Eviction in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Where eviction cases are filed in Hampshire County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Hampshire County
- Eviction court
- Western Housing Court - Hadley Session — Housing Court Court page
- Filing fee
- $135 entry fee for a Housing Court civil or summary process (eviction) action ($120 plus $15 surcharge); blank summons $5; blank writ $5. Massachusetts Housing Court filing fees (M.G.L. c. 185C, s. 19)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 14 days' written notice to quit. For tenants at will: a tenant who has not received a similar notice in the previous 12 months can cure by paying the full rent due within 10 days after receiving the notice, and the notice must state this right. For tenants with a lease: the tenant can cure by paying all rent due, plus interest and costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the eviction case. Massachusetts rules
- Renter households
- 19,998 (32% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28
Where eviction cases are filed in Hampshire County
Eviction cases in Hampshire County are heard by the Western Housing Court - Hadley Session (Housing Court).
- Western Housing Court - Hadley Session — 116 Russell St., Hadley, MA 01035 (Clerk's Office and Housing Specialist Department (413) 748-7838; Mondays 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) · website
Court eviction page · Self-help center
The Hadley Session serves Amherst, Belchertown, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton, Pelham, Plainfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington. Clerk-Magistrate questions: (413) 748-7838. Documents can be filed electronically through the Housing Court's e-filing system.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Hampshire County
$135 entry fee for a Housing Court civil or summary process (eviction) action ($120 plus $15 surcharge); blank summons $5; blank writ $5.
Statewide Housing Court schedule. Payment by cash, check, money order or certified bank check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; confirm in-person credit card acceptance with the court. No cost to file into an existing case.
Source: Massachusetts Housing Court filing fees (M.G.L. c. 185C, s. 19)
How eviction cases work locally
| Mediation | Housing Specialists are court employees who serve as neutral mediators and help parties reach agreements. Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Tenancy Preservation Program | Pioneer Valley TPP for tenants facing eviction because of disability-related behavior: (413) 358-5654. Source: Official source |
The Massachusetts eviction process
Massachusetts state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Hampshire County:
- Notice to quit: 14 days for nonpayment, which must be accompanied by the EOHLC rental-assistance form (G.L. c. 186, § 31); otherwise generally 30 days or one rental period for a tenancy at will, or as the lease provides.
- After the notice expires, the landlord buys a Summary Process Summons and Complaint and has a sheriff or constable serve it on the tenant 7 to 30 days before the chosen Monday entry day.
- The landlord files (enters) the case by close of business on the Monday entry day, with the served summons and complaint, the notice to quit, and the fee.
- The tenant files an Answer (defenses, counterclaims, discovery requests) by the first Monday after the entry day. The trial is listed for the second Thursday after entry (or another designated day). Housing Court cases usually start with mediation.
- Judgment by agreement, bench trial, or jury trial. Nonpayment cases are continued and stayed while a tenant with financial hardship has a pending emergency rental assistance (RAFT) application (G.L. c. 239, § 15).
- Execution issues after the 10-day appeal period. The court may grant a stay of up to 6 months (up to 1 year for elderly or disabled tenants) in qualifying cases. The landlord has 3 months to use the execution.
- A sheriff or constable gives at least 2 days' written notice (excluding weekends and holidays), then removes the tenant on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Belongings go to a licensed storage facility.
Full Massachusetts eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Hampshire County
Median gross rent in Hampshire County: $1,388/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure follows state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.
Eviction help in Hampshire County
Free legal help
- Community Legal Aid — Lawyer for the Day for tenants only, in person at the Hadley Session on Mondays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; tenant line (855) 252-5342.
- Hampden County Legal Clinic (Lawyer for the Day) — Landlords and tenants, by Zoom on Mondays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Rental assistance
- Way Finders — Regional housing agency listed by the Western Housing Court among local programs: (413) 233-1500.
Tenant and eviction lawyers in Hampshire County
Other Massachusetts counties
- Eviction in Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell)
- Eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)
- Eviction in Worcester County (Worcester)
- Eviction in Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence)
- Eviction in Norfolk County (Quincy)
- Eviction in Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River)
- Eviction in Hampden County (Springfield)
- Eviction in Plymouth County (Brockton, Plymouth)
- Eviction in Barnstable County
- Eviction in Berkshire County (Pittsfield)
Related
- Massachusetts landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Massachusetts (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Hampshire County?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Hampshire County?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Hampshire County?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.