Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Jun. 21, 2012
News from the courts
Additional court locations to adjust public office hours; Probate and Family Court announces changes to Standing Order 2-99
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Additional court locations to
adjust public office hours
Starting July 2, 2012, the five permanent clerks' offices that
comprise the Southeast Division of the Housing Court -- Fall River,
New Bedford, Brockton, Plymouth, and Taunton -- will operate under
a staggered schedule that closes each office for two days a week.
Court users may go to any of the five locations to conduct
business. At least two of the five locations will be open for
business on any given day.
Last year, the Housing Court's Southeast Division opened a fifth
session at the new courthouse in Taunton after many years of
holding sessions in four locations to cover Bristol and Plymouth
counties. Staff of the division travel among the locations on a
regular basis and the new schedule will better balance the coverage
throughout the region.
The five Housing Court locations will be open as follows:
- Mondays: Fall River, New Bedford, Brockton,
Plymouth
- Tuesdays: Fall River, Brockton, Taunton
- Wednesdays: Brockton, Taunton
- Thursdays: Fall River, New Bedford,
Plymouth
- Fridays: New Bedford, Plymouth, Taunton
In addition, the Lawrence District
Court will extend its restricted counter and phone coverage from
three days to five days between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. The
Newburyport/Ipswich district courts also will expand from three
days to five days its restricted telephone coverage between 1:30
and 3:30 p.m.
The scheduling of court sessions is not affected by the changes in
office hours and access is available for emergency matters. This
reduction in counter and telephone hours provides uninterrupted
time for staff to prepare cases for court sessions and execute
court orders, as well as to complete filing, docketing, scanning
and other case processing.
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Probate and Family Court announces
changes to Standing Order 2-99
The Probate and Family Court has annoucned the approval of Amended
Standing Order 2-99, governing the "Procedure for Submission and
Disposition of Certain Post-Hearing Motions." The changes reflect
recommendations made by the Probate and Family Court Bench/Bar
Committee on Rules. Hon. Paula M. Carey, chief justice of the
Probate and Family Court Department and Hon. Robert A. Mulligan,
chief justice for Administration and Management, approved the
changes effective July 2, 2012.
The amended standing order identifies the post-hearing relief
available in the Probate and Family Court and clarifies the
specific Rules of Civil Procedure and Domestic Relations Procedure
that are applicable to motions for post-hearing relief.
Click here to view the amended order.