Law Library  Massachusetts Juvenile Court Rules for the Care and Protection of Children

Table of Contents

• Rules for the Care and Protection of Children (Effective until August 4, 2025)
  • Rule 1. Scope of rules 
  • Rule 2. Definition of terms  
  • Rule 3. Precepts 
  • Rule 4. Appointment of counsel  
  • Rule 5. Process 
  • Rule 6. Filing of birth certificates (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 7. Service and form of papers (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 8. Appearances 
  • Rule 9. Temporary custody hearing and waiver (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 10. Written reports by the department 
  • Rule 11. Investigator's report in care and protection cases (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 12. Assignment of care and protection cases 
  • Rule 13. Discovery (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 14. Status hearing (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 15. Pretrial conference in care and protection cases (Effective until August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 16. Notice to foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for a child 
  • Rule 17. Sanctions and contempt 
  • Rule 18. Subpoenas 
  • Rule 19. Trial judge's order, findings of fact and conclusions of law and notification by clerk of issuance of findings of fact and conclusions of law 
  • Rule 20. Appeal 
• Rules for the Care and Protection of Children (Effective August 4, 2025)
  • Rule 1. Scope of rules 
  • Rule 2. Definition of terms  
  • Rule 3. Precepts 
  • Rule 4. Appointment of counsel  
  • Rule 5. Process 
  • Rule 6. Filing of birth certificates (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 7. Service and form of papers (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 8. Appearances 
  • Rule 9. Temporary custody hearing and waiver (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 10. Written reports by the department 
  • Rule 11. Investigator's report in care and protection cases (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 12. Assignment of care and protection cases 
  • Rule 13. Discovery/Motion status hearing (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 14. Pre-trial conference in care and protection cases (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 15. Trial readiness conference (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 16. Hearing on the merits (Effective August 4, 2025) 
  • Rule 17. Notice to foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative providing care for a child 
  • Rule 18. Sanctions and contempt 
  • Rule 19. Subpoenas 
  • Rule 20. Trial judge's order, findings of fact and conclusions of law and notification by clerk of issuance of findings of fact and conclusions of law 
  • Rule 21. Appeal