Operating Procedure for the Middlesex Division of the Probate and Family Court Under Standing Order 2 – 20, as amended June 1, 2020 A. General Information: Until at least July 1, 2020, the Middlesex Division of the Probate and Family Court will be open to conduct emergency and non-emergency court business, and to adjudicate emergency and non- emergency matters identified herein. But courthouses will continue to be closed to the general public and all business will be conducted virtually (i.e., by telephone, videoconference, email, or comparable means, or through the electronic filing system), except as provided in the next paragraph. Where court personnel are physically present in a courtroom for the purpose of conducting a virtual hearing, no one other than court personnel may be physically present in the courtroom without the approval of the judge conducting the hearing. In-person proceedings will be conducted only where entry to a courthouse is required to address emergency matters that cannot be resolved virtually because it is not practicable or would be inconsistent with the protection of constitutional rights. Each Registry shall conduct emergency and non-emergency court business, including accepting the filing of pleadings and other documents, scheduling and facilitating hearings, issuing orders, and answering questions from attorneys, litigants, and the general public. All business will be conducted virtually unless, in an emergency matter, the filing of pleadings and other documents cannot be accomplished virtually. The Middlesex Division is now operating out of two locations. Middlesex-South remains at 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, while our new location, Middlesex-North is located at the Lowell Justice Center, 370 Jackson Street, 5th Floor, Lowell, MA 01852. Both locations are staffed daily with minimal Registry and Probation personnel, as well as two judges (one assigned as the emergency judge), again, with minimal judicial support personnel. Cases will be initiated and heard (Virtually/Telephonically) in the proper location as determined by the Catchment Area established for the division of the county and by the judge assigned to the case pursuant to the individual calendar system for each location or the emergency judge, if necessary, both are attached. Using an emergency hotline telephone number, e-filing, designated email addresses, telephonic hearings, Zoom video conferencing and a Virtual Registry, the Middlesex Division is working to manage our caseload with limited personnel on-site at each location. It is important that these protocols be followed so that cases move through the process timely and we operate in the most efficient way possible under the current circumstances. Failure to submit documents through the appropriate method and provide information as recommended will delay your case. A Quick Reference Guide and informational pages are attached to assist you in the best way to proceed with your matter. For more information on the division of the Middlesex Probate and Family Court, please visit www.mass.gov/courts. B. Filing Matters: All Divisions of the Probate and Family Court are accepting filings by: - mail - e-filing where available (estates and administration, divorce under G. L. c. 208, §1B, and guardianship of incapacitated persons) - email for all emergency and non-emergency matters - telephone for Restraining Orders Pursuant to G. L. c. 209A/Orders to Vacate Pursuant to G. L. c. 208, § 34B C. Emergency Matters: The emergency matters listed below are included in Section B, Section E, and Section G (1), (2), and (3) of Standing Order 2 – 20, as amended June 1, 2020, and shall be handled pursuant to the Standing Order. Emergency matters – no screening: 1. Restraining Orders Pursuant to G. L. c. 209A/Orders to Vacate Pursuant to G. L. c. 208, § 34B 2. Petitions/motions seeking a Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate/Comfort Measures Only (DNR/DNI/CMO) order, authorization for medical treatment order, or order for antipsychotic medication; 3. Petitions seeking appointment of a temporary guardian or conservator; 4. Petitions pursuant to G. L. c. 19A, § 7 and G. L. c. 19C, § 20 – protective services; 5. Health Care Proxy actions; 6. Petitions/Motions for Appointment of Special Personal Representative; 7. Petitions for marriage without delay; 8. Complaints for Dependency (SIJS) and any related motions; and 9. All requests for injunctive relief. Emergency matters – screening allowed: 1. Motions for temporary orders where exceptional/exigent circumstances have been demonstrated. 2. Contempt actions where exceptional/exigent circumstances have been demonstrated. 3. Sua sponte custody orders to the Department of Children and Families pursuant to G. L. c. 119A, § 23 (a) (3) that expired or will expire between March 18, 2020 and July 1, 2020 will be administratively extended for 150 days from the original expiration date. A party may, for good cause shown, seek to bring the matter forward earlier upon a demonstration of exigent circumstances. The request may be decided on the pleadings. 