PROBATE
AND FAMILY COURT SEEKS COMMENT ON FINAL DRAFT STANDARDS
FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORT WRITING FOR GUARDIANS
AD LITEM/INVESTGATORS PURSUANT TO G.L. c. 215, § 56A
The Draft
Standards for Investigations and Report Writing for
Guardians Ad Litem/Investigators appointed pursuant
to G.L. c. 215, § 56A are now available on the
Trial Court website. The Administrative Office
is seeking comments on the draft standards. Comments
may be submitted in written form to the Probate and
Family Court Administrative Office, Two Center Plaza,
Suite 210, Boston, MA 02108, Attn.: Mark R. Quigley,
Administrative Attorney.
Comments
must be received no later than November 21, 2003.
The
Probate and Family Court Administrative Office contracted
with the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of
Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) to develop comprehensive
standards for investigations and report writing for
guardians ad litem. The goal of the Administrative
Office is to develop comprehensive standards for investigations
and report writing while ensuring an affordable process
for litigants.
Pursuant
to this contract, AFCC worked with a Committee of judges
and lawyers appointed by Chief Justice Sean M. Dunphy
to develop comprehensive standards relating to the
investigations and reports of particular allegations
that are being investigated by guardians ad litem in
child welfare cases. In addition, AFCC is developing
a training module and curriculum materials incorporating
the new standards for investigations and report writing
to be used to orientate judges, court staff, attorneys
and mental health professionals who are appointed as
guardians ad litem to the use of the standards under
Category F pursuant to Supreme Judicial Court Rule
1:07.
