# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 4: Venue; service

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S4

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 4
- **Heading:** Venue; service
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part II / Title III / Chapter 209C / Section 4

## Text

Section 4. Actions under this chapter to establish parentage, support, custody or visitation of a child shall be filed in the judicial district or county in which the child and 1 of the parents lives and if neither of the parents lives in the same judicial district or county as the child then the complaint shall be filed in the judicial district or county where the child lives; but, if the parents have been parties to a prior action under this chapter and that action has not been dismissed, a subsequent action under this chapter may be filed in the judicial district or county where the earlier action was filed. The fact that the child was conceived, was born, or lives outside the commonwealth does not bar a proceeding to establish parentage pursuant to this chapter. Service of the complaint shall be made in accordance with applicable rules of court. In addition to those otherwise authorized to serve civil process, any officer authorized under the laws of the commonwealth to serve criminal process may serve any process under this chapter.

Section 4. Actions under this chapter to establish parentage, support, custody or visitation of a child shall be filed in the judicial district or county in which the child and 1 of the parents lives and if neither of the parents lives in the same judicial district or county as the child then the complaint shall be filed in the judicial district or county where the child lives; but, if the parents have been parties to a prior action under this chapter and that action has not been dismissed, a subsequent action under this chapter may be filed in the judicial district or county where the earlier action was filed. The fact that the child was conceived, was born, or lives outside the commonwealth does not bar a proceeding to establish parentage pursuant to this chapter. Service of the complaint shall be made in accordance with applicable rules of court. In addition to those otherwise authorized to serve civil process, any officer authorized under the laws of the commonwealth to serve criminal process may serve any process under this chapter.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 1 Declaration of purpose; definition; responsibility for support](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 1A Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S1A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 2 Parentage; acknowledgment or adjudication; statistical information of parties; transmission to registrarr](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 3 Paternity and support actions; jurisdiction; enforcement of prior orders or judgments; juvenile court commitment proceedings; parents convicted of first degree murder](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 4 Venue; service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 5 Persons entitled to maintain actions or execute voluntary acknowledgment of parentage; parties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 6 Presumption of paternity; mandatory joinder](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 7 Representation in parentage actions; appointment of counsel; burden of proof](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S7.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 8 Judgment of parentage; age of parents; notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 9 Judgment or order for support; health insurance; financial statement; determination of amount; notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S9.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 10 Award of custody; criteria](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S10.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 11 Acknowledgment of parentage; approval; parental agreements regarding custody, support and visitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S11.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 12 Trial; exclusion of public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S12.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209C, sec. 13 Inspection of documents; copies; segregation of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TIII_C209C_S4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.