The short version: file in the Boston Municipal Court, Small Claims Session, using the statewide Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial. You can claim up to $7,000, filing fees start at $40, and the court — not you — serves the defendant.
Two things trip people up: choosing the wrong court (Housing Court is often better for rental disputes) and the wrong BMC division. Both are covered below.
Filing in Boston?
Answer plain-English questions and SmallClaimsHelper fills in your Massachusetts Statement of Small Claim and a word-for-word script for your hearing — review it and file for $19.
Start My Claim — $19Which Boston Court Hears Your Small Claim?
Massachusetts is one of the states where the court type is a real choice, not just a location. A Boston small claim can be heard in the Boston Municipal Court, a District Court, or the Housing Court — and the right answer depends on what your dispute is about.
⚖️ Boston Municipal Court (BMC), Small Claims Session
The default for small claims arising inside the City of Boston — unpaid invoices, property damage, defective work, unreturned loans, contractor disputes. Eight divisions, listed below.
🏠 Housing Court
Often the better forum if your claim concerns a rental property — a security deposit, a return of rent, or a condition-of-premises dispute. Housing Court judges see these daily and the court has specialists who help unrepresented parties.
🏛 District Court
Covers the cities and towns outside Boston proper. If the defendant lives or works in, say, Brookline, Cambridge or Somerville rather than Boston, the relevant District Court may be where your case belongs.
Where you are allowed to file. Under the Massachusetts rules you may bring a small claim where any plaintiff lives, works or has a place of business; where any defendant lives, works or has a place of business; or, for a claim about a rental property, where that property is located. That usually gives you more than one valid option — and the choice is yours.
Boston Municipal Court Divisions and Addresses
The BMC is not one courthouse. It has eight divisions across the city, each serving specific neighbourhoods. File in the division that covers where the defendant lives or does business, or where the events happened — and call ahead if you are unsure, because filing in the wrong division costs you time you do not need to lose.
| Division | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 52 Academy Hill Rd., Brighton, MA 02135 | (617) 782-6540, Press 1 |
| Central | Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon St., Boston, MA 02114 | (617) 788-8600 |
| Charlestown | 3 City Square, Charlestown, MA 02129 | (617) 242-5400 |
| Dorchester | 510 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124 | (617) 288-9500 |
| East Boston | 37 Meridian St., East Boston, MA 02128 | (617) 569-7550 |
| Roxbury | 85 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 427-7000 |
| South Boston | 535 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127 | (617) 268-9292 |
| West Roxbury | 445 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 | (617) 971-1200 |
All eight divisions are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm. Addresses and hours are from the Boston Municipal Court locations list on mass.gov — confirm before you travel, since sessions and hours can change.
Boston Small Claims Filing Fees and Claim Limit
Boston uses the statewide Massachusetts fee schedule. The fee depends on how much you are claiming:
| Claim amount | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| $500 and under | $40 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $50 |
| $2,001 – $5,000 | $100 |
| $5,001 – $7,000 | $150 |
| Above $7,000, arising from an automobile accident | $150 |
| eFiling service fee (if you file online) | $7 |
The Massachusetts small claims limit is $7,000. Property damage from an automobile accident is the exception and has no cap, which is why it appears separately in the fee table. If you cannot afford the filing fee, ask the clerk for an Affidavit of Indigency to request a waiver.
Fees are from the Massachusetts Trial Court's own schedule, published on mass.gov. Verify the current figures with the clerk before you file — fee schedules change.
How to File a Small Claims Case in Boston, Step by Step
- Confirm the court and division. BMC for most Boston disputes; Housing Court if the claim is about a rental property. Then pick the BMC division from the table above.
- Complete the Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial. This is the statewide form — the same one used everywhere in Massachusetts. Get the current version from Massachusetts Small Claims Court Forms.
- Name the defendant exactly. For a business, sue the correct legal entity, not the storefront name. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's corporate database gives you the registered name and address.
- File it — online, in person, or by mail. Massachusetts runs a guided online interview that fills in the form and eFiles it to the right court for a $7 service fee. You can also print the finished forms and bring or post them to the courthouse.
- Pay the filing fee for your claim bracket, or file an Affidavit of Indigency to ask for a waiver.
- Let the court serve the defendant. This is unusual and it works in your favour: the court mails the Statement of Claim and Notice of Trial to the defendant by first-class mail, or certified mail if they are out of state. You do not hire a process server.
- Prepare your evidence and bring three copies of everything to the hearing — one for you, one for the judge, one for the defendant.
Before you file, check two numbers: whether your claim is still inside the statute of limitations, and whether suing is worth it once you count the filing fee and your time — the worth-it calculator does that arithmetic. You can also estimate the total cost to sue or write the demand letter first.
Filing Small Claims in Boston: FAQ
❓ Where do I file a small claims case in Boston?
Most Boston small claims go to the Boston Municipal Court, Small Claims Session. The BMC has eight divisions — Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury — and you file in the division serving the relevant neighbourhood. If the dispute is about a rental property, Housing Court is often the better forum. The clerk-magistrate's office can confirm which court should hear your case.
❓ How much does it cost to file a small claim in Boston?
$40 for claims of $500 and under, $50 for $501–$2,000, $100 for $2,001–$5,000, and $150 for $5,001–$7,000. Claims above $7,000 arising from an automobile accident also cost $150. eFiling adds a $7 service fee. If you cannot afford it, ask the clerk for an Affidavit of Indigency.
❓ How much can you sue for in Boston small claims court?
Up to $7,000 — the Massachusetts limit applies in Boston exactly as it does statewide. Property damage from an automobile accident is the exception and has no cap.
❓ Can I file a Boston small claims case online?
Yes. Massachusetts offers a guided online interview that fills in the Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial and lets you eFile it to the correct court for a $7 service fee. You can also print the completed forms and file in person or by mail.
❓ Do I have to serve the defendant myself?
No. In Massachusetts small claims the court sends the notice — it mails the Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial by first-class mail, or certified mail if the defendant is out of state. You do not hire a process server as you would in many other states.
Generate Your Boston Small Claims Forms
Walk through a few simple questions and SmallClaimsHelper fills out your Massachusetts claim and a judge script for you — review it and file for $19.
Start My Claim — $19This is general information, not legal advice. Massachusetts small claims forms, fees, court addresses and claim limits change over time — always use the current official forms and confirm the rules with the court before you file.