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Table of Contents

• General Laws Chapter 119, Care and Protection Proceedings/Termination of Parental Rights/CRA Cases s. 21 & 39E-L
• General Laws Chapter 210, Adoption and Changes of Names
• General Laws Chapter 190B Article V, Protection of Persons Under Disability and Their Property (The Guardianship Statute)
• Statutes, Case Law, and Informational Resources Regarding Confidentiality, Privilege, and Testimonial Disqualifications
• Statutes and Case Law Regarding Adolescent Consent to Medical Care

General Laws Chapter 119 (Care and Protection Proceedings)

• Chapter 119 s. 1, Declaration of policy; purpose
• Chapter 119 s. 21, Definitions
• Chapter 119 s. 21A, Admissibility of evidence; qualified experts
• Chapter 119 s. 22, Visitation of family foster homes; removal of child; discharge of child to parent or legal guardian
• Chapter 119 s. 23, Responsibility of department to provide foster care for children; placement with relatives; funeral expenses; child profile form; extension of child support until 22 years of age; assignment of support rights; assistance to foster care families
• Chapter 119 s. 23A, Children born to inmates of correctional facilities or jails; care and custody
• Chapter 119 s. 23B, Services to unwed mothers
• Chapter 119 s. 24, Procedure to commit child to custody or other disposition; notice and summons; emergency order transferring custody; investigation; abandoned children
• Chapter 119 s. 25, Hearing; custody of child
• Chapter 119 s. 26, Procedure at hearing; order of commitment; petition to dispense with parental consent to adoption; reimbursement of commonwealth; petition for review
• Chapter 119 s. 26A, Registration of interest for foster care placement; criminal record review
• Chapter 119 s. 26B, Grandparent visitation; sibling visitation; appeal of decision to deny visitation
• Chapter 119 s. 26C, Summary of foster care providers’ employment
• Chapter 119 s. 27, Appeals; procedure; notice of right to appeal; time limits
• Chapter 119 s. 28, Orders for payment of support; who may bring action; expiration of order or judgment
• Chapter 119 s. 29, Right to counsel; notice of right; court appointed counsel
• Chapter 119 s. 29A, Legal fees of minors in criminal proceedings; liability of parents
• Chapter 119 s. 29B, Determination of future status of committed children; orders; permanency hearings; appeals
• Chapter 119 s. 29C, Judicial certification of need to remove child from home
• Chapter 119 s. 29D, Notice of hearing
• Chapter 119 s. 32, Placement of children in private families; early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment standards; individualized health care plan
• Chapter 119 s. 33, Placement of children in family home care
• Chapter 119 s. 33B, Placement in family home care of juvenile or has or may have committed a sexual offense or arson
• Chapter 119 s. 34, Transportation of children in patrol wagons
• Chapter 119 s. 35, Furnishing parent or guardian information as to child; permission to visit; notice; parents convicted of first degree murder
• Chapter 119 s. 36, Bringing child into commonwealth with view to adoption, guardianship, custody or care; permit; application; bond
• Chapter 119 s. 37, Rules and regulations of department
• Chapter 119 s. 38, Closed hearings; publication of names
• Chapter 119 s. 38A, Petitions for order not to resuscitate or to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment; required recommendations; appeals
• Chapter 119 s. 39, Abandonment of infant under age of ten
• Chapter 119 s. 391/2, Placement of a newborn into foster care
• Chapter 119 s. 39D, Visitation rights of certain grandparents of unmarried minor children; place to file petition
  Chapter 119 s. 39E, Petitions seeking determination that child is in need of services; jurisdiction; standing (Child Requiring Assistance)
• Chapter 119 s. 39F, Right to counsel; determination of indigency; assessment of costs
• Chapter 119 s. 39G, Determination of child requiring assistance
• Chapter 119 s. 39H, Custodial Protection of child; notification and placement; bail; detention; right of appeal
• Chapter 119 s. 39I, Appeal; rights and procedures
• Chapter 119 s. 39K, Child welfare services needs of sexually exploited children
• Chapter 119 s. 39L, Children in violation of prohibition against common night walking or common streetwalking; petition for care and protection; appointment of guardian ad litem; stay of juvenile delinquency or criminal proceedings; failure of child to comply with requirements
• Chapter 119 s. 51A, Reporting of suspected abuse or neglect; mandated reporters; collection of physical evidence; penalties; contents of reports; liability; privileged communication
• Chapter 119 s. 51B, Investigation of report of abuse filed under Sec. 51A; removal of child; transmission and filing of written reports; notice to district attorney; disclosure of information by mandated reporter
• Chapter 119 s. 51C, Custody of injured child pending transfer to department or pending hearing
• Chapter 119 s. 51D, Powers and duties of area directors; multi-disciplinary service teams
• Chapter 119 s. 51E, Reports of injured children; files; confidentiality; penalties
• Chapter 119 s. 51F, Central registry of information; confidentiality; penalties
• Chapter 119 s. 51G, Severability of Secs. 51A to 51F
• Chapter 119 s. 51H, Protective alerts; transport of child to another state or country
• Search All Sections of Chapter 119
  

