Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E · Plymouth County
Preparing to respond to — or file — a G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order at Brockton District Court in Brockton, Massachusetts. Serving Brockton, Abington, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Whitman. Attorney-reviewed preparation built for this court.
Brockton District Court is one of the busiest district courts in southeastern Massachusetts, and it hears G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order cases from Brockton, Abington, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. High volume means tight sessions: judges in Brockton move quickly through the 258E list, so a defendant or plaintiff who walks in with a clear chronology and the right evidence stands out. The work you put in before your hearing on Main Street is what the judge actually rules on.
A 258E harassment prevention order is generally filed in the district court that covers the city or town where the harassment occurred — or where you or the other party live. Brockton District Court hears 258E cases from:
If your case is in one of these communities, it is likely heard here. If you received a summons, the court is listed on it — always follow the summons.
A G.L. c. 258E extension hearing at Brockton District Court typically lasts 10–30 minutes. The plaintiff speaks first, then the defendant. The judge applies the 258E standard: whether the defendant committed three or more acts of willful and malicious conduct aimed at a specific person that caused fear, intimidation, abuse, or damage to property — or one qualifying single act. Your preparation packet should directly address each allegation.
Check in at the clerk's office
Tell the clerk you are here for a 258E extension hearing. Bring your summons or order. The clerk's number is (508) 587-8000.
Go through courthouse security
Arrive 30 minutes early. You will go through a metal detector. No weapons, no pepper spray. Phones must be silenced once inside the courtroom.
Wait in the designated area
The clerk will tell you where to wait. 258E hearings are typically held in a general session courtroom. Listen for your name.
Present your case to the judge
You will each get a chance to speak. Address the judge as 'Your Honor.' Refer to your preparation packet. Speak slowly and directly to the judge — not to the opposing party.
The judge issues a ruling
The judge will either extend the order, modify it, or vacate it. If the order is extended, you have the right to appeal to the Superior Court within 30 days.
Under G.L. c. 258E, the plaintiff must prove — by a preponderance of the evidence — that you committed three or more willful and malicious acts directed at a specific person that caused fear, intimidation, abuse, or property damage, or committed one act of violence or forced sexual relations. A defense at Brockton works by undercutting one or more of those elements:
Key defense arguments
Filing a 258E at Brockton District Court starts at the clerk's office with the complaint, your affidavit, and the confidential information form. Because the Brockton session is busy, an affidavit that clearly separates each incident by date — and names the three or more acts the statute requires — gives the judge what they need to act on the same day. A disorganized narrative is the fastest way to a continuance.
258E courts & official forms →258E hearings are held at Brockton District Court, 215 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301. Check in at the clerk's office for the 258E list. A municipal parking garage is nearby on Main Street, and the Brockton Commuter Rail station is a short distance away.
Brockton District Court covers harassment prevention orders for Brockton, Abington, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. Cases from elsewhere in Plymouth County go to Hingham, Plymouth, or Wareham District Court instead.
Because the Brockton list moves quickly, come with a dated, incident-by-incident chronology and only the evidence that proves or disproves the specific allegations. Harassment Order .com builds an attorney-reviewed packet organized exactly the way a Brockton judge reviews a 258E — so you are not improvising at the podium.
If the judge extends the order at the 10-day hearing, it can last up to one year, and it can be renewed at each anniversary hearing. A temporary order generally lasts only until that first full hearing, which is why the 10-day date in Brockton is the one that matters.
215 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
A municipal parking garage sits near the courthouse on Main Street. By transit, the MBTA Commuter Rail (Middleborough/Lakeville Line) stops at Brockton station, a short ride from the courthouse. Arrive 30 minutes early for the security line, which can be slow on busy list days.
Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing time. Security lines can be slow, especially on busy court days. Clerk's office is typically open 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday.
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Court contact
Clerk's office
(508) 587-8000Address
215 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301
County
Plymouth County
Official listing
mass.gov →Nearby 258E courts
Free legal help
SCCLS provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents of southeastern Massachusetts and has a Brockton office at 62 Main Street, Suite 202.
(508) 484-5050