Probate and Family Court Rules  Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-20: Guardian ad litem evaluations, investigations, and reports in the Probate and Family Court in light of COVID-19 emergency

In light of COVID-19, Standing Order 3-20, as amended June 1, 2020 supersedes Standing Order 3-20, as amended May 6, 2020, and Standing Order 3-20, as amended April 13, 2020, as well as any provision of Probate and Family Court Standing Order 2-20 and the GAL Category E and Category F standards that may be in conflict, and is intended to provide guidance to the interpretation of the Standing Order 2-20:

1. Any guardian ad litem appointment made prior to March 18, 2020 shall be extended until June 30, 2020.
2. If a guardian ad litem report is due to be filed between March 18, 2020 and May 18, 2020, the due date for the report shall be the earlier of twelve weeks from the original due date or June 30, 2020, unless a judge sets a new date certain for the guardian ad litem report to be filed.
3. Guardian ad litem evaluation or investigation interviews/meetings shall be conducted in-person only if the guardian ad litem elects to do so. Interviews/meetings may be conducted by telephone or videoconferencing, at the election of the guardian ad litem.
4. Any questions related to a particular guardian ad litem appointment, investigation, or report should be addressed to the Assistant Judicial Case Manager and/or Sessions Clerk for the judge who made the appointment.
5. Questions about how to review a guardian ad litem report should be addressed to the Judicial Case Manager.
6. The Probate and Family Court will amend, allow to expire, or extend this Standing Order no later than July 1, 2020.