Source: http://lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/rules/probate/standingorders/4-09.html
Timestamp: 2014-09-17 21:34:07
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Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 3']

Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Standing Order 4-09
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Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Standing Order 4-09: Notice in Guardianship of Minors Matters
Pursuant to G. L. c. 190B, § 1-401 (b) of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, to
promote the well-being of the children of the Commonwealth who are the subjects of
Guardianship proceedings, the Probate and Family Court establishes the following order
for notice to parties in all Petitions for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor proceedings.
Interested Parties under G. L. c. 190B, § 5-206:
(1) The minor, if the minor is 14 or more years of age and is not the petitioner; (2) Any person who has been awarded care or custody of the minor by a Court of
competent jurisdiction, who is alleged to have had the principal care or custody of
the minor, or with whom the minor has resided during the 60 days preceding the
filing of the petition, excluding foster parents. If the Department of Children and
Families has custody of the minor, it must be served; (3) Any living parent of the minor, excluding a parent whose parental rights have
been terminated or a parent who has signed a voluntary surrender or, if none,
brothers and sisters 18 years or older or, if none, heirs apparent or presumptive; (4) The spouse if the minor is married; (5) Any person nominated as Guardian by the minor if the minor has attained 14
years of age; (6) Any parental or Guardian appointee whose appointment has not been prevented or
terminated under G. L. c. 190B, § 5-203; (7) Any Guardian or Conservator currently acting for the minor in this
Commonwealth or elsewhere; and (8) The United States Veterans Administration or its successor if the minor is entitled
to any benefit, estate or income paid or payable by or through said Administration
or its successors. Order:
Upon the filing of the Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor, the Court shall
establish a date for hearing on the Petition and enter this date on the “Order and Notice.”
For Petitions that also include a request for the appointment of a temporary Guardian
(either with notice or ex parte), the date for hearing on the Petition shall be on or before
the expiration of the temporary Guardianship. For all other Petitions, the date for hearing
on the Petition shall be at least twenty-one (21) days after the filing of the Petition, but no
more than forty-five (45) days after the filing of the Petition. Except as provided for in subsection “c” of this order, following the filing of Petition, the
petitioner shall cause an “Order and Notice” and a copy of the Petition to be served by a
constable, deputy sheriff, sheriff or other person approved by the Court on all interested
parties. The Order and Notice shall be on a form issued or approved by the Court and
shall be served with a copy of the Petition in the following manner: (a) If the place of residence or whereabouts of an interested party is known, service shall
be accomplished on the interested party by: (i) Delivery in hand to the party at least fourteen days before the date of
hearing for the Petition. If the minor is above the age of fourteen years
and has not nominated the Guardian proposed in the petition in
conformance with the requirements of G.L. c.190B, § 5-207, then
service shall be made in the same manner on the minor; or (ii) Written and duly notarized endorsement of the party’s acceptance of
service on the Order and Notice of hearing, whether within or without
the Commonwealth. (b) If the place of residence or whereabouts of an interested party is known, but the
petitioner has been unable to accomplish service by delivery despite efforts to do so, the
Petitioner may accomplish service on that interested party, either within or without the
Commonwealth, by leaving a copy of the Petition and Order and Notice at his or her last
and usual place of residence, and by mailing by first-class mail copies to the interested
party at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing for the Petition, or by some
other method as ordered by the Court. (c) If the place of residence or whereabouts of an interested party is not known or cannot
be ascertained with reasonable diligence, the Court shall order that service be
accomplished on that interested party, either within or without the Commonwealth, by
mailing by first-class mail to the interested party at his or her last known address, at least
fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing for the Petition, or by some other
method as ordered by the Court. In addition, the Court shall issue an Order for Service
by Publication, and the petitioner shall cause notice to be published at least one time in
the newspaper or newspapers designated by the register of probate having general
circulation in the county where the proceeding is pending, the publication to appear at
least seven days before the date of the hearing for the Petition, unless otherwise directed
by the Court. (d) If the identity of an interested party is not known, service shall be accomplished on
that interested party by publication as follows: the Court shall issue an Order for Service
least seven days before the date of the hearing for the Petition, unless otherwise ordered
by the Court. (e) If the minor is entitled to any benefit, estate, or income paid or payable through
the United States Veterans Administration or its successor, service shall be made
on the Veterans Administration by regular first-class mail at least seven days before the
date of the hearing for the Petition. (f) If the minor is in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, service
shall be made on the Department of Children and Families by regular first-class mail at
least seven days before the date of the hearing for the Petition. (g) No notice need be given in the following circumstances: (1) to a person entitled to notice under this rule who has consented in writing
to the allowance of the Petition, if the consent is filed in Court; (2) to a parent who signed a voluntary surrender in conformance with G.L. c.
210, § 2, or (3) if the Court has terminated parental rights pursuant to G.L. c. 210, § 3. (h) The officer or other person making service in accordance with this rule shall make a
return of service on a copy of the Order and Notice, which the petitioner shall promptly
file with the Court. The return of service shall indicate the method of service. If service
is made by leaving at last and usual address and first class mail, the officer or other
person making service shall describe the efforts made to complete in-hand service. APPLICABILITY OF ORDER TO OTHER PROCEEDINGS This order for notice shall apply to all petitions relating to the Guardianship of a minor,
including, but not limited to, Petitions to Resign as Guardian of a Minor, Petitions for
Removal of Guardian of a Minor, Petitions for Visitation, and Petitions for Support.
Amended effective February 8, 2010.
May 10, 2011 1:48 PM.