Section 14. A judgment creditor or a person in his behalf may file in court an application for supplementary process under this chapter. Upon the filing of such an application, a summons may issue, requiring the judgment debtor to appear at a time and place named therein and submit to an examination relative to his or its property and ability to pay. Such summons may be served by an officer qualified to serve civil process and shall be served at least seven days before the return day thereof. If the debtor is a natural person, service shall be made by delivery in hand or by leaving a copy at the debtor's last and usual place of abode. If the debtor is a corporation, service shall be made by delivery in hand to, or by leaving a copy at a business office of, the president, treasurer, clerk, resident agent appointed pursuant to chapter 5 of chapter 156D, cashier, secretary, agent or other officer in charge of its business, or, if no such officer is found within the county, any member of the corporation. If the debtor is a trust with transferable shares, service shall be made in the same manner on any trustee. If due service is not made, the court may order further notice. A judgment debtor who has been arrested on execution, or a person in his behalf, may file such an application and cause service to be made upon the judgment creditor or his attorney of record in the action, in a similar manner, requiring the judgment creditor to appear at such examination; and upon failure of the judgment creditor to appear personally or by attorney the proceedings under this section may be dismissed. The failure of a judgment debtor personally to appear without reasonable excuse upon such summons, or at an examination otherwise appointed, or to submit to the examination as provided in section fifteen, shall constitute a contempt of court; and if the debtor is a corporation or a trust with transferable shares, the court shall treat the officer, trustee or agent served as the contemnor. Supplementary proceedings shall be in order for examination at the return day and hour set forth in the summons or further notice, but may by order of court for good cause shown be continued from time to time for examination, and may be brought up for further proceedings at such time or times, and in such manner as the court by general or special rule or order may direct. The death of the judgment creditor shall not affect supplementary proceedings.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
11
cases (
4 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case:
Birchall, 913 N.E.2d 799 (Mass. 2009).
Birchall, 913 N.E.2d 799 (Mass. 2009).
· cites it 3× “On December 20, 2006, D’Amour initiated supplementary process proceedings, pursuant to G. L. c. 224, § 14, in the Orleans Division of the District Court Department to recover on the judgment.”
United States v. Timilty, 148 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 1998).
· cites it 3× “69, and through those laws invoked Massachusetts debt collection practices under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 224, § 14 . That state statute permits the type of examination of judgment debtors which the government sought here.”
Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Rodco Autobody, 965 F. Supp. 104 (D. Mass. 1996).
· cites it 3× “Mass. Gen. L. ch. 224, §§ 14 & 15. 3 This court further confines its review to the ability of defendants Haroutioun Markarian, a/k/a Peter Markarian (“HM”) and Taria Markarian (“TM”) to pay the judgment 4 *107 due to the suggestions of bankruptcies filed by Jack Markarian…”
McMann v. McGowan, 883 N.E.2d 980 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008).
“, G. L. c. 224, § 14 (“If the debtor is a natural person, service shall be made by delivery in hand or by leaving a copy at the debtor’s last and usual place of abode”); Christian Book Distribs.”
Bd. of Com'rs of Stark Cty. v. Cape Stone Works, 206 F. Supp. 2d 100 (D. Mass. 2002).
“Massachusetts law does provide a procedure pursuant to which supplementary process proceedings may be used to discover a debtor’s assets and enter orders requiring that such assets be used to satisfy a judgment, including that goods be conveyed to the judgment creditor.”
Eno v. McGinn (Mass. App. Ct. 2024).
“16We take no position on whether the plaintiff would be permitted to collect on the judgment, including by using the trustee process procedure to attach the defendant's wages after they are deposited in a bank account, or by filing an application for supplementary process under…”
Jackson v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts (D. Mass. 2018).
“222, § 22 (habeas corpus); (4) Imposition of Constructive Trust and Conversion; (5) Motion to Allow Deposit; and (6) Motion to Vacate Execution of Judgment pursuant to M.G.L. c. 224, § 14 (supplementary process).”
Berg v. Ciampa (D. Mass. 2022).
“As for the Middlesex factors, Defendant contends that (1) the BMC and Superior Court proceedings are ongoing, (2) the instant action involves significant state interests because it seeks to institute supplementary process proceedings created by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 224, § 14 ,…”
Berg v. Ciampa (D. Mass. 2023).
“Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 224, § 14 ; see also Mass.”
City of Beverly v. Bass River Golf Mgmt., Inc., & Another. (Mass. App. Ct. 2025).
“The statute shall "be interpreted according to the intent of the Legislature ascertained from all its words construed by the ordinary and approved usage of the 10After this appeal had been filed, but before oral argument, Beverly filed for supplementary process pursuant to G. L.…”
Visiting Nurse Ass'n of S.E. v. Souza, 1994 Mass. App. Div. 214 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1994).
“Pursuant to G.L.c. 224, §14, it then brought a supplementary proceeding for the examination of the judgment debtor as to his property and ability to pay the judgment.”
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