Section 16. At any time after final judgment or a decree in favor of the defendant, or after the discontinuance, dismissal or other final disposition, by consent of parties or otherwise, of a proceeding mentioned in the preceding section, or in case of the non-entry of the writ, petition or bill of complaint, the clerk of the court wherein such judgment, decree, discontinuance, dismissal or other final disposition is recorded, or out of which such writ issued or to which such petition or bill of complaint was addressed, shall upon demand give a certificate of the fact of such judgment, decree, discontinuance, dismissal, final disposal or non-entry, and such certificate may be recorded in the registry in which the original record mentioned in said section was made.

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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 184 sec. 16

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.