FAQ: Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for a Landlord/Tenant Case?

Question: Do I need to hire a lawyer for a landlord/tenant case?

Answer:  As with all legal questions: it depends.  In Massachusetts, a business entity (ex. corporation, limited liability company) must be represented by an attorney in court (except for small claims court).  If your business organization (as opposed to you personally) is involved in a landlord-tenant matter, you need a lawyer.

If you are not a business organization, you do have the option of representing yourself in court.  While some people can represent themselves effectively in these matters, many find these issues too complex to handle without a legal background.  More importantly, many landlord-tenant matters become contentious, with both sides unable to work together for a resolution to the case.  If you find yourself in such a situation, give serious thought to hiring a lawyer for your case.