A Massachusetts Request for Notice to Show Cause for Contempt is a legal document that is used to initiate legal proceedings against someone who has violated a court order. This document is used when a party has failed to comply with an order issued by a court and requests that the offending party appear in court to explain why they have not complied. This document serves as an official notice to the offender that they must appear in court and show cause why they should not be held in contempt. There are two types of Massachusetts Request for Notice to Show Cause for Contempt: civil and criminal. A civil contempt notice is used to enforce a court order or judgment, while a criminal contempt notice is used to punish someone for deliberately violating a court order.