Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 29A, § 1 (2026)

Costs of judicial branch to be paid by commonwealth

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. All costs of maintenance and operation of the judicial branch shall be paid by the commonwealth. The operation of a registry of deeds and office of an assistant recorder of the land court in connection therewith shall not constitute a court operation. As used in this chapter and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, ''costs of maintenance and operation of the judicial branch'' shall include all costs and expenses related to the operation of the supreme judicial court, the appeals court, the trial court and its departments and divisions, district attorneys' offices, law libraries, registries of probate, clerks' offices and expenses incurred for assignment by the court of counsel as the court determines, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing shall also include all salaries of probation and court officers and other persons employed in such courts, offices and places, but in no event shall costs include any costs or expenses related to registries of deeds, sheriffs' offices, county jails or county houses of correction, except as otherwise provided by law.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1979–2006 · leading case: Sullivan v. Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of the Trial Court, 448 Mass. 15 (Mass. 2006).

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Sullivan v. Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of the Trial Court, 448 Mass. 15 (Mass. 2006). “G. L. c. 29A, § 1, inserted by St. 1978, c.”

Dep't of Pub. Welfare v. J. K. B., 393 N.E.2d 406 (Mass. 1979). “See G. L. c. 29A, § 1. Prior to that date, each county had responsibility for most costs arising from the operation of its Probate Court, including payment of appointed guardians ad litem (see G.”

Commonwealth v. Gonsalves, 739 N.E.2d 1100 (Mass. 2000). “The cost of counsel in this case does not fall within the costs of maintenance and operation of courts as defined in G. L. c. 29A, § 1. Counsel in this case was not assigned.”

Clerk of Superior Court for Cnty. of Middlesex v. Treasurer & Receiver Gen., 437 N.E.2d 158 (Mass. 1982). “The Attorney General does not dispute this premise, and we agree with it.”

Cnty. of Barnstable v. Commonwealth, 572 N.E.2d 548 (Mass. 1991). “” G. L. c. 29A, § 1 (1988 ed.). The law established a procedure whereby the Commonwealth leases courthouse space *328 from the counties.”

Commonwealth v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 418 N.E.2d 1234 (Mass. 1981). “” *289 G. L. c. 29A, § 1, inserted by St. 1978, c.”

Phillips v. Youth Dev. Prog., Inc., 441 N.E.2d 770 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982). “See G. L. c. 29A, § 1, inserted by St. 1978, c.”

Cnty. of Barnstable v. Commonwealth, 661 N.E.2d 47 (Mass. 1996). “The future, (a) In their reply brief, the counties contend that the decision in Barnstable I should be revisited, and that we should conclude and declare, on the basis of the language in G. L. c. 29A, § 1 (1994 ed.) (“All costs of maintenance *44 and operation of the judicial…”

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