How to Fill Out Massachusetts Small Claims Statement of Claim + FAQs

The Massachusetts Statement of Small Claim and Notice of Trial (form SC-1, revised 2017) is the one-page court complaint that lets a person or business sue for up to $7,000 in District Court, the Boston Municipal Court, or the Housing Court without hiring a lawyer. You file it with the clerk-magistrate to start a fast, low-cost case under M.G.L. c. 218 §§ 21–25 and the Uniform Small Claims Rules.

Roughly 40,000 small claims cases are filed each year across Massachusetts trial courts, and clerks reject or delay a meaningful share of them for fixable errors like a misnamed defendant, a missing 93A demand letter, or a wrong venue box. This guide walks you through every line of SC-1 so your case starts cleanly the first time.

  • 📝 How to fill out every box on the SC-1 form line by line
  • 💸 The exact filing fees, fee tiers, and how to ask for a fee waiver
  • 🏛️ How to pick the correct court division and venue
  • ⚖️ How to plead treble damages, 93A claims, and security deposit claims
  • 🚫 The top mistakes that get small claims dismissed or delayed

What the Statement of Small Claim Is and Who Must File It

The Statement of Small Claim is the official complaint form used to start a lawsuit in the small claims session of a Massachusetts trial court. It is governed by M.G.L. c. 218 § 21, which created a simple, informal forum for money disputes of $7,000 or less, plus an unlimited dollar amount for property damage caused by a motor vehicle. The form tells the court who is suing, who is being sued, how much money is in dispute, and the basic story behind the claim.

Anyone with a money claim against a person or business can file. Common filers include tenants chasing a security deposit, consumers who paid a contractor who never finished the job, employees owed wages, landlords chasing unpaid rent under $7,000, and small businesses chasing unpaid invoices. A plaintiff must be at least 18 years old, or have a parent or guardian sign as “next friend” under Uniform Small Claims Rule 2.

Corporations, LLCs, and other business entities can sue and be sued in small claims, and they may appear through a non-attorney officer or employee under Rule 4, a rare exception to the general rule that businesses need lawyers. The form is also the trigger that sets the trial date, which the clerk writes onto the same page before mailing it to the defendant. That single sheet of paper, once stamped, becomes both the complaint and the summons.

The consequence of filing the wrong form is that your case never gets a docket number. If you write your claim on a regular civil complaint or a letter, the clerk will reject it and send you back to fill out SC-1, costing you weeks and sometimes pushing you past the statute of limitations.


Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything below before you open the form. Each missing piece can stall your case or cost you the trial.

  • The defendant’s exact legal name. If you sue “Joe’s Plumbing” instead of Joseph A. Rivera d/b/a Joe’s Plumbing LLC, you may win a judgment you cannot collect. Confirm entity names with the Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division.
  • The defendant’s current street address. A P.O. Box alone will not work because the court mails the notice by first-class and certified mail, and certified mail must reach a physical address.
  • Your own current address and a working phone number. The court mails every order, judgment, and continuance to the address on the form, so an outdated address means missed deadlines.
  • The dollar amount you are owed. Round to the cent and have a clear calculation ready. Claims over $7,000 must be reduced to $7,000 or filed in regular civil court.
  • Receipts, contracts, photos, texts, and emails. You do not attach evidence to SC-1 itself, but you must bring it to trial. Missing proof is the leading cause of plaintiff losses.
  • A 30-day demand letter for Chapter 93A consumer claims. Without it, you cannot recover double or treble damages or attorney’s fees against a business.
  • The date the dispute happened. This anchors the statute of limitations: 6 years for contracts under M.G.L. c. 260 § 2 and 3 years for tort claims under § 2A.
  • The filing fee or a completed Affidavit of Indigency. Fees range from $40 to $150 depending on claim size, plus a $10 surcharge in most divisions.
  • Your driver’s license number or vehicle plate (for motor vehicle property damage cases).
  • A copy of any prior judgment if you are renewing or supplementing an old debt.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official SC-1 form lives on the state’s court website. Download the fillable PDF from the Statement of Small Claim form page and confirm the revision date in the lower-left corner reads 2017 or later. Older forms still circulate at copy shops and on third-party sites, and clerks reject them when the boxes do not match the current docket fields.

