In Massachusetts, Summary Process is the legal term for eviction. Eviction is the legal process taken by a landlord to remove a tenant from rental property. A landlord can evict a tenant only after receiving a court order. It is illegal for a landlord to take it upon himself or herself to remove a tenant, prior to receiving a court order. The judgment of the court order in favor of the landlord is called an execution. Once an execution is ordered, the landlord must contact the sheriff to levy the execution. The sheriff notifies the tenant 48 hours prior to execution of the levy and it must take place during open court hours. The sheriff must arrange for the tenants belongings to be packed and moved into a rental unit for three months and change the locks to the property, all at the expense of the landlord.