Bill > H1860

This bill proposes to increase the dispute limit for small claims court in Massachusetts from $7,000 to $20,000, which means that civil cases involving monetary claims up to $20,000 can now be heard in small claims court. Additionally, the bill modifies the filing fee structure for small claims cases, establishing a tiered system of court fees based on the claim amount: $30 for claims of $500 or less, $40 for claims between $500 and $2,000, $90 for claims between $2,000 and $5,000, $140 for claims between $5,000 and $10,000, $250 for claims between $10,000 and $15,000, and $500 for claims over $15,000. The bill also removes a third paragraph from the existing law (though the content of that paragraph is not specified in the provided text). By raising the dispute limit and adjusting filing fees, the bill aims to make the small claims court more accessible and better aligned with current economic conditions, allowing more disputes to be resolved through this relatively quick and less formal judicial process.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1860