You can also pick up a paper copy in person at any District Court clerk’s office, the Boston Municipal Court clerk, or a Housing Court clerk during business hours. Clerks keep a stack at the counter and will hand you one for free. Some courts also keep Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Chinese translations on hand.

For online filing, Massachusetts uses the eFileMA portal, powered by Tyler Technologies. Create a free account, choose “Small Claims – New Case,” and the system walks you through the same fields as the paper form. Online filers still pay the statutory fee plus a small e-filing convenience fee.

The consequence of using the wrong version is a rejected filing. If a box on your form says “telephone” but the current form says “cell/work/home,” the clerk may bounce it back. Always download fresh from mass.gov rather than reusing an old PDF a friend emailed you years ago.


Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the SC-1 Statement of Small Claim Line by Line

The SC-1 form fits on one page, but every box matters. Work through it slowly, in black ink if filing on paper, or by typing in the fillable PDF.

Court Division and Location (Top Header)

This box asks which trial court department and division will hear your case. You write the court name, such as Quincy District Court or Eastern Housing Court – Boston, on the line at the top of the form.

To answer it, pick the division based on venue rules in M.G.L. c. 218 § 21. Venue is proper where the defendant lives, where the defendant has a place of business, or where the transaction or injury happened. For consumer claims, the consumer can also sue in their own home division under the consumer-friendly venue rule.

For example, Maria Santos of Lynn sues a Boston contractor who did work at her Lynn home. She writes Lynn District Court because the work happened there and she lives there.

A nuance: Housing Court has concurrent jurisdiction with District Court for landlord-tenant disputes, and many tenants prefer it because the judges specialize in housing law. You can find your division on the court locator.

A common mistake is filing in the plaintiff’s home court when neither the defendant nor the transaction has any connection there. The clerk will dismiss or transfer the case, costing weeks.

A frequent misconception is that you must sue where the contract was signed. Massachusetts law is broader, and the place of performance or injury also works.

Docket Number Box

The docket number is the unique case ID. You leave this box blank. The clerk writes the docket number in after you pay the fee.

How to answer: do nothing. If you write a number here, the clerk crosses it out.

For example, Carlos Mendes leaves the docket box empty, and the clerk later stamps 2526CV001234 into it.

A nuance: if you are refiling a previously dismissed case, you still leave it blank and instead mention the prior docket number in your statement of claim section.

A common mistake is writing your own reference number here, which can confuse intake staff and slow processing.

A misconception is that the docket number is the same as your receipt number. They are different, and only the docket number controls your case.

Plaintiff Name (Box 1)

This box asks for your full legal name as the person or entity bringing the claim. Use the name on your driver’s license or, for a business, the exact name registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Write your name in the format Last, First Middle, or for a business, Acme Plumbing LLC. Avoid nicknames.

For example, Janet R. O’Connor writes O’Connor, Janet R. and not Jan O’Connor.

A nuance: if two people are co-owed the money (joint bank account, co-tenants), list both as plaintiffs and add the second name on the next line or in the margin.

A common mistake is using a DBA name without the legal owner’s name. If “Sunrise Bakery” is a sole proprietorship, you must sue as Maria Lopez d/b/a Sunrise Bakery, otherwise the judgment may be unenforceable.

A misconception is that you can list “and family” or “et al.” This is not allowed. Each plaintiff must be named.

Plaintiff Address, Phone, and Email (Box 1, continued)

This box asks where the court should mail you. Provide a street address, city, state, and ZIP, plus a phone number and email if you have one.

Write your address exactly as it appears on your mail. Use a P.O. Box only as a secondary line if you also list a street address.

For example, Carlos Mendes enters 45 Spring St., Apt. 2, Worcester, MA 01605, (508) 555-0142, cmendes@email.com.

A nuance: if you move during the case, file a written change of address with the clerk. The court will not chase you.

A common mistake is listing only a cell number with no email. The court does not call about routine matters; it mails. Missing mail means missing your trial.

A misconception is that the defendant cannot see your address. They can. If you fear the defendant, ask the clerk about the address confidentiality program before filing.

