WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Massachusetts

Know the Laws - By State

Please see below for state-specific laws that might be useful for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This information is written in a Q & A format and is meant to provide you with easy-to-understand information. You can also reach us at our Email Hotline if you have more specific questions.

A brief description of the difference between state laws and federal laws.

Information about abuse prevention orders, harassment prevention orders, extreme risk protection orders, as well as moving in and out of state with a protection order.

State-specific information about custody in Massachusetts.

Basic information about child support in Massachusetts.

This page addresses some general (not state-specific) laws of one parent taking a child out of the state or country, without the other parent’s consent.

Basic information about divorce in Massachusetts.

A victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or stalking can terminate his/her tenancy or get the landlord to change the locks to his/her door.

Information about Massachusetts’s state law that provides employment protections for victims of domestic abuse.

Information about crimes the abuser may have committed in Massachusetts and victim assistance programs.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, it may be illegal for the abuser to buy or have a gun.

You may have a right to sue an abuser for medical costs, lost wages, and to recover your property.