Cal. Civ. Code § 13
Stay of proceedings; costs
Operative Text
Section 13. Costs recoverable under section three shall, in actions to which sections nine to eleven, inclusive, apply, include only legal costs covering actual disbursements and shall not include fictitious costs, so-called.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 13, when a summary process (eviction) action falls within the scope of sections 9 through 11 of the same chapter, the costs a landlord may recover are limited to genuine, out-of-pocket legal expenses. The provision explicitly excludes so-called 'fictitious costs,' meaning padded, invented, or otherwise non-actual charges cannot be awarded. This rule shapes what a court may order a losing party to pay in covered eviction proceedings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
In eviction cases governed by Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 13, compliant operators document only real, verifiable disbursements when seeking cost recovery — things like actual filing fees or documented service-of-process charges. Inflated or fabricated cost entries are not recoverable under this provision, so maintaining clear records of genuine expenditures is consistent with the statute's requirements. Property managers handling cases that fall under sections 9–11 of chapter 239 generally ensure their cost submissions reflect only true out-of-pocket amounts.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 13 provides tenants in covered summary process cases a protection against being ordered to pay inflated or fictitious costs. If a cost award appears to include charges beyond actual disbursements, a tenant may raise the limitations of this provision as part of the proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid offices familiar with Massachusetts housing court practice can help tenants understand whether a particular cost claim falls within the bounds this section permits.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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