Proceedings under this chapter shall be filed, heard and determined in the superior court department or the respective divisions of the district court department or the Boston municipal court department having venue over the plaintiff's residence. The juvenile court department shall have exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings under this chapter in which the defendant is under the age of 18. Such proceedings shall be filed, heard and determined in the division of the juvenile court department having venue over the plaintiff's residence.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258E, § 2