Filing a Claim Email Template

Dear [NAME],

Thank you for your response. In order to file a claim in Small Claims Court, you must fill out a Statement of Claim and Notice Form (the official name of the Small Claims Court claim form). This can be obtained from the Small Claims Court Clerk at the district courthouse in which the claim will be filed. It can be picked up in person or requested by mail. The court encourages most people to file through mail. They will usually mail a small claims form requested over telephone at no cost to the caller.

Here is a link to an example of the Statement of Claim and Notice (SCN) Form: note, this is not the form that you can file, this is only an example.: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/09/18/small-claim-notice-of-trial.pdf

On the Massachusetts Government website, they also have a program to help people file claims online, which can be found here: https://massachusetts.tylerhost.net/SRL/SRL/ExecuteInterview

We suggest that you file your claim in the court most convenient for the defendant, though you are eligible to file in any court that falls into one the following categories:
 * Where the plaintiff lives
 * Where the plaintiff works/has his business
 * Where the defendant lives
 * Where the defendant works/has his business
 * Where the property is located (in landlord-tenant cases)

It is best to file close to where the defendant lives so that you have the highest chance of receiving payments if you are awarded damages. Additionally, by filing close to where the defendant lives, you are ensuring that they can not use distance as an excuse to not

Once your SCN is filed, the clerk will give you a copy of the completed SCN form, which shows date and time of trial. You will also get your Docket Number (reference #), in the event that you need to identify the case when contacting the clerk for anything else. The clerk will send the SCN to Defendant.