General Laws Chapter 210, Adoption of Children and Change of Names

• Chapter 210 s. 1, Nature of adoption; district or juvenile court
• Chapter 210 s. 2, Written consent of certain persons; form of consent; identification of father
• Chapter 210 s. 2A, Decree of adoption; entry; conditions precedent
• Chapter 210 s. 2B, Adoption decrees; mandatory language
• Chapter 210 s. 3, Dispensing with required consent in certain cases
• Chapter 210 s. 3B, Registration of interest for adoptive or pre-adoptive placement; criminal record review
• Chapter 210 s. 4, Notice
• Chapter 210 s. 4A, Fathers of children born out of wedlock; adoption rights
• Chapter 210 s. 5, Failure to object after notice; proceedings
• Chapter 210 s. 5A, Children under fourteen; adoption; regulations; removals
• Chapter 210 s. 5B, Adoptive custody; factors considered; requests for religious designation
• Chapter 210 s. 5C, Inspection of pleadings, reports, etc.; docket book
• Chapter 210 s. 5D, Release of information concerning adoption
• Chapter 210 s. 5E, Department of children and families adoption report
• Chapter 210 s. 6, Decree of court; force and effect; private hearings
• Chapter 210 s. 6A, Certificates of adoption
• Chapter 210 s. 6B, Adoption nunc pro tunc
• Chapter 210 s. 6C, Agreement for post-adoption contact or communication
• Chapter 210 s. 6D, Enforcement of agreement
• Chapter 210 s. 6E, Decisions of adoptive parent on behalf of child
• Chapter 210 s. 9, Succession to property; right of child adopted in foreign state
• Chapter 210 s. 10, Section adoption; effect
• Chapter 210 s. 11, Appeals
• Chapter 210 s. 11A, Adoption services offered by certain persons or agencies; penalty
• Chapter 210 s. 12, Petitions for change of name
• Chapter 210 s. 13, Notice and certificate; decree; entry; conditions precedent
• Chapter 210 s. 14, Annual return of changes of name
  

General Laws Chapter 190B, Article V, Protection of Persons Under Disability and Their Property (The Guardianship Statute)

