Deadlines After a Conviction
Mass. R. App. P. 4 — 30 days to appeal a conviction
30 days. In a criminal case, unless otherwise provided by statute or court rule, the notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the lower court within 30 days after entry of the judgment, appealable order, or adjudication appealed from, or entry of a notice of appeal by the Commonwealth, or the imposition of sentence, whichever comes last.
Who handles this in Massachusetts: Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs, listed in the Massachusetts directory.
After a motion for a new trial. If a motion for a new trial is filed under Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure 25(b)(2) or 30 within 30 days of the verdict, finding of guilt, judgment, adjudication, or imposition of sentence, the period to appeal does not end until 30 days from entry of the order disposing of the motion. A motion for reconsideration filed within 30 days of that order carries it to 30 days from the order on reconsideration.
Excusable neglect. Upon a showing of excusable neglect, the lower court may extend the time for filing the notice of appeal for a period not to exceed 30 days from the expiration of the time otherwise prescribed. A request made after the time has expired is made by motion with service upon all other parties.
From inside an institution. A self-represented party confined in an institution files on time by depositing the notice of appeal in the institution's internal mail system on or before the last day for filing, with a signed certificate setting out the date of deposit. If the institution has a system designed for legal mail, that system must be used.
A motion for a new trial, assigned counsel on appeal, a stay pending appeal, and federal habeas corpus run on rules of their own and are not on this page. Whether a deadline has passed in a particular case is a question for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mass. R. App. P. 4 — Appeal, when taken
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.