Mass. Gen. Laws » Part III Title IV Chapter 258E
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258E, § 10 (2026)

Confidentiality of records

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 10. The records of cases arising out of an action brought under this chapter in which the plaintiff or defendant is a minor shall be withheld from public inspection except by order of the court; provided, however, that such records shall be open, at all reasonable times, to the inspection of the minor, such minor's parent, guardian and attorney and to the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney.

The plaintiff's residential address, residential telephone number and workplace name, address and telephone number, contained within the court records of cases arising out of an action brought by a plaintiff under this chapter, shall be confidential and withheld from public inspection, except by order of the court; provided, however, that the plaintiff's residential address and workplace address shall appear on the court order and be accessible to the defendant and the defendant's attorney unless the plaintiff specifically requests that this information be withheld from the order. All confidential portions of the records shall be accessible at all reasonable times to the plaintiff and plaintiff's attorney, to others specifically authorized by the plaintiff to obtain such information and to prosecutors, victim-witness advocates as defined in section 1 of chapter 258B, sexual assault counselors as defined in section 20J of chapter 233 and law officers, if such access is necessary in the performance of their duties. This paragraph shall apply to any protection order issued by another jurisdiction filed with a court of the commonwealth pursuant to section 7. Such confidential portions of the court records shall not be deemed to be public records under clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2012–2024 · leading case: Commonwealth v. George W. Prescott Publ'g Co., 463 Mass. 258 (2012).
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Commonwealth v. George W. Prescott Publ'g Co., 463 Mass. 258 (2012). “209A actions involving minors “shall be withheld from public inspection,” and plaintiff’s address and telephone number “shall be confidential and withheld from public inspection”); G. L. c. 258E, § 10 (same, for actions brought under G.”
NATASHA M. BAPTISTA v. BRISTOL Cnty. SHERIFF'S Dep't (& a companion case )., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 841 (Mass. App. Ct. 2022). “[Note 13] The principles of law that may control the underlying tort claim are not the same as the principles that control the question of G. L. c. 258E, § 10 (j), immunity. Perhaps the city may be found not to be liable in tort, whether because it had no duty of care or for…”
Commonwealth v. Walter E. Tuvell., 248 N.E.3d 688 (Mass. App. Ct. 2024). “Information concerning a minor is specifically shielded from the public under G. L. c. 258E, § 10. These circumstances more than amply demonstrate good cause for issuing the impoundment order, and, therefore, the motion to dismiss on this ground was properly denied.”
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