Massachusetts G.L. c. 258E · Worcester County
Preparing to respond to — or file — a G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order at Worcester District Court in Worcester, Massachusetts. Serving Worcester, Auburn, Millbury. Attorney-reviewed preparation built for this court.
Worcester District Court is the central Massachusetts hub for G.L. c. 258E harassment prevention order cases, hearing matters from Worcester, Auburn, and Millbury. As the largest court in the region, its 258E sessions draw a steady volume of neighbor disputes, online harassment claims, and ex-partner cases that fall outside the 209A relationship categories. The judge will hold both sides to the statute's three-acts standard, so the difference between an order being extended or vacated usually comes down to how clearly the evidence is presented at the Main Street courthouse.
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. Worcester 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 Worcester 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) 831-2000.
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 Worcester works by undercutting one or more of those elements:
Key defense arguments
To file a 258E at Worcester District Court, bring the complaint, your sworn affidavit, and the confidential information form to the clerk's office. The affidavit must show a pattern: at least three willful, malicious acts aimed at you (or one qualifying act of force or a threat). For the online and neighbor-dispute cases common in Worcester, screenshots, messages, and dated logs are what move a judge — but only if they map cleanly to the acts you describe.
258E courts & official forms →258E harassment prevention order hearings are held at Worcester District Court, 225 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Check in at the clerk's office for the 258E list. Municipal garages on Main Street and at Federal Square serve the courthouse.
Worcester District Court hears harassment prevention order cases from Worcester, Auburn, and Millbury. Cases from surrounding towns are heard at the Westborough, Milford, Dudley, Leominster, or Clinton District Courts depending on where the events occurred.
Yes. A 258E can address repeated online harassment — messages, posts, or contact through third parties — when it amounts to three or more willful, malicious acts aimed at a specific person that cause fear, intimidation, or distress. Dated screenshots and message logs are the evidence Worcester judges expect to see.
A 209A abuse prevention order applies to family, household members, and dating partners. A 258E harassment prevention order covers harassment by anyone else — neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, or strangers — where there is no qualifying relationship. Worcester District Court hears both, but this service covers 258E matters only.
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Municipal parking garages serve the courthouse on Main Street and at Federal Square. Worcester is a regional transit hub — Union Station (MBTA Commuter Rail and WRTA buses) is a short distance away. 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
(508) 831-2000Address
225 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608
County
Worcester 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, including Worcester County.
(855) 252-5342