Defendant Name (Box 2)

This box asks for the exact legal name of the person or business you are suing. Getting this right is the single most important field on the form.

For an individual, write Last, First Middle. For a corporation or LLC, copy the name verbatim from the Corporations Division database. For a sole proprietor, use Owner Name d/b/a Business Name.

For example, Aisha Patel sues a contractor and writes Rivera, Joseph A. d/b/a Rivera Home Improvement, after confirming with the Corporations Division that there is no LLC.

A nuance: if you are unsure whether the business is a corporation, sue both the entity and the individual owner as separate defendants on a second line. You can drop one later.

A common mistake is suing only the trade name. A judgment against “Joe’s Plumbing” with no human or entity attached cannot be collected from anyone’s bank account.

A misconception is that the court will fix the name for you. The clerk will not. You must amend the form, sometimes paying a new fee, if the name is wrong.

Defendant Address (Box 2, continued)

This box asks where the defendant can be served. Provide a physical street address, not a P.O. Box.

Write the address where the defendant actually receives mail and lives or operates. For LLCs, use the registered agent address from the Corporations Division.

For example, Janet O’Connor writes Rivera Home Improvement, 12 Elm St., Brockton, MA 02301 after looking up the registered office.

A nuance: if the defendant has moved and you do not know the new address, you can use a constable or sheriff for skip-trace service, but the court will not do that work for you.

A common mistake is using an old address from a contract signed years ago. Certified mail comes back “unable to forward,” and your trial date gets continued.

A misconception is that you can list multiple defendants on one line. Each defendant gets a separate line, and each must be served separately.

Statement of Claim (Box 3)

This is the narrative box where you tell the court what happened in plain language. It is the heart of the form.

Write 2 to 5 short sentences that include the date, what the defendant did or failed to do, and how you were harmed. Avoid legalese. Stick to facts you can prove.

For example, Maria Santos writes: “On 3/14/2026, defendant agreed in writing to install a kitchen floor for $4,200. I paid $2,100 deposit. Defendant never started the work and refuses to refund. I demand $2,100 plus interest.”

A nuance: for a Chapter 93A consumer claim, add a sentence stating that you sent a 30-day demand letter on a specific date and the defendant did not make a reasonable offer. For a security deposit claim under c. 186 § 15B, state the deposit amount and the specific subsection violated.

A common mistake is venting in this box. Calling the defendant a “crook” or “liar” hurts credibility and gives the magistrate a reason to discount your story.

A misconception is that you must cite statutes. You do not, but citing one shows you know your rights and pins the legal theory in writing.

Amount of Claim (Box 4)

This box asks for the dollar amount you want the court to award, not counting interest, costs, or fees that the court adds on later.

Write the principal amount in dollars and cents, capped at $7,000.00 (or higher only for motor vehicle property damage). Round honestly.

For example, Carlos Mendes writes $3,450.00 for an unpaid invoice.

A nuance: if your actual damages are $9,000, you can either waive the excess and file in small claims for $7,000, or file in regular civil court. Waiver is final, so you cannot come back for the other $2,000 later.

A common mistake is including interest, court costs, or treble damages in this number. Those are separate and the magistrate calculates them at trial.

A misconception is that small claims has no cap for any property damage. The unlimited cap is only for motor vehicle property damage under M.G.L. c. 218 § 21.

Plaintiff Signature and Date (Box 5)

This box asks you to sign under the pains and penalties of perjury that the facts are true. It also dates the filing.

Sign in ink (or with a verified e-signature on eFileMA) and date it the day you file. Print your name beneath the signature line.

For example, Aisha Patel signs Aisha Patel, prints Aisha Patel, and dates 5/22/2026.

A nuance: a corporate plaintiff must have an officer, manager, or authorized employee sign and add their title (e.g., Maria Lopez, Manager).

A common mistake is forgetting to sign. An unsigned form is not a complaint, and the clerk will reject it on intake.

A misconception is that a typed name counts as a signature on a paper form. It does not. Use a wet signature on paper filings.

