Evictions for Massachusetts Businesses: Get a Lawyer!

Massachusetts businesses in eviction proceedings have a unique requirement: they must be represented by a licensed attorney. This is true not just for eviction cases, but all civil actions (with the exception of small claims). Read on about this important topic.

Evictions for Massachusetts Businesses

A Massachusetts landlord is only entitled to represent themselves in an eviction if the tenancy is in their individual capacity. This is common for many small landlords, who own rental property individually, in their own name. These landlords are permitted to represent themselves in an eviction case.

If, however, the landlord is a business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company (“LLC”), the landlord must be represented by an attorney. This comes from a Supreme Judicial Court decision, which holds that such business entities cannot represent themselves in court. Most courts take the position that this requirement also applies to landlords organized as trusts.

Practical Implications

Another recent Supreme Judicial Court case, concerning who is entitled to bring an eviction, requires trial courts to take a careful look at the parties before them. If a corporation or LLC is appearing in an eviction case without an attorney, there is a strong chance that the court will dismiss the proceeding. For this reason, Massachusetts businesses should never take a chance of not having a lawyer in court. If there is any doubt about whether an attorney is needed for your eviction, speak to a lawyer before pursuing such a claim.

Landlords who are not business entities can represent themselves in court. Doing so, however, is not always a good idea. Massachusetts landlord-tenant law is complex, and if a matter proceeds to trial, most non-lawyers are unable to handle the procedural requirements for litigating a case. For this reason, hiring a competent attorney is a good idea.

Conclusion

If you need assistance with a Massachusetts eviction, contact me for a consultation.