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MGL 190B, Article V. Protection of persons under disability and their property

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Commentary on Article V

Article V commentary and prefatory note

Part 1. General provisions and definitions

  • Section 5-104 (Reserved)

§ 5-101 Definitions and inclusions

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, §§ 306-308, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-102 Facility of payment or delivery
§ 5-103 Delegation of powers by parent or guardian
§ 5-105 Venue
§ 5-106 Appointment of counsel; guardian ad litem
§ 5-107 Protection of minors

Part 2. Guardians of minors

  • Section 5-205 (Reserved); Massachusetts comment: The UPC section on venue has been moved with §§ 5-302, 5-312 and 5-403 to a new section 5.
  • Section 5-211 (Reserved)

§ 5-201 Appointment and status of guardian of minor
§ 5-202 Parental or guardian appointment of guardian for minor

Amended by St. 2026, c. 163, §§ 9-11, effective August 5, 2026

§ 5-203 Objection by minor fourteen or older to parental appointment
§ 5-204 Court appointment of guardian of minor; conditions for appointment; temporary guardian
§ 5-206 Procedure for court appointment of guardian of minor
§ 5-207 Court appointment of guardian of minor; qualifications; priority of minor's nominee
§ 5-208 Bond; consent to service by acceptance of appointment; notice
§ 5-209 Powers, duties, rights and immunities of guardian of minor; limitations
§ 5-210 Termination of appointment of guardian; general
§ 5-212 Resignation, removal, and other post-appointment proceedings

Part 3. Guardians of incapacitated persons

  • Section 5-302 (Reserved)
  • Section 5-312 (Reserved); Massachusetts comment: All sections concerning venue in guardianship or protective proceedings are consolidated in § 5-105.

§ 5-301 Nomination of guardian for incapacitated person by will or other writing
§ 5-303 Procedure for court appointment of a guardian of an incapacitated person
§ 5-304 Notice in guardianship or conservatorship proceeding

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 309, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-305 Who may be guardian; parties [priorities]
§ 5-306 Findings; order of appointment
§ 5-306A Substituted judgment
§ 5-307 Bond; acceptance of appointment; consent to jurisdiction
§ 5-308 Emergency orders; temporary guardians
§ 5-309 Powers, duties, rights and immunities of guardians, limitations

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 310, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-310 Termination of guardianship for incapacitated person
§ 5-311 Removal or resignation of guardian; termination of incapacity
§ 5-313 Religious freedom of incapacitated person

Part 4. Management of property of persons under disability and minors

  • Section 5-403 (Reserved)
  • Section 5-406 (Reserved)
  • Section 5-414 (Reserved); Massachusetts comment: The UPC section on death, resignation or removal of conservators has been removed to § 5-429 and revised to be consistent with § 5-311 which applies to guardians.

§ 5-401 Management of estate

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 311, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-402 Protective proceedings; jurisdiction of business affairs of protected persons
§ 5-404 Original petition for appointment or protective order

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 312, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-405 Notice
§ 5-407 Findings; order of appointment; permissible court orders

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 313, effective June 12, 2026

§ 5-408 Protective arrangements and single transactions authorized
§ 5-409 Who may be appointed conservator; penalties
§ 5-410 Bond
§ 5-411 Terms and requirements of bonds
§ 5-412 Acceptance of appointment; consent to jurisdiction
§ 5-412A Emergency orders; temporary conservators
§ 5-413 Compensation and expenses
§ 5-415 Petitions for orders subsequent to appointment
§ 5-416 General duty of conservator; plan
§ 5-417 Inventory and records
§ 5-418 Accounts
§ 5-419 Conservators; title by appointment
§ 5-420 Recording of conservator's letters
§ 5-421 Sale, encumbrance, or transaction involving conflict of interest voidable; exceptions
§ 5-422 Persons dealing with conservators; protection
§ 5-423 Powers of conservator in administration
§ 5-423A Delegation
§ 5-424 Distributive duties and powers of conservator
§ 5-425 Enlargement or limitation of powers of conservator
§ 5-426 Preservation of estate plan; right to examine
§ 5-427 Claims against protected person
§ 5-428 Personal liability of conservator
§ 5-429 Removal or resignation of conservator; termination of disability; termination of proceedings
§ 5-430 Payment of debt and delivery of property to foreign conservator without local proceedings
§ 5-431 Foreign conservator; proof of authority; bond; powers

Part 5. Durable power of attorney

Part 5: Prefatory note
§ 5-501 Definition
§ 5-502 Durable power of attorney not affected by lapse of time, disability or incapacity
§ 5-503 Relation of attorney in fact to court-appointed fiduciary
§ 5-504 Power of attorney not revoked until notice
§ 5-505 Proof of continuance of durable and other powers of attorney by affidavit
§ 5-506 Enforcement
§ 5-507 Protection; third parties

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