Mediation Box (Box 6)

This box asks whether you agree to mediation if the court offers it on the trial date. Many divisions run free mediation through programs like the Community Dispute Settlement Center.

Check “Yes” if you are open to settling, or “No” if you want only a trial. Checking yes does not bind you to settle.

For example, Janet O’Connor checks Yes because she would rather get partial payment today than gamble at trial.

A nuance: even if you check no, the magistrate may still suggest mediation on the day of trial.

A common mistake is leaving this box blank. Some clerks treat a blank as “no,” and you miss the chance to resolve the case in 30 minutes.

A misconception is that mediation is binding. It is not. If mediation fails, you go straight to trial that same day.

Military Service Affidavit (Box 7)

This box asks whether the defendant is on active duty in the U.S. military. Federal law under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects active-duty defendants from default judgments.

Check the box that applies. If you do not know, check “unknown” and run a free search at the SCRA verification site before trial.

For example, Carlos Mendes checks No because he confirmed the defendant is a civilian contractor.

A nuance: if the defendant is on active duty, the court will stay the case for at least 90 days.

A common mistake is checking “no” without verifying. A false military affidavit can void a default judgment and expose you to sanctions.

A misconception is that this only applies to soldiers stationed overseas. It covers all active-duty personnel, including National Guard called to federal service.


Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Maria Santos, Tenant Suing Landlord for Security Deposit

Form Section What Maria Enters
Court Division Lynn District Court
Plaintiff Name Santos, Maria E.
Plaintiff Address 18 Beacon St., Apt. 3, Lynn, MA 01902
Defendant Name Beacon Property LLC
Defendant Address 200 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116 (registered agent)
Statement of Claim “On 9/1/2025 I paid a $1,800 security deposit. I moved out 4/30/2026 in good condition. Landlord did not return the deposit, did not give an itemized list within 30 days, and did not hold it in a separate interest-bearing account, in violation of M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B. I demand treble damages of $5,400 plus interest, costs, and attorney’s fees.”
Amount of Claim $5,400.00
Mediation Yes
Signature/Date Maria E. Santos, 5/22/2026

Scenario 2: Carlos Mendes, Small Business Chasing an Unpaid Invoice

Form Section What Carlos Enters
Court Division Worcester District Court
Plaintiff Name Mendes Landscaping LLC, by Carlos Mendes, Manager
Plaintiff Address 45 Spring St., Worcester, MA 01605
Defendant Name Thompson, Robert J.
Defendant Address 112 Maple Ave., Worcester, MA 01602
Statement of Claim “Defendant hired plaintiff to perform landscaping services in 2025. Plaintiff completed all work and invoiced $3,450 on 11/15/2025. Defendant has not paid despite repeated demands. Plaintiff demands $3,450 plus statutory interest under M.G.L. c. 231 § 6C.”
Amount of Claim $3,450.00
Mediation Yes
Signature/Date Carlos Mendes, Manager, 5/22/2026

Scenario 3: Aisha Patel, Consumer Suing a Contractor Under Chapter 93A

Form Section What Aisha Enters
Court Division Quincy District Court
Plaintiff Name Patel, Aisha K.
Plaintiff Address 7 Hill Rd., Quincy, MA 02169
Defendant Name Rivera, Joseph A. d/b/a Rivera Home Improvement
Defendant Address 12 Elm St., Brockton, MA 02301
Statement of Claim “On 2/10/2026, defendant agreed in writing to remodel plaintiff’s bathroom for $6,800 and accepted a $3,400 deposit. Defendant never started work and refused refund. Plaintiff sent a 30-day demand letter under M.G.L. c. 93A on 4/1/2026 and received no reasonable offer. Plaintiff demands $7,000 (treble damages capped at jurisdictional limit) plus attorney’s fees and costs.”
Amount of Claim $7,000.00
Mediation No
Signature/Date Aisha K. Patel, 5/22/2026

How to File the Completed Form

You can file SC-1 in three ways. Pick the channel that matches your comfort and schedule.

Online via eFileMA. Go to the eFileMA portal, create an account, and select Small Claims – New Case. Upload the completed PDF or fill the online form, pay by credit card or e-check, and receive an electronic stamped copy within 1–3 business days. Save the confirmation email and the file-stamped PDF as your proof of filing. Convenience fees run about $22 on top of the statutory fee.

