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

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209A, § 3A (2026)

Nature of proceedings and availability of other criminal proceedings; information required to be given to complainant upon filing

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 3A. 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 forty-three of chapter two hundred and sixty-five. Whenever possible, a complainant shall be provided with such information in the complainant's native language.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2025 · leading case: M.G. v. G.A., 112 N.E.3d 837 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018).
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M.G. v. G.A., 112 N.E.3d 837 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018). “G. L. c. 209A, § 3A. Throughout the chapter, the parties are referred to as "plaintiff" and "defendant.”
Commonwealth v. Podgurski, 691 N.E.2d 980 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998). “See G. L. c. 209A, § 3A (order is civil in nature).”
M.G. v. G.A. (Mass. App. Ct. 2018). “G. L. c. 209A, § 3A. Throughout the chapter, the parties are referred to as "plaintiff" and "defendant.”
Commonwealth v. Skipper Carino (Mass. 2025). “Although an abuse prevention order itself is civil in nature, see G. L. c. 209A, § 3A, violation of such an order is a criminal offense under G.”
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