Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E · Norfolk County
Preparing to respond to — or file — a G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order at Quincy District Court in Quincy, Massachusetts. Serving Quincy, Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Randolph, Weymouth. Attorney-reviewed preparation built for this court.
Quincy District Court hears Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order cases arising in Quincy and the surrounding Norfolk County towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Randolph, and Weymouth. Whether you were served with a temporary order and have a 10-day hearing coming up, or you are the one seeking protection, the judge will decide the matter on specific dates, incidents, and evidence — not general impressions. The preparation you do before you walk into the South Shore courthouse on Dennis F. Ryan Parkway is what shapes the outcome.
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. Quincy 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 Quincy 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 (617) 471-1650.
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 Quincy works by undercutting one or more of those elements:
Key defense arguments
If you are filing a 258E at Quincy District Court, you bring the complaint, your sworn affidavit, and the plaintiff confidential information form to the clerk's office. Your affidavit is the heart of the case: it must lay out at least three separate acts of willful, malicious harassment (or one qualifying act of force, a threat, or coercion) with dates the judge can follow. Vague timelines are the most common reason orders are denied at the 10-day hearing.
258E courts & official forms →258E harassment prevention order hearings are held at Quincy District Court, 1 Dennis F. Ryan Parkway, Quincy, MA 02169. Check in at the clerk's office and tell them you are there for a 258E hearing. There is a free parking lot at the courthouse, and the MBTA Red Line stops at Quincy Center nearby.
Quincy District Court covers harassment prevention order cases from Quincy, Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Randolph, and Weymouth. If the harassment happened in one of these towns — or if you or the other party live there — the case is generally filed in Quincy.
You are not required to have a lawyer at a 258E hearing. But because a 258E order can affect your firearms rights, housing, employment, and any related criminal exposure, preparation matters. Harassment Order .com delivers an attorney-reviewed preparation packet built for your specific Quincy hearing as a lower-cost alternative to full representation.
A 258E extension hearing in Quincy typically takes 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 plan to arrive early and wait for your name to be called.
1 Dennis F. Ryan Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169
Free parking lot at the courthouse, 1 Dennis F. Ryan Parkway. By transit, the MBTA Red Line to Quincy Center is a short walk. Arrive 30 minutes early for security.
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
(617) 471-1650Address
1 Dennis F. Ryan Parkway, Quincy, MA 02169
County
Norfolk County
Official listing
mass.gov →Nearby 258E courts
Free legal help
GBLS provides free civil legal help, including restraining and harassment orders, to income-eligible residents of Boston and the surrounding Greater Boston communities, which include the Quincy area.