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Legal Information: Massachusetts

Restraining Orders

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Laws current as of December 14, 2023

How will a judge make a decision about whether or not to grant the order?

A judge can issue an emergency order or a final order against a respondent if the judge believes that s/he poses a risk of causing harm to himself/herself or another person by having any of the following in his/her possession:

  • a license to carry firearms;
  • a firearm identification card; or
  • a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, weapon or ammunition.1

1 MA ST 140 §§ 131T(a); 131S(c)

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