Finding The Law

The Official Word

Massachusetts General Law is in the reference department (Ref 345) and in part online at http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law-lib/laws-by-source/mgl.html

The Code of Massachusetts Regulations is online in part at http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law-lib/laws-by-source/cmr/

Court cases that are decided in the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court are reported in Massachusetts Decisions. Ref 345.

Framingham Zoning By-Laws. Ref Desk 974.4/FRAMINGHAM.

General By Laws Town of Framingham. Ref Desk 974.4/FRAMINGHAM.

General Sources

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries. http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law-lib/ A wealth of information specific to Massachusetts. Includes a Ask A Law Librarian service with an option for online chat.

Mass Legal Help. www.masslegalhelp.org Improving access to justice for low income and disadvantaged people through innovative use of the Web. Some of the documents are also available in Spanish.

Findlaw. www.findlaw.com Searchable case law, articles, forms, and links, well organized by subject and geographic location.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Ref 348.73 West's 2004.

Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law. Ref 349.73 Nolo's 2008.

Legal Services

Massachusetts Bar Association. www.massbar.org Legal assistance and information from the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Mass Legal Answers Online. www.masslao.org A service for low income people who need help with civil (non criminal) legal problems, Mass Legal Answers Online is part of the national Free Legal Answers project sponsored by the American Bar Association.

Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder. www.masslrf.org Based on zipcode and income, provides contact information for legal aid programs, government agencies and hotlines, court programs and links to online legal information. The results also include links to lawyer referral programs for those who need to hire an attorney.

Consumer Resources

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/ The state's watchdog agency charged with educating, informing and protecting consumers.

http://www.mass.gov/ago/ Consumer Complaint and Information Section of the Massachusetts Attorney General's office.

Housing

Legal Tactics : Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts : Private Housings. 346.0434 Legal 2008

Landlord and tenant law. Ref 345 Mass PR v34 .

http://www.northeastlegalaid.org/what-we-do/ Northeast Legal Aid can help with housing rights, affordable housing, and more.

Divorce and Family Law

www.divorcenter.org, a local nonprofit organization providing education information and referrals to lessen the trauma of divorce.

Nolo's essential guide to divorce 346.0166 Nolo's 2015

The American Bar Association legal guide for women. 349.73 American 2004

Unmarried parents' rights (and responsibilities) 346.017 2005 Stanley

Family law and practice with forms Ref 345 Mass PR v3

The Workplace

Job discrimination II : how to fight--how to win! . 344.01133 Bernbach 2005

The Employer's Legal Handbook. 344.01 Steingold 2007.

The Employee Rights Handbook. 344.01 Sack 2010.

Your Rights In The Workplace. 344.01 Your 2014.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace 331.4133 Boland

Health Care

www.medicare.gov is the official U.S. Government site for people on Medicare.

www.hla-inc.org Health Law Advocacy provides free legal representation to eligible consumers that live or work in Massachusetts.

Real Estate

http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/law-lib/laws-by-subj/about/realestate.html

Estate Planning

Plan Your Estate. 346.052/Clifford.

8 Ways To Avoid Probate. 346.052/Randolph.

J.K. Lasser's New Rules For Estate And Tax Planning. 346.052 Welch 2014

More Legal Resources

View our databases for more legal resources: http://framinghamlibrary.org/eResources.htm#Legal

Websites change!
Please email us if you have difficulty accessing a site on this list. We'll try to identify and correct the problem.

Look Here First for Help Finding Useful Information

For professional assistance locating the information you need:

Telephone the Main Library Reference Department at 508-532-5570, extension 4361.
Email your questions through our "Ask A Librarian" page.
Visit the Main Library or the McAuliffe Branch for free access to the Internet and databases, and for assistance with research.

To arrange a speaker or a group tour highlighting the library's practical information resources, call 508-532-5570, ext 4347, or email Amy Sadkin at asadkin@minlib.net.

The Information You Can Use project is federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

10/2002
Updated 7/2015