The purpose of this guide is to lead the beginning researcher to the most important and useful sources in the Reference Area for the study of the Laws of Massachusetts.  This list is not exhaustive; please consult with a Reference Librarian for additional suggestions.

 

General Guides

Handbook of Legal Research in Massachusetts. ed. by Mary Ann Neary and Ruth G. Matz. Boston: Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 2002.
    (REF KFM 2475 .H36 2002)
Provides bibliographic and related information on sources of public law in Massachusetts at the state and local levels.

Massachusetts Law Finder. 2007 ed. St. Paul, MN: West Publ. Co., 2007.
    (REF KFM 2461 .M3 2007)
A topical reference guide for coordinated research into Massachusetts, federal, or general law with comprehensive references to West Group publications including: Massachusetts General Laws Annotated, Massachusetts Digest, Massachusetts Practice Series, U.S. Code Annotated, and other sources.

 

Court Decisions

Massachusetts Decisions reported in North Eastern Reporter, second series. St. Paul, Minn. : West Pub. Co., 1937-
    (REF KFM 2445 .M3x)
Reprints cases reported in the North Eastern Reporter, second series, beginning with 283 N.E.2d (1972).

West's Massachusetts Digest, 2d.  St. Paul, Minn. : West Pub. Co., c1986-
    (REF KFM 2457 .W47 1986)
Covers state and federal cases decided since 1933. Provides an abstract of the opinion. The Digest is compiled and arranged under the West Key number plan, i.e. by topic. 50  vols.

Massachusetts Digest Annotated, 1761 to date, covering all cases reported in Massachusetts Reports and North Eastern Reporter.  Boston, Little, Brown, 1933-
    (REF KFM 2457 .M36)
Covers all cases reported in Massachusetts Reports and North Eastern Reporter plus Massachusetts cases decided in Supreme Court of the U.S., U.S. Court of Appeals, and Federal Circuit and District Courts. 48 Vols.

 

Court Practice

Massachusetts Rules of Court, State and Federal. St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., c1980-
    (REF KFM 2929 .A195 2001 State) and (REF KFM 2929 .A195 2001 Federal)
Provides the current text of court rules, forms, and standing orders governing state and federal practice in Massachusetts with amendments received through February 1, 2001.

Massachusetts Practice Series. St. Paul, Minn. : West Pub. Co.
    (REF KFM 2480 .M3)
Multivolume set prepared by experts and covering all aspects of law practice. Updated by pocket supplements. Volumes in the series include:

• Family Law and Practice with forms. 2d ed.  by Charles P. Kindregan and Monroe L. Inker.  St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1996.  Volumes: 1,2, 2A, 3.
• Civil Practice. 2d ed. by Joseph R. Nolan. St. Paul, MN:West Pub. Co., 1992-.  Volumes: 9, 9A
• Summary of Basic Law, 3rd ed.by Howard J. Alperin  and Lawrence D. Shubow.  St. Paul, MN:West Pub. Co., 1996. Volumes: 14, 14A, 14B, 14C.
• Prima Facie Case: Proof and Defense. 4^th ed. by Richard W. Bishop.  St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1997. Volumes: 17, 17A, 17B, 17C.
• Evidence. 2d ed.  by William G. Young, John R. Pollets, and Christopher Poreda. St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1998.  Volumes: 19, 20.
• Massachusetts Evidentiary Standards.  2002 ed.  by William G. Young, John R. Pollets, and Christopher Poreda. St. Paul, MN: West Group, 2002.  Volumes: 19-20 supplement
• Probate Law and Practice, with Forms.  2^nd ed. by Sean M. Dunphy.   St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1997.  Volumes: 21,22
• Estate Planning, with Forms. 2^nd ed.  by Patricia M. Annino.  St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1997.  Volumes: 23, 24
• Criminal Practice and Procedure.  2d. ed. by Kent B. Smith.  St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1983-2002. Volumes: 30, 30 Supp., 30A, 30A Supp.
• Criminal Law.  3rd ed. by Joseph R. Nolan and Laurie J. Sartorio.  St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 2001. Volume: 32
• Tort Law. 2d ed. by Joseph R. Nolan and Laurie J. Sartorio.. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1989. Volumes: 37, 37A.
• Criminal Defense Motions. 2d ed. by R. Marc Kantrowitz and Roger Witkin. St. Paul, MN: West Group, c1998. Volume: 42
• Trial Practice.  by William C. Flanagan. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1993. Volume: 43
• Juvenile Law. by Roderick L. Ireland. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., 1993. Volume: 44
• Federal Civil Practice. by Donald J. Savery, Frank C. Corson, and William T. Harrington. St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1998. Volume: 46
• Mediation and Arbitration. 2002 ed. by  Finn, Paul A., and Sarah E. Worley. St. Paul, MN: West Group., 2002.  Volume: 47

 

Legislation

Massachusetts General Laws Annotated. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Co., updated regularly.
    (REF KFM 2430 1958 A42)
The full text of laws in force, with annotations and summaries of relevant court decisions. Updated by pocket parts inserted in the inside back cover of each volume.  See also the Web version, (http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/index.htm), without annotations.

Massachusetts Session Laws. St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1997-
    (REF KFM 2431 .M33)
Session Laws from 1997 to 2002 are also available online at http://www.state.ma.us/legis/

Acts and Resolves passed by the General Court of Massachusetts. Boston: University Press of Cambridge, 1992-93.
    (REF KFM 2425 .A213)
Library has 1992 and 1993. See also Massachusetts Session Laws above.

A Bibliography of the Laws and Resolves of the Massachusetts Bay, 1642-1780. by John D. Cushing.  Wilmington, DE: M. Glazier in cooperation with the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1984.
(REF KFM 2400 .C8x)
Identifies the legislation produced by several governments of the Massachusetts Bay. Arranged chronologically with a subject index.

