Massachusetts § 4 Notice of nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings

Massachusetts Statutes

§ 4 — Notice of nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings

Massachusetts § 4

Part IIICOURTS, JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES

Title IVCERTAIN WRITS AND PROCEEDINGS IN SPECIAL CASES

Ch. 258EHARASSMENT PREVENTION ORDERS

This text of Massachusetts § 4 (Notice of nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258E, § 4 (2026).

Text

Section 4. Upon the filing of a complaint under this chapter, a complainant shall be informed that the proceedings hereunder are civil in nature and that violations of orders issued hereunder are criminal in nature. Further, a complainant shall be given information prepared by the appropriate district attorney's office that other criminal proceedings may be available and such complainant shall be instructed by such district attorney's office relative to the procedures required to initiate criminal proceedings including, but not limited to, a complaint for a violation of section 13B, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26C, 43 and 43A of chapter 265 or section 3 of chapter 272. Whenever possible, a complainant shall be provided with such information in the complainant's native language.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Section 4. Upon the filing of a complaint under this chapter, a complainant shall be informed that the proceedings hereunder are civil in nature and that violations of orders issued hereunder are criminal in nature. Further, a complainant shall be given information prepared by the appropriate district attorney's office that other criminal proceedings may be available and such complainant shall be instructed by such district attorney's office relative to the procedures required to initiate criminal proceedings including, but not limited to, a complaint for a violation of section 13B, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26C, 43 and 43A of chapter 265 or section 3 of chapter 272. Whenever possible, a complainant shall be provided with such information in the complainant's native language.

Nearby Sections

4

§ 4

Notice of nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings

§ 4A

Surrender of license to care or firearm identification card following issuance of temporary or emergency order; surrender of weapons and ammunition; review of order

§ 4B

Continuation or modification of order; violation of order

§ 4C

Transmission of information pertaining to suspension or surrender to attorney general of the United States for purpose of conducting background checks for firearms sales or licensing

View on official source ↗

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

Massachusetts § 4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ma/258E/4.