Stop Doxing

Massachusetts

Official Massachusetts programs that can help protect your privacy, and where to find legal help. Each program decides who qualifies, so check its page for the details.

New to this? Start with what doxing is.

Keep your home address private

The Address Confidentiality Program, run by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, gives participants another mailing address to use with state and local agencies. Staff collect mail sent to that address and forward it to the participant's home.1

  • It helps keep your real address off new public records. It does not protect an address that was already shared.12
  • It is for survivors who live in Massachusetts, can show that sharing their new address threatens their safety, and have moved or will move to a new city or town in the state. The abuser must not know the new address, and it must not be in any public record. People who provide, help with, or promote legally protected reproductive or gender-affirming health care can also apply.2
  • You apply with help from an application assistant. Assistants work at some state or local agencies and at nonprofits that serve survivors.1

Go to the Address Confidentiality Program (sec.state.ma.us)

Help for victims of crime

The Victim Compensation Program at the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance can help eligible victims of violent crime with certain costs, such as uninsured medical care and mental health counseling. The program decides who qualifies.3

Go to Victim Compensation (mass.gov)

Find a lawyer

This site does not give legal advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed Massachusetts lawyer.

  • The Massachusetts Bar Association runs a Lawyer Referral Service. Using it is free, but the lawyers are private and may charge for the first half-hour meeting.4 Many county bar associations also run referral services.5
  • If you have a low income, you may be able to get free legal help. The Attorney General's office points people to the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder and to legal aid groups that give free legal help to people with low incomes. It also links to MassLegalHelp, a legal information site.5

Find a lawyer referral service (masslawhelp.com)

Find free legal aid (masslrf.org)

Last checked:

Sources

  1. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. "How to Apply for ACP as a Survivor." sec.state.ma.us
  2. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. "ACP Eligibility." sec.state.ma.us
  3. Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. "Applying for Victims of Violent Crime Assistance." mass.gov
  4. Massachusetts Bar Association. "Lawyer Referral Service." masslawhelp.com
  5. Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. "Finding legal help." mass.gov