The Probate and Family Court Administrative Office will begin to implement Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:07 by utilizing a pilot program in cooperation with three (3) divisions of the Probate and Family Court; Bristol, Norfolk and Suffolk with one category of Guardian ad Litem appointments in certain probate matters.

     Commencing on May 8, 2000, applications will be available in the Registry of Probate for those divisions for the following consolidated probate category which will be known as Category D:

Probate of Wills – G.L. c. 192, §§ 1B, 1C; Uniform Practice XXVI
Proceedings for arbitration or compromise by fiduciaries – G.L. c. 204, §§ 13, 14, 18
Future Contingent Interests – G.L. c. 204, § 16
Accounts and settlements – G.L. c. 206, §§ 24, 30
Commissioner for insolvent estate – G.L. c. 198, § 2
Administrator – G.L. c. 192, § 1 et seq. Trustee – G.L. c. 203, §§ 4, 5, 12

     Persons wishing to apply to receive appointments in at least one of the pilot divisions for this category ONLY must submit an Application to the:

List Coordinator Administrative Office Probate and Family Court Dept. 24 New Chardon Street, 6th Floor Boston, MA 02114-9666

     The Probate and Family Court Guardian ad Litem Committee identified sixty (60) sources of authority for fee-generating appointments within the Probate and Family Court. To date the Committee has been able to aggregate this number to twenty-eight (28) consolidated categories. For these twenty-eight (28) consolidated categories, there are nineteen (19) lists which need to be established and maintained.

     On April 3, 2000, the Probate and Family Court implemented the Rule statewide with respect to the categories for which C.P.C.S. sets forth the qualifications and maintains the lists of qualified candidates. At that time, every judge in the Probate and Family Court began making appointments from the C.P.C.S. maintained lists.

     The Administrative Office will now implement a pilot program using lists for one consolidated category of guardian ad litem appointments in certain probate matters. The experience gained from the pilot program will enable the Administrative Office to accurately evaluate the application process and identify the staffing and computer resources that will be needed for full implementation of all categories on a statewide basis. Once those needs have been identified and met, the pilot category will be expanded statewide.

     Upon completion of the pilot program, the Administrative Office will then solicit applications statewide until all categories are implemented.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE INITIAL LIST IN THE PILOT DIVISIONS
MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON JUNE 9, 2000