• Chapter 190B s. 5-101, Definitions and inclusions
• Chapter 190B s. 5-102, Facility of payment or delivery
• Chapter 190B s. 5-103, Delegation of powers by parent or guardian
• Chapter 190B s. 5-105, Venue
• Chapter 190B s. 5-106, Appointment of counsel; guardian ad litem
• Chapter 190B s. 5-107, Protection of minors
• Chapter 190B s. 5-201, Appointment and status of guardian of minor
• Chapter 190B s. 5-202, Parental or guardian appointment of guardian for minor
• Chapter 190B s. 5-203, Objection by minor fourteen or older to parental appointment
• Chapter 190B s. 5-204, Court appointment of guardian of minor; conditions for appointment; temporary guardian
• Chapter 190B s. 5-206, Procedure for court appointment of guardian of minor
• Chapter 190B s. 5-207, Court appointment of guardian of minor; qualifications; priority of child’s nominee
• Chapter 190B s. 5-208, Bond; consent to service by acceptance of appointment; notice
• Chapter 190B s. 5-209, Powers, duties, rights and immunities of guardian of minor; limitations
• Chapter 190B s. 5-210, Termination of appointment of guardian; general
• Chapter 190B s. 5-212, Resignation, removal, and other post-appointment proceedings
• Search All Sections of Chapter 190B
  

Statutes, Case Law, and Informational Resources Regarding Confidentiality, Privilege, and Testimonial Disqualifications

• Psychologist privilege and confidentiality: General Laws Chapter 112 s. 129A, Confidential communications
• Social worker confidentiality and privilege (note: applies only to state, county, and municipal government employees)
  • General Laws Chapter 112 s. 135A, Confidential communications; exceptions
  • General Laws Chapter 112 s. 135B, Confidential communications; testimonial privilege
  • Bernard v. Commonwealth, 424 Mass. 32 (1996) (whether the privilege applies in any given case depends on whether the individual was performing a social work function, rather than whether the individual was licensed as a social worker).
• Psychotherapist privilege
  • General Laws Chapter 233 s. 20B, Privileged communications; patients and psychotherapists; exceptions
  • Commonwealth v. Brandwein, 435 Mass. 623, 628 (2002) (finding that G.L. ch. 233 s. 20B creates an evidentiary privilege).
  • Commonwealth v. Oliveira, 438 Mass. 325, 331-332 (2002) (the evidentiary privilege belongs to the patient, who must affirmatively exercise it).
  • Board of Registration in Medicine v. Hallmark Health Corp, 454 Mass. 498, 510 (2009) (the party asserting the privilege has the burden of showing that the privilege in fact applies).
• Confidentiality of communications with clergy: General Laws Chapter 233 s. 20A, Privileged communications; communications with clergymen
• Confidentiality of communications with sexual assault counselors: General Laws Chapter 233 s. 20J, Sexual assault; confidential communications with sexual assault counsellor; disclosure; discovery
• Confidentiality of communications with domestic violence counselors: General Laws Chapter 233 s. 20K, Domestic violence victims’ counselors; confidential communications
• Confidentiality of communications with allied mental health professionals: General Laws Chapter 112 s. 172, Confidential communications; waiver
• Confidentiality of communications with human service professionals: General Laws Chapter 112 s. 172A, Privilege against disclosure in court, legislative or administrative proceedings; exercise or waiver of privilege by guardian; scope of privilege
• Marital Testimonial Disqualification: General Laws Chapter 233 s. 20, Competency of witnesses; husband and wife; criminal defendant; parent and child
• Confidentiality of substance abuse treatment records
  • 42 U.S.C. s. 290dd-2, Confidentiality of records
  • 42 C.F.R. Part 2, Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records
  • U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Svcs. Publication No. 95-3018, Confidentiality of Patient Records for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (1994)
  • Note: A release to allow confidential information in patient records must be shared in compliance with HIPAA, 45 C.F.R. s. 164.508, Uses and disclosures for which an authorization is required

Statutes and Case Law Regarding Adolescent Consent to Medical Care

• General Laws Chapter 112 s. 12F, Emergency treatment of minors (emergency medical treatment)
• General Laws Chapter 123 s. 10, Voluntary admissions; consultation with attorney; discharge; outpatients; veterans (voluntary admission to psychiatric facility)
• General Laws Chapter 112 s. 12E, Drug dependent minors; consent to medical care; liability for payment; records (treatment for drug dependency)
• General Laws Chapter 112 s. 12S, Consent to abortion; form; persons less than eighteen years of age
• Baird v. Attorney General, 731 Mass. 741 (1977) (the “mature minor rule”)