General Provisions

(1) Office Hours. The offices of the Secretary of State shall be open from 8:45 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. except Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. (2) Date of Receipt. All communications, including correspondence, motions and pleadings, shall be deemed to be filed or received on the date on which they are actually received by the agency, party or other person. (3) Computation of Time. Computation of any period of time referred to in these rules shall begin with the first day following that on which the act which initiates such period of time occurs. When the last day of the period so computed is a day on which the agency is closed, the period shall run until the end of the following business day. In computing time, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are to be excluded. (4) Extension of Time. It shall be within the discretion of the agency to extend, for good cause shown, any time limit prescribed or allowed by these rules. All requests forextensionsshall be made by motion in accordance with 950 CMR 31.03(6). The agency shall notify all parties of its action upon the motion. Extensions shall be granted only when the agency is satisfied that good cause has been shown, and not otherwise. (5) Signatures. Every application, notice, pleading, complaint, motion, brief, memorandum and other document shall be signed by the filing party or by one or more attorneys, in their individual names on behalf of, and representing the said filing party. This signature constitutes a certificate by the signer that he has read the document; that to the best of his knowledge every statement contained in the instrument is true; and that it is not interposed for delay.