Massachusetts § 65H - Early retirement allowance for judges

Full text of Massachusetts Massachusetts General Laws § 65H — Early retirement allowance for judges, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 65H. Early retirement allowance for judges

Section 65H. A chief justice, administrative justice, justice, associate justice, judge, associate judge, or special justice, hereafter in this section and in section sixty-five I called judge, who has paid the full amount of the contributions required, if any, by paragraph (b) of section sixty-five D, shall receive a retirement allowance, at the option of the judge and in lieu of any pension or retirement allowance to which he may be entitled, if any, under section sixty-five A, sixty-five B, or sixty-five D, to become effective on the date of his retirement. Payments under such retirement allowance shall be made as provided in sections twelve and thirteen. The yearly amount of such retirement allowance to a judge provided for under this section shall, subject to the limitations set forth in this section, be based on the salary of the judge at the time of his retirement, multiplied by the number of continuous years of service as a judge, and further multiplied by the percent allowable based on the age at the date of retirement as shown in the following table:

The amount of the retirement allowance provided for in this section shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the salary of the judge at the time of his retirement. No such retirement allowance shall be paid unless the judge shall have served continuously as a judge for at least ten years. For the purpose of this section, a year of service as a special justice shall be computed by dividing the number of days of actual sittings in such capacity by two hundred and sixty, whether or not such sittings occurred in one calendar or fiscal year. A judge shall be deemed to have served continuously even though a period not in excess of thirty days shall have intervened between the holding of one judicial office and the holding of another judicial office.

Source: official Massachusetts text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts § 65H

What does Massachusetts General Laws § 65H cover?

Section 65H ("Early retirement allowance for judges") is part of the Massachusetts General Laws, the codified statutory law of Massachusetts. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Massachusetts § 65H?

A common citation format is "Massachusetts General Laws § 65H" (Massachusetts). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Massachusetts law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Massachusetts official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney.

How does Massachusetts § 65H apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Massachusetts can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.