Massachusetts prejudgment interest branches
United States Massachusetts prejudgment interest has covered tort, contract, catch-all, and Commonwealth branches.
→ All Massachusetts judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Statutory branches Branch-specific
2026 Massachusetts prejudgment interest branches at a glance
- Headline branch
- 12% per year (branch shown)
- Recorded reference date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- M.G.L. c. 231, § 6B
- Rate basis
- Statutory branches
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
Massachusetts uses 12% for covered tort awards under M.G.L. c.231 §6B, covered contract awards without a controlling contract rate under §6C, and the §6H catch-all. The clerk adds interest to a covered award using that branch’s accrual rule. Commonwealth awards instead follow the Treasury-linked §6I branch, capped at 10%.
When Massachusetts prejudgment interest applies
Section 6B covers specified tort damages, §6C covers actions based on contractual obligations, and §6H supplies a catch-all where interest is not otherwise provided by law. A controlling contract rate can replace the 12% §6C default, and §6I supplies a separate rate for Commonwealth awards.
When it starts accruing
Tort (§ 6B): from the date of commencement of the action (filing). Contract (§ 6C): from the date of the breach or demand; if that date cannot be established, from the date of commencement of the action. Catch-all (§ 6H): from the date of commencement of the action.
Simple or compound
The cited statutes do not establish one universal prejudgment compounding method for every branch. Confirm the controlling award, statute, contract term, and court treatment before calculating.
→ Compare with the Massachusetts post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Prejudgment interest under M.G.L. c. 231, § 6B — 12% (simple interest). This is PREjudgment interest (accruing before entry of judgment) and is separate from Massachusetts’s post-judgment rate; availability is limited by claim type (see the page). Verify against the statute text. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Recorded reference date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 12% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Massachusetts — malegislature.gov):
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section6B
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Massachusetts Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/massachusetts-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under M.G.L. c. 231, § 6B; current-code reference checked for July 9, 2026.