Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E · Hampden County
Preparing to respond to — or file — a G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order at Springfield District Court in Springfield, Massachusetts. Serving Springfield, Longmeadow, West Springfield. Attorney-reviewed preparation built for this court.
Springfield District Court is the principal venue for G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order cases in western Massachusetts, hearing matters from Springfield, Longmeadow, and West Springfield. The State Street courthouse runs a high-volume list, and 258E hearings are decided on the statute's three-acts standard. For a defendant or a plaintiff in Hampden County, the outcome turns on how clearly the incidents, dates, and evidence are laid out before the judge — not on who tells the more sympathetic story.
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. Springfield 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 Springfield 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) 748-7700.
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 Springfield works by undercutting one or more of those elements:
Key defense arguments
To file a 258E at Springfield District Court, bring the complaint, your affidavit, and the confidential information form to the clerk's office. The affidavit must establish at least three willful, malicious acts aimed at you (or one qualifying act of force, a threat, or coercion), each anchored to a date. In a busy Springfield session, a clean chronology is what lets a judge grant or extend an order without continuing the case.
258E courts & official forms →258E harassment prevention order hearings are held at Springfield District Court, 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Check in at the clerk's office for the 258E list. Municipal garages near State Street serve the courthouse.
Springfield District Court hears harassment prevention order cases from Springfield, Longmeadow, and West Springfield. Cases from surrounding Hampden County communities are heard at the Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, or Palmer District Courts depending on where the events occurred.
Yes. A defendant can contest the order at the 10-day hearing or later file a motion to modify or vacate. 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.
No, a lawyer is not required. But given how a 258E can affect firearms rights, housing, and employment, going in prepared is essential. Harassment Order .com delivers an attorney-reviewed preparation packet built for your Springfield hearing as a lower-cost alternative to hiring full representation.
50 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Municipal parking garages serve the courthouse near State Street. Springfield is a regional transit hub — PVTA buses and Union Station (rail) are nearby. 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
(413) 748-7700Address
50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103
County
Hampden 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 western Massachusetts, including Hampden County.
(855) 252-5342