4. Treatment plan orders that expired or will expire between March 18, 2020 and July 1, 2020 will be administratively extended for 180 days from the original expiration date. A party may, for good cause shown, seek to bring the matter forward earlier upon a demonstration of exigent circumstances. The request may be decided on the pleadings. 5. Temporary orders of appointment in guardianship and conservator cases that expired or will expire between March 18, 2020 and July 1, 2020 will be administratively extended for 180 days from the original expiration date. A party may, for good cause shown, seek to bring the matter forward earlier upon a demonstration of exigent circumstances. The request may be decided on the pleadings. If you have an emergency which falls within this section, please call the designated COVID- 19 emergency hotline at 617- 768- 5906 to speak with the registry representative on duty who will receive the nature of the emergency and direct you on the procedure to file [i.e., pleadings required, other documents required, method of transmittal]. Submission of these pleadings may be made by email where e-filing is unavailable. More information about The requirements for emailing pleadings isare provided in Section D below. When all required documents, completed and conforming, are submitted, the registry representative will file, scan, docket, and transmit them to the emergency judge in the appropriate location (Cambridge or Lowell) as defined by the Catchment Area. No physical file is provided to the courtroom. The emergency judge will utilize the documents that you have provided to the Court and MassCourts to review the case. If the emergency does not require screening, the emergency judge’s clerk/AJCM will then contact you to conduct an emergency virtual hearing. If your case was screened as provided above, the clerk/AJCM will contact you to inform you as to the Court’s determination whether an emergency virtual/telephonic hearing will be conducted or if the matter should be marked up for a hearing in accordance with other parts of this protocol. Please call the emergency hotline number 617-768-5906 prior to submitting any documents to insure there are no delays in processing your emergency. This emergency hotline number serves both Middlesex-North and Middlesex-South Catchment Areas. D. Virtual non-emergency matters: The judges of the Middlesex Division of the Probate and Family Court are continuing to attempt to hear all case types/events, excluding trials and evidentiary hearings, virtually, in whole or in part, where it is practicable to do so. The volume and type of cases to be heard will be determined by the Register and First Justice, collectively, and will be scheduled based upon on-site and remote staffing availability and the availability of technological support and training needed to conduct virtual hearings. Because of the unique characteristics of each physical location, some courts will not be able to safely increase staffing levels in the same way as other locations. To facilitate the business of each division, in the discretion of the First Justice, the individual assignment of cases may be relaxed so that all cases may be heard as scheduled. Whether it is practicable to address certain case types/events will differ for each division of the Probate and Family Court, and will be based on a variety of considerations. However, the Probate and Family Court is committed to hearing as many case types/events as is possible. The AJCMs, clerks and judges have been reviewing their cases and rescheduling canceled non-emergency hearings of all types. Given that the hearings will be done Virtually/Telephonically and that staff is working on a staggered schedule, there will be significant limitations on the number of cases that a judge can hear each day, but every attempt will be made to hear as many cases as possible. Both litigants and counsel must provide complete contact information, including a telephone number and email address on all pleadings. Failure to provide this information on the pleadings may cause delays in the processing of your case, including the inability to schedule a virtual hearing. Again, if your case is an emergency, please proceed as provided in Section C. All other matters will be received, reviewed, filed, scheduled or decided without hearing, if appropriate, as follows: Filing Procedures: USE ONLY ONE METHOD TO FILE REGULAR MAIL: Middlesex Probate and Family Court – South 208 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141 Middlesex Probate and Family Court – North Lowell Justice Center 370 Jackson Street – 5th Floor Lowell, MA 01852 Pleadings may be submitted via regular, expedited or express mail to both the North or South locations. Please see the attached Memorandum on the Division of the Middlesex Probate and Family Court and Middlesex Probate and Family Court Catchment Areas for information on the appropriate location to file. EFILE: www.efilema.com It is preferred that you submit your pleadings through our e-filing system, if available for your case type.