| Organization: | Juvenile Court Massachusetts Court System |
|---|---|
| Date published: | July 2, 2026 |
Introduction
The Massachusetts Juvenile Court handles cases where someone reports that a child is being abused and/or neglected because their parents are not taking care of them. Most of the care and protections are filed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). If the care and protection case is opened, laws and rules need to be followed. Many, but not all of those, are explained on this page. This page is designed to explain the care and protection process in Juvenile Court. Anyone who is interested can learn more about care and protection here. This is legal information only and does not take the place of legal advice. If you are involved in a care and protection case, and have a question, ask your attorney. They can give you advice and explain the details.