Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 37, § 12 (2026)

Duties of sheriffs and deputies; service of demands, notices and citations

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 12. They may serve by copy, by them attested, demands, notices and citations not required by law to be served by an officer, and their returns of service thereof shall be prima facie evidence.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1989–2014 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Howe, 540 N.E.2d 677 (Mass. 1989).

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Commonwealth v. Howe, 540 N.E.2d 677 (Mass. 1989). · cites it 2× “See G.L.c. 37, § 12 (1986 ed.) (stating that deputy sheriff "may serve .”

Melville v. Town of Adams, 9 F. Supp. 3d 77 (D. Mass. 2014). “” Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 37, § 12 . Contrary to Plaintiffs con-clusory allegations and unsupported arguments, service in this manner does not in any way imply the approval or endorsement of the documents.”

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