Massachusetts Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Massachusetts that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Massachusetts court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Massachusetts court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Massachusetts court ordered it?
Massachusetts has statutes that point to a certified batterer's intervention program. Under M.G.L. c. 265, § 13M(d) and c. 209A, § 7, a court must order one after a conviction for assault on a family or household member, for a violation of an abuse prevention order, or when a case is continued without a finding, unless it makes written findings of good cause or the program finds the person unsuitable. Section 7 states that anger management or substance abuse treatment cannot substitute.
Abuse prevention orders come from c. 209A; relief lasts for a fixed period of up to one year and can be extended. It can include no-contact, vacate-and-stay-away and temporary custody terms. In probate court, c. 208, § 31A creates a rebuttable presumption against custody for a parent with a pattern or serious incident of abuse. Orders differ, so confirm exactly what your own order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Massachusetts included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Massachusetts court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Massachusetts-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Massachusetts civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Abuse prevention (209A) ordersM.G.L. c. 209A, §§ 1, 3
A court can order a person to stop abusing and contacting the plaintiff, vacate and stay away from the home and workplace, and grant temporary custody or support. Relief is fixed for up to one year, can be extended, and there is no filing fee.
Custody and domestic abuse presumptionM.G.L. c. 208, § 31A
If a probate and family court finds a pattern or serious incident of abuse, it is presumed not to be in the child's best interests to award sole or shared custody to the abusive parent. The presumption can be rebutted, and the court may require a certified batterer's treatment program as a condition of visitation.
Certified intimate partner abuse education programsM.G.L. c. 209A, § 7; c. 265, § 13M(d)
The Department of Public Health certifies and monitors these programs, formerly called batterer intervention programs. Its page states that participants must attend a minimum of 80 hours.
Criminal law
Assault and assault and batteryM.G.L. c. 265, § 13A
Carries up to 2½ years in a house of correction, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Aggravated forms, such as serious bodily injury, a pregnant victim, or an outstanding protective order, carry up to 5 years in state prison.
Assault on a family or household memberM.G.L. c. 265, § 13M
A first offense carries up to 2½ years in a house of correction, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. A second or subsequent offense carries up to 5 years in state prison, and a certified batterer's intervention program is generally required.
Stalking and criminal harassmentM.G.L. c. 265, §§ 43, 43A
Stalking is a knowing pattern of conduct with a threat intended to cause fear of death or bodily injury, punishable by up to 5 years in state prison. Stalking in violation of a protective order has a mandatory minimum of 1 year. Criminal harassment is up to 2½ years in a house of correction for a first offense.
Violation of an abuse prevention orderM.G.L. c. 209A, § 7
Violating a 209A order, or an out-of-state protection order, can bring a fine of up to $5,000, up to 2½ years in a house of correction, or both.