By mail. Print the completed SC-1, sign it in ink, and mail it with a check or money order made out to Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the clerk-magistrate of the chosen division. Find the address on the court locator. Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof. Processing takes 5–10 business days.

In person. Walk into the clerk-magistrate’s office during posted hours, hand over the form and fee, and the clerk stamps a copy on the spot. Cash, check, money order, and most credit cards are accepted, though cash is the safest bet at smaller divisions.

The filing fee tiers under M.G.L. c. 262 § 4C are: $40 for claims up to $500, $50 for $501–$2,000, $100 for $2,001–$5,000, and $150 for $5,001–$7,000, plus a $10 surcharge in most divisions. If you cannot afford the fee, file an Affidavit of Indigency and the court will waive it.

Keep the file-stamped copy forever. It is your proof of timely filing for statute-of-limitations purposes.


What Happens After You File

Once the clerk stamps your SC-1 and assigns a docket number, the court mails the form to the defendant by first-class and certified mail under Uniform Small Claims Rule 3. The same mailing tells the defendant the trial date, usually 30–90 days out, and the answer deadline (10 days before trial).

The defendant can do one of three things. They can pay you, file an Answer and any Counterclaim on the back of the form, or ignore it. If they ignore it and certified mail came back signed or unclaimed, you can ask for a default judgment at the trial date.

On the trial date, both sides appear before a clerk-magistrate or judge. Trials are informal: you tell your story, show your evidence, and answer questions. There are no rules of evidence in the strict sense, so hearsay and photos and texts all come in. The decision usually arrives by mail within a few days to a few weeks.

The losing side has limited appeal rights. The defendant can request a jury trial if they appeal in time under Rule 8; the plaintiff generally cannot appeal a loss on the merits, only legal errors.


Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

  • Suing the wrong legal entity. A judgment against a non-existent business is uncollectable, and you must restart the case.
  • Using a P.O. Box for the defendant. Certified mail bounces, and the case stalls until you find a street address.
  • Leaving the statement of claim too vague. A magistrate cannot rule for you if they cannot tell what the defendant did wrong.
  • Including interest or costs in Box 4. This either inflates the amount past $7,000 or confuses the magistrate about damages.
  • Forgetting to send a 93A demand letter. Without it, you lose the right to double or treble damages and attorney’s fees.
  • Filing in the wrong division. The case is dismissed or transferred, costing 4–8 weeks.
  • Skipping the military affidavit. A false or missing affidavit can void a later default judgment.
  • Not signing the form. An unsigned SC-1 is not a complaint and the clerk rejects it.
  • Listing only a nickname for the defendant. The court constable cannot serve “Big Mike” without a legal name.
  • Missing the statute of limitations. Six years for contracts, three for torts; once expired, the case is dead on arrival.
  • Failing to keep the stamped copy. Without proof of filing, you cannot show timely commencement if the case is later challenged.
  • Suing for more than $7,000. The clerk either rejects the form or forces a waiver of the excess.

Do’s and Don’ts

  • Do download the current SC-1 from mass.gov, because old versions get rejected.
  • Do verify the defendant’s legal name with the Corporations Division, because a wrong name kills collection.
  • Do send a 93A demand letter 30 days before filing against a business, because that is the only way to unlock multiple damages.
  • Do keep a clean digital copy of the stamped form, because clerks lose paper files.
  • Do check the mediation box “yes,” because mediation resolves nearly half of small claims the same day.
  • Do bring three copies of every exhibit to trial, one for you, one for the defendant, one for the magistrate.
  • Don’t insult the defendant in the statement of claim, because it makes you look unreasonable to the magistrate.
  • Don’t file in your home court if neither the defendant nor the dispute touches it, because venue dismissals waste months.
  • Don’t pad the amount with imagined damages, because magistrates discount inflated claims across the board.
  • Don’t ignore the answer the defendant files, because counterclaims can flip a winning case into a loss.
  • Don’t miss the trial date, because non-appearing plaintiffs lose by dismissal with prejudice.
  • Don’t assume the court will collect the money for you; collection is the plaintiff’s job after winning.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

