New Courtroom Recording System
The trial courts are implementing a new courtroom recording and transcript production system called “For the Record Court FM” (“FTR Court FM”). The courts in the following courthouses are already using FTR Court FM: Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Dedham, Edgartown, Fall River, Framingham/Natick, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lynn, Malden, Nantucket, New Bedford, Newburyport/Ipswich, Northampton, Plymouth, Quincy, Salem, Woburn, Worcester. Click here for more information.
FTR Court FM allows attorneys to listen to court recordings remotely from their offices without ordering CDs. These recordings are available almost immediately after the court event and attorneys do not have to wait for the court to make and mail out a CD. Click here for information on recording requests.
Military Affidavit Required in All New Domestic Cases
The Probate & Family Court has announced that a Military Affidavit must be filed with all new domestic cases in the Probate & Family Court. Click here for a copy of the affidavit.
Probate & Family Court New Statement of Payment Form (Rule 1:07)
The Probate & Family Court has added a new fillable Statement of Payment Form (Rule 1:07) to our web site forms page. The link is below. If you go to the web site please use Internet Explorer to make sure you have full access to all forms. The form has been added to the P&F forms - Miscellaneous section on Mass.gov.
Probate & Family Court Announces New Child Support Guidelines Effective September 15, 2017
Chief Justice Carey approved new child support guidelines which will take effect on September 15, 2017. Click here for the new guidelines and information about the 2016-2017 Child Support Guidelines Task Force review.
Parenting Coordination Standing Order 1-17 Effective July 1, 2017
The Probate and Family Court announces the approval of the Parenting Coordination Standing Order 1-17 which will be effective on July 1, 2017, and the establishment of the Category V Fee-Generating Appointment List. Click here for more information. Please contact Denise Fitzgerald for questions specifically about the Standing Order. Please contact Jocelynne Deborah Welsh with any other questions (training requirements, timeframe, applications, etc.).
Please click here for a copy of the new Judicial Standing Order for Trial Readiness from the Springfield District Court.
Beginning in November 2016, for the Jury of Six Session in the Belchertown District Court, the following rules of procedure shall be in effect:
1. All matters scheduled for jury trial shall be automatically scheduled for a final status conference in the District Court at 10:00 a.m. on a preceding Wednesday approximately one week before trial.
2. The purpose of this status conference is to determine which cases are ready for and expected to be jury trials. The goal is to allow attorneys to focus on trial matters and the Court to avoid needlessly bringing in witness and jurors.
3. All attorneys with a matter scheduled for jury trial are required to attend this trial status session.
4. All defendants are required to attend this trial status session.
5. All substantive pre-trial motions must be filed with the court one week in advance of the status date. Such motions include, but are not limited to, motions for the appointment of counsel to determine 5th Amendment rights, motions to admit excited utterances, motions to admit prior or subsequent bad acts, and motions to admit or preclude the admission of any proposed evidence. This does not include boilerplate motions such as motions to sequester witnesses or to exclude the results of the HGN test.
6. The status date is the last opportunity to execute a jury waiver and request a bench trial. The Court will endeavor to honor the original trial date and schedule the bench trial on that same date, or, if requested, on a different date at the convenience of the parties.
7. If the Defendant tenders a plea on the day of trial and it is not accepted by the Court, the case will proceed to trial that day. Defense counsel is encouraged to bring such cases forward to offer a plea prior to the trial date.
By Order of the Court,
Thomas H. Estes
First Justice of the Belchertown District Court