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Places that Help: Massachusetts

Sheriff Departments

Updated: 
June 14, 2023

Before a protection order can take effect, it must be served upon the abuser. In most states, protection orders are served by the sheriff department. You can contact the clerk of the court in the court that issued your order to find out the procedure for service if you are unsure. For a list of Massachusetts courts, check the MA Courthouse Locations page on our site. To find the contact information for sheriff departments listed by county, you can go to the website of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association. (WomensLaw.org is not affiliated with that website.)