAVIT on the reverse of this page,
the PLAINTIFF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION form,
and the DEFENDANT INFORMATION form.
DATE
PLAINTIFF’S SIGNATURE
x
This is a request for a civil order to protect the Plaintiff from future abuse or harassment. The actions of the Defendant may also constitute a crime subject to criminal penalties. For information about filing a criminal complaint, you may talk with the District Attorney’s Office for the location where the alleged harassment occurred.
AFFIDAVIT
On or about
Describe in detail the most recent incidents of harassment. If the harassment consisted only of conduct that was willful and malicious but was not a violation of the listed criminal statutes, you must describe at least 3 separate incidents of such harassment. The judge requires as much information as possible, such as what happened, each person’s actions, the dates, locations, any injuries, and any medical or other services sought. Also, describe any history of harassment, with as much of the above detail as possible.
, 20 , the Defendant
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If more space is needed, attach additional pages and check this box: G
I declare under penalty of perjury that all statements of fact made above, and in any additional pages attached, are true.
DATE SIGNED
PLAINTIFF’S SIGNATURE
X
WITNESSED BY
x
PRINTED NAME OF WITNESS
TITLE/RANK OF WITNESS
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PLAINTIFF
HARASSMENT PREVENTION ORDERS
Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 258E, people who have suffered harassment may ask a judge to issue an Order to protect them from further harassment or abuse. These Orders will be recorded and enforced by law enforcement agencies. They are commonly called “Harassment Prevention Orders” or “Restraining Orders” or “258E Orders.” In any emergency that occurs after court hours or on weekends, you may ask your local police to put you in contact with a judge.
YOU MUST COMPLETE 4 FORMS:
1.COMPLAINT FORM
To request a Harassment Prevention Order, you must fill out a Complaint form and other appropriate forms. There is no filing fee. You are the “Plaintiff.” The person who you allege has harassed you is the “Defendant.” Please print in ballpoint pen and press hard enough so that all four parts are legible.
If either party is under 18. You are asked to indicate on the form whether you and the Defendant are under 18 years of age because the law provides that if either you or the Defendant is under the age of 18, such cases are not open to public inspection and are available only to the Plaintiff, the Plaintiff’s attorney, the person under 18 and his or her parent, guardian and attorney.
Other prior or pending actions. If there are any prior or pending actions in any state or country between you and the Defendant, please bring any legal papers you have from such actions with you to the courthouse.
Financial compensation. You may request that a judge order the Defendant to compensate you for any financial losses suffered as a direct result of the harassment. These may include, but are not limited to, lost earnings,
2.AFFIDAVIT
When you have completed the Complaint form, turn over the first (white) part and fill out the affidavit on the back. Describe the details of the harassment. If the harassment consisted only of conduct that was willful and malicious but was not a violation of the criminal statutes listed on the front of the complaint form, you must describe at least 3 separate incidents of such harassment to be eligible for a Harassment Prevention Order. Fill out the affidavit even if you are requesting relief after court hours unless a judge directs otherwise.
3.PLAINTIFF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FORM
You must also fill out a Plaintiff Confidential Information Form, which lists your address, telephone number, and related information. The information in this form is confidential and this form is not available to the public, the defendant or the defendant’s attorney. Except with a judge’s permission, this form is available only to you, to your attorney, to those you authorize to have access, and to certain persons when access is necessary in the performance of their duties (prosecutors, law enforcement officers,
However, if you request that the defendant be ordered to remain away from your residence or workplace addresses, those addresses will appear in the court Order. They will not be available to the public but they will be disclosed to the defendant. If you do not want those addresses to appear in the court Order and thereby be disclosed to the Defendant, you should specifically request that they be omitted from the court Order.
If you have good reasons why your addresses or other confidential information in this case should not be disclosed to those who would otherwise have access in the course of their duties (prosecutors, law enforcement officers,
Other court records of this matter will generally be open to public inspection. You may also file a Motion for Impoundment if you have good reasons to ask a judge to keep other parts of the court record from public inspection. Usually a general preference for privacy is not alone a sufficient reason for a judge to impound court records from public inspection.
4.DEFENDANT INFORMATION FORM
The Plaintiff must also fill out the Defendant Information Form. Please provide the requested information to the best of your ability in order to identify the Defendant and where the Defendant can be found. If an Order is issued, this information will be used by law enforcement officers to locate the Defendant to deliver the Order.