Massachusetts establishes legal framework to restrict controlling and abusive litigation between family and household members

Original title: An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation

Last action · July 13, 2026: Accompanied a new draft, see S3158Sponsors: Mike Moore and 21 others

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What This Bill Would Do

Massachusetts establishes a court procedure to restrict individuals with a history of domestic abuse from filing repetitive or meritless lawsuits against family or household members. If a court finds that a party is engaging in controlling and abusive litigation, it must dismiss the case, impose financial costs and legal fees on the filing party, and enforce prefiling restrictions lasting between 48 and 72 months.

Why it matters

Protected parties are exempted from paying filing fees for these proceedings and are relieved of the duty to respond to unauthorized or abusive legal actions, while perpetrators face mandatory cost recovery orders and court preapproval requirements for future filings.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Family or household members

Current or former family or household members can request restriction orders and are exempt from filing fees and mandatory response obligations when subjected to unauthorized litigation.

Directly affected

Perpetrators of controlling and abusive litigation

Individuals found to have engaged in abusive litigation face dismissal of their claims, mandatory payment of court costs and attorneys' fees, and multi-year prefiling restrictions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a person request an order restricting controlling and abusive litigation?

A party can request the order in any answer or response to litigation, by motion during an open or ongoing case, or orally during any court hearing without paying a filing fee.

What happens if a court finds that a party is engaging in controlling and abusive litigation?

The court must dismiss or deny the litigation with prejudice, order the filing party to pay all court costs, lost wages, child care, and attorneys' fees, and impose prefiling restrictions lasting between 48 and 72 months.

Must a protected party respond if a restricted individual files a lawsuit without court permission?

No. If a pleading is served without an attached court order allowing the filing, the protected party has no obligation to respond to summonses, complaints, or discovery requests.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

8 actions

Jul 13, 2026Senate
Accompanied a new draft, see S3158
Mar 30, 2026Senate
Reporting date extended to Tuesday June 30, 2026
Feb 26, 2026Senate
Reporting date extended to Thursday April 2, 2026
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Reporting date extended to Monday March 2, 2026
Oct 20, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-09:00 PM in A-2
May 29, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

Show 2 earlier actions

Feb 27, 2025House
House concurred
Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

Version history

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