2026 Massachusetts judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Current 2026 snapshot: Massachusetts’s recorded headline post-judgment branch is 12% per year; the recorded prejudgment reference is 12% per year.
Everything Massachusetts charges in interest on a money judgment or an overdue debt, in one place — the rate after judgment and the rate before it, each recorded with a cited source and linked to its full page with observations, scope, and known carve-outs.
| Metric | Rate or rule | Effective / reference date | Authority | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-judgment interest | 12% | Recorded reference date: July 8, 2026 | M.G.L. c. 235 §8 | Statutory branches |
| Prejudgment interest | 12% | Recorded reference date: July 9, 2026 | M.G.L. c. 231, § 6B | Branch-specific |
Post-judgment interest
Massachusetts's recorded headline post-judgment branch is 12% per year; another branch may control. M.G.L. c.235 §8 makes a Massachusetts money judgment bear interest from entry at the same rate used for prejudgment interest in that award. The displayed 12% is the common covered branch under c.231 §§6B, 6C, and 6H—not a universal postjudgment rate. A contract rate can control under §6C, and Commonwealth awards instead use the Treasury-linked §6I branch, capped at 10%.
→ Full Massachusetts post-judgment page — M.G.L. c. 235 §8, effective-date history, scope, and official source.
Prejudgment interest
Massachusetts's recorded headline prejudgment branch is 12% per year; another claim-specific branch may control. 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%.
→ Full Massachusetts prejudgment page — M.G.L. c. 231, § 6B, when it applies, accrual, compounding, and carve-outs.
Frequently asked
What is the post-judgment interest rate in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts uses multiple post-judgment branches. The recorded headline branch is 12% per year, but another branch may control. Massachusetts postjudgment interest follows the prejudgment rate used in the award.
What is the prejudgment interest rate in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts uses multiple prejudgment branches. The recorded headline branch is 12% per year, but claim-specific authority controls. The clerk adds interest to covered awards, but the applicable rate and rule depend on the statute governing the award.
Is Massachusetts judgment interest simple or compound, and when does it start?
Rule 54(f) treats accrued prejudgment interest as part of the judgment total for postjudgment interest. The cited authorities therefore do not support a blanket statement that every Massachusetts award uses one universal simple-interest calculation. Postjudgment interest runs from entry of the judgment under c.235 §8. The earlier prejudgment start date depends on the controlling c.231 branch and the facts of the award.
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Massachusetts Judgment & Prejudgment Interest Rates.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/states/massachusetts/ Each rate includes a cited source and an effective or recorded-reference date; confirm the controlling authority before use.
Compare every state on the state interest-rate index and the prejudgment interest index, or enter a confirmed rate in the judgment interest and per-diem calculator. Reference data only — not legal advice.