Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209B, § 12

Custody judgment of foreign state; filing within state; enforcement of judgment within state; expenses

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Section 12. (a) A certified copy of a custody judgment of another state may be filed in the office of the clerk or register of any court of competent jurisdiction in the commonwealth. The clerk or register shall treat the judgment in the same manner as a custody judgment of a court of the commonwealth. A custody judgment so filed has the same effect and shall be enforced in like manner as a custody judgment rendered by a court of the commonwealth.

(b) A person violating a custody judgment of another state the violation of which makes it necessary to enforce the judgment in the commonwealth may be required to pay the reasonable and necessary travel, witness and other expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the party entitled to custody of the child.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: Suboh v. District Attorney's Office

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Suboh v. District Attorney's Office (2002) ca1 “It is also relevant that the Kandys’ documentation, even if valid, did not give the police authority to effect a transfer of custody, see Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209B, § 12 (setting forth rules for filing and enforcing custody judgments of foreign states in Massachusetts); Wooley,…”

Custody of a Minor (1984) mass · cites it 2× “The husband, of course, does not claim that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to enforce the custody order of the Australian court pursuant to his petition, under G. L. c. 209B, § 12, for custody of his son.”

E.N. v. E.S. (2006) massappct · cites it 2× “On the day scheduled for trial on the modification complaint (and other consolidated matters, see infra), the father filed a motion pursuant to G. L. c. 209B, § 12(a), seeking recognition and enforcement in the Probate and Family Court of a judgment of the Superior Court of…”

Khan v. Saminni (2006) mass “The father has filed, pursuant to G. L. c. 209B, § 12, 15 a certified copy of the consent decree with the Probate and Family Court.”

Giambrone v. Giambrone (1992) massappct · cites it 2× “Under the circumstances in which this case was presented to the probate judge, a complaint for the enforcement of the Ohio orders (see G. L. c. 209B, § 12), it fell upon him to determine whether the Ohio orders were valid under its law and entitled to recognition.”

Guardianship of Finley (2026) massappct “See G. L. c. 209B, § 12 (a); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209B, § 12(a) — 1 case

E.N. v. E.S. (2006) massappct “On the day scheduled for trial on the modification complaint (and other consolidated matters, see infra), the father filed a motion pursuant to G. L. c. 209B, § 12(a), seeking recognition and enforcement in the Probate and Family Court of a judgment of the Superior Court of…”

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