Post-judgment interest by state · Massachusetts
Massachusetts · after judgment
Post-judgment interest in Massachusetts
An unpaid Massachusetts money judgment earns 12% a year unless the judgment or a contract says otherwise. On a $5,000.00 judgment that is $600.00 in the first year, about $1.64 a day.
How the rate is set
Fixed in the statute at 12% a year for both tort (§6B) and contract (§6C) judgments. In Massachusetts interest runs from the date the action was filed, not only from judgment. It changes only when the legislature acts.
- Statute or rule
- M.G.L. c.231 §§6B, 6C
- Statute re-checked
- 2026-10-23
- Changes
- only when the legislature amends the statute
When a different rate applies
- A contract that sets a rate carries that rate.
- Judgments against the Commonwealth use the §6I rate.
Work out your own judgment
Massachusetts is prefilled at 12%. Enter the amount and the date the judgment was entered. The calculator uses simple interest; that is how this rate accrues.
How Massachusetts's rate is set, and where it comes from
Uses simple interest at the rate you enter — pre-filled with each state's standard statutory rate, editable since some states publish a new rate quarterly or annually. Some states apply a different rate to specific debt types (noted above where it applies) or when a contract specifies its own rate. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current rate and any exceptions with your court clerk before relying on this figure.
The formula, worked
Last reviewed: October 2026
Interest = principal × rate × days ÷ 365. For $5,000.00 at 12%: $5,000.00 × 0.12000 × 365 ÷ 365 = $600.00 after one year, and $1.64 for each further day.
What this page does not know
- The rate written on your judgment. If the court stated a rate, that one applies, whatever the default is today.
- Partial payments. Interest accrues only on what is still unpaid.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the statute or the office that publishes it; confirm the current rate with the court clerk before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the post-judgment interest rate in Massachusetts right now?
12% a year for an ordinary money judgment, fixed in the statute, under M.G.L. c.231 §§6B, 6C.
How is the Massachusetts rate set?
Fixed in the statute at 12% a year for both tort (§6B) and contract (§6C) judgments. In Massachusetts interest runs from the date the action was filed, not only from judgment. It changes only when the legislature acts.
Is it simple or compound interest?
Simple interest: it is calculated on the original judgment amount only and never on earlier interest.
Can my Massachusetts judgment carry a different rate?
Yes. A contract that sets a rate carries that rate. Judgments against the Commonwealth use the §6I rate. The judgment itself may also state a rate, and that controls.
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