CIVIL LAW
West's Massachusetts Civil Actions and Procedure. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., Annual.
    (REF KFM 2928 .A2)
Covers the statutes and rules of court relating to Massachusetts civil actions and procedure.

CRIMINAL LAW
West's Massachusetts Criminal Law and Procedure. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., Annual.
    (REF KFM 2961 .A29 M37)
Includes constitutional provisions, statutes, and rules of criminal procedure

Handbook of Massachusetts Evidence. 6^th ed. by Paul J. Liacos, 6^th ed. revised by Mark S. Brodin and Michael Avery.  Boston  Aspen Law & Business, c1994-1998.
    (REF KFM 2940 .Z9 L4 1994b) and (REF KFM 2940 .Z9 L4 199b suppl.1998).
A guide that serves as a text on Massachusetts's law of evidence with the text of significant statutes and rules and with citations to leading cases. Includes the 1998 supplement.

Massachusetts Evidence: A Courtroom Reference. ed. by Patti B. Saris, Martha B. Sosman, and J.W. Carney, Jr. Boston: Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 1999, with 2001 supplement.
    (REF KFM 2940 M36 1999)
Intended as a guide for courtroom lawyers in the legal standards for various types of evidence.

Massachusetts Criminal Law Sourcebook. by R. Marc Kantrowitz.  Boston: Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., 1996-
    (REF KFM 2961 .Z9 C66)
A guide to the Massachusetts Courts, Calendars, Statutes, Crimes and Punishments, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Superior Court Rules, Sentencing Standards, Elements and Penalties, and Evidence with a Table of Cases.

FAMILY LAW
Kindregan & Inker's Massachusetts Domestic Relations Rules and Statutes Annotated: with Related Federal Statues Annotated. 2007 ed. Commentary and annotations by Charles P. Kindregan, Jr., and Monroe L. Inker.  St. Paul, MN: West Group, 2007.
    (REF KFM 2494 .A29 K56)
Intended as a handy guide to the procedural rules and statutory law for Family Law practitioners in Massachusetts.

MOTOR VEHICLE LAW
West's Massachusetts Motor Vehicle and Traffic Laws and Regulations.  St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., Annual.
    (REF KFM 2697.A29 M37)
Covers the statutes and regulations relating to the ownership and use of motor vehicles.

PROBATE LAW
West's Massachusetts Probate Law and Rules. St. Paul, MN: West Pub. Co., Annual.
    (REF KFM 2544 .A29 M37)
Covers the statutes and rules of court relating to probate.

TAX LAW
Guidebook to Massachusetts Taxes. by the CCH Editorial Staff. Chicago: CCH Inc., 1999.
    (REF KFM 2870 .Z9 C6)
Provides a quick reference for the state personal and corporate income taxes. Also, analyzes and explains the differences between Massachusetts and federal law.

 

Databases: Indexes, Abstracts, and Bibliographies Use to locate journal articles and books, as well as published and unpublished research.

Ely Library Catalog. For books, audio-visual materials, etc. in the Ely Library
     (Internet site: http://catalog.lib.wsc.ma.edu/ )
The following is an example of subject headings relevant to Massachusetts Laws for use in the Voyager catalog.  Do not limit yourself to this list. Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (Big Red Books) located at the Reference Desk for more possibilities—or browse the online catalog for ideas.  For an online guide to the catalog, see Database Searching Guides
 

Constitutional History - Massachusetts Courts - Massachusetts Law - Massachusetts Law, Reports, Digests, etc. - Massachusetts Massachusetts.  Constitutional History Massachusetts.  General Court

Massachusetts.  General Court History Massachusetts.  Laws Massachusetts - Courts Massachusetts - History Massachusetts -   Juvenile Court Massachusetts -   Politics and Government

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe  Limited to WSC community use
(Internet Site: http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/dbalpha.htm#Lexis-Nexis)
Provides the full text of Massachusetts court cases, court rules, general laws, Advance Legislative Service, and State Attorney General's opinions, plus 200 law journals.  For an online guide, see Database Searching Guides.

Boston Globe - Boston Globe, Inc.               1980 -               Updated Weekly
Searchable archive of the Boston Globe (no images or graphics). Covers legislation and major court cases. Currents issues found at  Daily Boston Globe Online.

WestLaw – Westlaw, Inc.      Updated Daily
Access to court decisions, case law, legal reviews, newspapers, and trade databases.  Access from Library Workstation only. Search Guide

Index to Legal Periodicals & Books - H. W. Wilson Co.  Aug. 1981 - Updated Monthly
Indexes over 620 journals, yearbooks, law reviews, and bar association publications. Covers all areas of jurisprudence, including court decisions, legislation, and original scholarship.  FirstSearch / Search Guide.

 

Web Sites

Massachusetts General Laws
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/index.htm
The full text of the current laws in force without annotations.

General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/
Covers all aspect of legislation: Session laws, General Laws, Current Legislation, Legislators, Current Budget Recommendations, and Legislative History. Includes the text of session laws passed by the legislature.

Massachusetts Laws and Legal Information
http://www.massachusettslaws.com/
A free service providing links to most Massachusetts laws, court opinions and regulations. Includes links to Massachusetts Lawyer Referral Services, Massachusetts Criminal Lawyers Online, and a database to find out if a Massachusetts attorney is Licensed and in Good Standing in Massachusetts.

Findlaw - Massachusetts Laws
http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/ma/laws.html
Links to Massachusetts Constitution General Laws, Tax and Environmental Regulations, State and Federal Court Decisions, Selected Municipal Codes, and federal legislation by Massachusetts Senators and Representatives.