  • Pro – Lower cost. Filing pro se costs only the $40–$150 filing fee, while a lawyer typically charges $200–$400 per hour.
  • Pro – Speed. Pro se filers control their own calendar and do not wait for an attorney’s schedule.
  • Pro – Informal procedure. Small claims has no formal rules of evidence, so non-lawyers can present a case effectively.
  • Pro – Fee waiver available. The Affidavit of Indigency covers the entire fee for low-income filers.
  • Pro – Online filing through eFileMA. Filers can complete the entire process from home in under an hour.
  • Con – Legal blind spots. Pro se filers often miss 93A demand letters or treble damages, leaving money on the table.
  • Con – Collection difficulty. Winning a judgment is only half the battle; collecting requires post-judgment skills most non-lawyers lack.
  • Con – Counterclaim risk. A defendant can file a counterclaim up to $7,000, and a pro se plaintiff may be unprepared to defend.
  • Con – No emotional buffer. Facing the person who wronged you in court is stressful, and a lawyer can absorb that pressure.
  • Con – Limited appeal rights. A losing pro se plaintiff has very narrow grounds for appeal under Rule 8.

Small Claims vs. Regular Civil Court at a Glance

Feature Small Claims (SC-1) Regular Civil (District/Superior)
Cap $7,000 (unlimited for motor vehicle property damage) No cap in Superior; $50,000 procedural cap in District
Filing fee $40–$150 $195–$275+
Rules of evidence Informal Strict Massachusetts Rules of Evidence
Typical timeline 30–90 days to trial 12–24 months
Lawyer required for entities No Yes
Appeal Limited; defendant may claim jury trial Full appellate rights

FAQs

Can I sue for more than $7,000 in Massachusetts small claims?

No. The cap is $7,000 under M.G.L. c. 218 § 21, except for motor vehicle property damage, which has no cap. You can waive the excess to stay in small claims.

Do I need a lawyer to file an SC-1?

No. Small claims is built for self-represented filers, and even corporations may appear through a non-attorney officer or employee under Uniform Small Claims Rule 4.

What do I write in the docket number box?

No. You write nothing. The clerk fills in the docket number after you pay the filing fee and the case is opened.

Should I write the defendant’s nickname or legal name in Box 2?

No. Always use the full legal name verified through the Corporations Division or a driver’s license. Nicknames cause service failures and uncollectable judgments.

Can I list interest and court costs in the amount of claim box?

No. Box 4 is for the principal damages only. The court adds statutory interest under c. 231 § 6C and costs at judgment.

Do I need to send a 93A demand letter before filing?

Yes. For consumer claims against a business under Chapter 93A, a 30-day demand letter is mandatory to unlock double or treble damages and attorney’s fees.

Can I file SC-1 online?

Yes. Use the eFileMA portal, pay the statutory fee plus a small convenience charge, and receive a file-stamped electronic copy.

What if I cannot afford the filing fee?

Yes, you can ask for a waiver. File an Affidavit of Indigency with the clerk and the entire fee is waived if you qualify.

Should I check the mediation box if I want a trial?

Yes, checking yes preserves the option to mediate without giving up trial. Mediation is non-binding, so you can still go to trial if it fails.

Do I write my P.O. Box or my street address as plaintiff?

Yes, list a street address. P.O. boxes can be added as a secondary line, but the court needs a physical address for service-related issues.

Can I sue someone who lives in another state?

Yes, but only if Massachusetts has personal jurisdiction under the long-arm statute, c. 223A § 3. Out-of-state service costs more and takes longer.

What happens if the defendant does not show up to trial?

Yes, you can win by default. The magistrate enters judgment for the amount claimed if service was proper and you appear with basic proof of damages.

Can the defendant file a counterclaim against me?

Yes. The defendant can counterclaim up to $7,000 on the back of the SC-1 form, and you must be ready to defend it on the same trial date.

Do I need to bring evidence to trial even if it is obvious?

Yes. Bring contracts, photos, texts, receipts, and witnesses. The magistrate cannot rule based on your word alone, even if the defendant fails to appear.