Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E · Berkshire County
Preparing to respond to — or file — a G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order at North Adams District Court in North Adams, Massachusetts. Serving North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Cheshire, Savoy, Florida. Attorney-reviewed preparation built for this court.
If your 258E harassment prevention order case is at North Adams District Court, it arose in one of the Berkshire County communities this court serves — North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Cheshire, Savoy, and Florida. A 258E is decided on the statute's three-acts standard, so whether you are responding to an order or asking the court for one, the outcome turns on how clearly the incidents, dates, and evidence are laid out. Walking into the North Adams courthouse prepared is what separates a strong hearing from a continuance.
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. North Adams 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 North Adams 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 (413) 663-5339.
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 North Adams works by undercutting one or more of those elements:
Key defense arguments
To file a 258E at North Adams District Court, bring the complaint, affidavit, and confidential information form to the clerk's office in North Adams. Your affidavit needs to establish a pattern the statute recognizes: three or more willful, malicious acts aimed at you, or one qualifying act of force or a threat. The clearer and more specific your chronology, the more readily a judge can act on it at the hearing.
258E courts & official forms →258E harassment prevention order hearings are held at North Adams District Court, 53 Main Street, North Adams, MA 01247. Check in at the clerk's office and tell them you are there for a 258E hearing. Municipal parking available.
North Adams District Court covers harassment prevention order cases for North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Cheshire, Savoy, and Florida. A 258E is generally filed where the harassment occurred or where a party lives, so if your situation is in one of these communities, the case is likely heard here. If you received a summons, follow the court listed on it.
Yes. A defendant can contest the order at the 10-day hearing or later move to modify or vacate it. The order stands only if the plaintiff proves harassment as the statute defines it — three or more willful, malicious acts, or one qualifying act. A focused defense on that standard is what wins these motions.
A 258E extension hearing typically lasts 10 to 30 minutes. The plaintiff speaks first, then the defendant, and the judge decides whether to extend, modify, or vacate the temporary order. Cases are heard in a general session, so arrive early and wait for your name.
53 Main Street
North Adams, MA 01247
Municipal parking available.
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
(413) 663-5339Address
53 Main Street, North Adams, MA 01247
County
Berkshire County
Official listing
mass.gov →Nearby 258E courts
Free legal help
Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal services, including help with harassment and abuse prevention orders, to low-income and elderly residents across central and western Massachusetts.
(855) 252-5342