Who Can Represent a Corporation or LLC in Court in Massachusetts?
While individuals may represent themselves in court in Massachusetts, corporations and LLC’s are considered business entities and are required by well-established case law to have a licensed attorney represent their interests in judicial proceedings in Massachusetts. This means that an officer, manager, owner, shareholder or employee is not allowed to file any pleadings or appear in court on behalf of a corporation or LLC unless they are an attorney that is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
An exception to this rule is that a corporation does not need an attorney to represent its interests in small claims cases in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the small claims court deals exclusively with cases where the claim at issue is $7,000 or less.
Benjamin Kafka
Who Can Represent a Corporation or LLC in Court in Massachusetts?
While individuals may represent themselves in court in Massachusetts, corporations and LLC’s are considered business entities and are required by well-established case law to have a licensed attorney represent their interests in judicial proceedings in Massachusetts. This means that an officer, manager, owner, shareholder or employee is not allowed to file any pleadings or appear in court on behalf of a corporation or LLC unless they are an attorney that is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
An exception to this rule is that a corporation does not need an attorney to represent its interests in small claims cases in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the small claims court deals exclusively with cases where the claim at issue is $7,000 or less.
- By Benjamin Kafka