Probate and Family Time Standards

The Probate and Family Court Department issued new case management and time standards effective today. According to the Press Release, "the revisions will encourage the use of administrative and telephonic procedures to reduce the cost of appearing at the courthouse. Among the revisions are the scheduling of the Case Management Conference after the return of service has been filed, which will also give the opportunity in divorce cases for the initial required exchange of discovery, and the increased use of Joint Stipulation on Case Management Conference, eliminating the need to appear in person at Case Management Conference, if a Joint Stipulation is accepted by the Court." This and other court Time Standards are available at Mass. Rules of Court.