A Massachusetts 209A abuse prevention order is a civil court order that can tell a family or household member to stop abusing someone, stop contacting them, vacate and stay away from a shared home or workplace, and — in family situations — address temporary custody of children and support. It is called a 209A order because the law is Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 209A. This site covers that Massachusetts law only.
What the plaintiff must prove
The person asking for an order is usually called the plaintiff; the person it is requested against is the defendant. A 209A order has two requirements, and the plaintiff must establish both by a preponderance of the evidence:
First, a qualifying relationship. The parties must be “family or household members” — people who are or were married, are or were living together, are related by blood or marriage, have a child in common, or are or were in a substantive dating or engagement relationship. If there is no such relationship, 209A does not apply, and the matter belongs under the separate c. 258E harassment statute instead.
Second, “abuse.” The defendant must have caused or attempted to cause physical harm, placed the plaintiff in fear of imminent serious physical harm, or caused the plaintiff to engage in sexual relations by force, threat, or duress. As amended in 2025, a pattern or single act of “coercive control” can also qualify. General conflict, anger, or a difficult relationship — without physical harm or a reasonable fear of imminent serious physical harm — is not enough.
How a 209A case starts
A 209A case begins in court. The plaintiff fills out a complaint and affidavit. The affidavit is the written statement explaining what happened and why the plaintiff is asking for court protection. A judge may hold an emergency or same-day hearing without the defendant present. If a temporary order issues, another hearing is usually scheduled within about 10 business days so both sides can be heard.
A 209A order is not a private agreement. If the court issues an order, the defendant must obey the exact terms. A violation can become a criminal matter. That is why both sides should read the order carefully and ask the court, or a Massachusetts attorney, for help if anything is unclear.
What preparation looks like for each side
For plaintiffs, the most important preparation is clarity: dates, places, what was said or done, witnesses, messages, photos, police reports, and why the events meet the legal definition. For defendants, the most important preparation is understanding the allegations, identifying what is disputed, gathering records, and respecting any temporary order while the case is pending.
A helpful way to think about a 209A case is that the court is looking for specific acts of abuse — physical harm or a real threat of it — not just a bad or painful relationship. The judge will usually want to understand the who, what, when, where, and why of each event. Vague statements like "they keep bothering me" are usually less useful than a clear account of separate incidents, the words or actions involved, how the plaintiff reacted, and what documents or witnesses support the account.
For defendants, the same focus on specifics matters. A defendant may disagree with the plaintiff's version of events, may believe the events are being taken out of context, or may have documents that show something different. The court process is the place to make those points. Until the court changes an order, the written order controls.