How long before eviction in Massachusetts?
StrongLast verified 2026-09-21
At a glance
- Grace period before a late fee
- 30 days
- Late fee cap
- No cap; no fee until 30 days late
- Pay-or-quit notice
- 14 calendar days
- Filing to judgment
- Not verified
- Wait before the writ can be executed
- 10 calendar days
- Can paying stop it before judgment?
- Yes
- Can paying stop it after judgment?
- Yes
- Lockouts without a court order banned?
- Yes
- Record sealing available?
- Yes
- Right to counsel
- none
- Fastest lawful timeline
- Not verified
Not legal advice. This page reports what the state statute says as of the last-verified date. It does not describe how a particular court applies it, and it does not account for your lease, local ordinances, or the facts of your case. If you have received a notice or a court summons, contact a legal aid organisation listed below.
Can I stop it by paying?
Before judgment: Yes.
After judgment: Yes. Satisfying the money judgment plus use and occupancy bars levy on the execution, c.239 s.3
Behind on utilities in Massachusetts too? See Massachusetts's shutoff protection rules.
Where to get help
- Rental assistance — RAFT; benefit cap not verified
- Free legal help
- State-funded MLAC Access to Counsel pilot and a Boston pilot for households with K-12 students. Not in the NCCRC enacted matrix.
Sources
- M.G.L. c.186 ss.11, 12
- M.G.L. c.186 s.15B(1)(c)
- M.G.L. c.239 s.5; 48-hour pre-levy notice c.239 s.3
- M.G.L. c.186 s.14
- Primary statute