Massachusetts Court Exhibit Requirements
Master Massachusetts exhibit requirements under Superior Court Rule 9A and Standing Order 1-88 for Superior Courts across the Commonwealth.
- Massachusetts Superior Court Rule 9A requires exhibits to be separated by off-set tab dividers (paper) or page markers (electronic), with all pages consecutively numbered.
- Rule 9A requires a Table of Contents whenever multiple exhibits are filed together.
- Plaintiffs use numbers (1, 2, 3), defendants use letters (A, B, C), and joint exhibits are designated J-1, J-2, J-3 in Massachusetts Superior Court.
- Rule 9A(b)(5)(v) requires summary judgment exhibits to be filed as a single joint appendix with an index, assembled by the initial moving party.
- eFileMA permits up to 25 MB per single document and up to 50 MB per envelope, and PDFs must be searchable and electronically converted rather than scanned when possible.
- Standing Order 1-88 requires parties to exchange exhibit lists and copies 5 business days before the final pre-trial conference.
- Massachusetts uses track-based case management: Fast Track cases have a 16-month discovery period and Average Track cases have 36 months.
- Rule 14 requires exhibits to be retained for 3 years after final disposition of the case.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-01-3125 MB single, 50 MB envelope
Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
Letters (A, B, C...)
5 days before final conf.
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Superior Court Rule 9A - Exhibits separated by tab dividers, pages consecutively numbered, Table of Contents required for multiple exhibits.
Summary Judgment
Rule 9A(b)(5)(v) - Summary judgment exhibits filed as single joint appendix with index, assembled by initial moving party.
E-Filing
eFileMA (Standing Order 1-23) - Searchable PDF required. 25 MB single document, 50 MB envelope. No password protection.
Deadlines
Standing Order 1-88 - Exhibit exchange 5 business days before final pre-trial conference. 3-year retention under Rule 14.
Rule 9A Exhibit Requirements
Comprehensive Formatting Requirements
Massachusetts Rule 9A sets specific formatting requirements that apply to all exhibits:
eFileMA Specifications
- PDF format required (searchable)
- 25 MB per document
- 50 MB per envelope
- Electronically converted preferred
Exhibit Numbering
- Plaintiff: Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
- Defendant: Letters (A, B, C...)
- Joint exhibits: J-1, J-2, J-3...
- Include docket number
Track-Based Case Management
Massachusetts uses track-based case management that affects discovery timelines and exhibit exchange deadlines.
Fast Track
16
months discovery
- Streamlined procedures
- Expedited deadlines
- Standard civil cases
Average Track
36
months discovery
- Extended discovery period
- Complex litigation
- Business Litigation Session
Standing Order 1-88 Timeline
Before Final Pre-Trial Conference
Exchange exhibit lists and copies with all parties
Exhibit Retention (Rule 14)
Exhibits must be retained for 3 years after final disposition
Major Massachusetts Courts
Suffolk County Superior Court (Boston)
Largest Superior Court division in Massachusetts. Hosts the Business Litigation Session for complex commercial cases with specialized case management.
Business Litigation Session: Specialized procedures for complex business disputes. Check BLS standing orders for specific exhibit requirements.
Middlesex County Superior Court
Second largest division serving Cambridge and suburban Boston. Civil sessions handle significant commercial and personal injury litigation with standard Rule 9A exhibit procedures.
Norfolk County Superior Court
Major suburban court serving Quincy and surrounding communities. Standard exhibit exchange procedures per case management orders.
Worcester County Superior Court
Largest court in central Massachusetts. Follows standard Rule 9A procedures with eFileMA mandatory for attorneys.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with Massachusetts Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually with Rule 9A compliance
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time for manual exhibit preparation
MA Compliance
Searchable PDFs, proper numbering, eFileMA-ready under 25 MB
Common Massachusetts Rejection Reasons
Non-Searchable PDFs
Standing Order 1-23 requires searchable PDFs. Scanned documents without OCR rejected.
Missing Table of Contents
Rule 9A requires Table of Contents when filing multiple exhibits. Include at beginning.
File Size Over 25 MB
Single documents over 25 MB or envelopes over 50 MB rejected. Split large exhibits.
Missing Tab Dividers
Rule 9A requires off-set tab dividers (paper) or page markers (electronic) between exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Massachusetts Superior Court Rule 9A require for exhibits?
Rule 9A requires exhibits to be separated by off-set tab dividers (paper) or page markers (electronic). All pages must be consecutively numbered, and a Table of Contents is required for multiple exhibits. Summary judgment exhibits must be filed as a single joint appendix.
What is the Massachusetts Standing Order 1-88 exhibit deadline?
Standing Order 1-88 requires exhibit lists and copies to be exchanged 5 business days before the final pre-trial conference. This allows the court and parties to review exhibits before trial.
What are eFileMA size limits?
eFileMA allows up to 25 MB per single document and 50 MB per envelope (filing). Documents must be searchable PDFs, electronically converted rather than scanned when possible.
What are Fast Track vs Average Track discovery differences?
Fast Track cases have 16-month discovery periods with streamlined procedures. Average Track cases have 36-month discovery. Track assignment affects exhibit exchange deadlines and case management.
Ready to Prepare Massachusetts Court Exhibits?
Create Rule 9A compliant exhibits with proper numbering, searchable PDFs, and eFileMA-ready formatting.
Preview Your Stamps Free →Exhibit Stamping Tools
Stamp Exhibits Online
Browser-based, no upload required
How to Stamp Exhibits
Step-by-step guide
Exhibit Stamp Maker
25 professional templates