Mass. Gen. Laws » Part II Title III Chapter 209
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209, § 6 (2026)

Married woman; power to sue and be sued

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 6. A married woman may sue and be sued in the same manner as if she were sole; but this section shall not authorize suits between husband and wife except in connection with contracts entered into pursuant to the authority contained in section two.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1928–1987 · leading case: Lewis v. Lewis, 351 N.E.2d 526 (Mass. 1976).
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Lewis v. Lewis, 351 N.E.2d 526 (Mass. 1976). · cites it 12× “The motion for summary judgment which was allowed was based on the common law doctrine of interspousal immunity and on the provisions of G. L. c. 209, § 6, as amended by St. 1963, c.”
Doe v. Doe, 314 N.E.2d 128 (Mass. 1974). · cites it 2× “The wife argues that this court lacks jurisdiction over this case, citing G.L.c. 209, § 6 (suits between husband and wife).”
Cassidy v. Constantine, 168 N.E. 169 (Mass. 1929). · cites it 2× “” G. L. c. 209, § 6. See Frankel v. Frankel, 173 Mass.”
Adams v. Adams, 157 N.E.2d 405 (Mass. 1959). · cites it 6× “He ruled that inasmuch as the plaintiff has brought her action on the basis that she remains the defendant’s wife or “seemingly in the capacity of a wife” she is barred from maintaining this action in the-Superior Court by reason of G. L. c. 209, § 6, as construed in the Weidman…”
Giles v. Giles, 181 N.E. 176 (Mass. 1932). · cites it 2× “To hold otherwise would be contrary to the express terms of G. L. c. 209, § 6, and what was decided in the recent case of Weidman v.”
Weidman v. Weidman, 174 N.E. 206 (Mass. 1931). “It is provided by G. L. c. 209, § 6, that a “ married woman may sue and be sued in the same manner as if she were sole; but this section shall not authorize suits between husband and wife.”
Thornton v. First Nat'l Stores, Inc., 163 N.E.2d 264 (Mass. 1960). “See also G. L. c. 209, § 6; Saltzberg v. Lumbermens Mut.”
Lubowitz v. Taines, 198 N.E. 320 (Mass. 1935). “In discussing the statute (G. L. c. 209, § 6) in the case of Cassidy v.”
Gudziewski v. Stemplesky, 160 N.E. 334 (Mass. 1928). “G. L. c. 209, § 6. McCarty v. DeBest, 120 Mass.”
Ronan v. Ronan, 159 N.E.2d 653 (Mass. 1959). “Suits between husband and wife are not authorized in this Commonwealth, G. L. c. 209, § 6, except that suits in equity may be entertained “where there exists some recognized ground of general equity jurisdiction or some controversy over property rights, as distinguished from a…”
London v. Carter, 48 Mass. App. Dec. 20 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1972). “G.L. c. 209, § 6. In a recent case involving a third-party defendant impleaded by a third-party plaintiff, the original defendant, claiming contribution under Gr.”
Knobel-Aronova v. Knobel, 1987 Mass. App. Div. 75 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1987). · cites it 3× “The basis for the defendant’s motion to dismiss is grounded on the fact that the plaintiff, Lyudmila Knobel-Aronova, is his wife; that, G.L. c. 209 §6 . . . does not authorize suits between husband and wife.”
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