If you know a minor in Massachusetts who needs temporary or permanent care, the Care Type Finder can help you decide the right type of support with a few easy to answer questions.
Some kinds of support need a judge to make a decision. Others can be given by the parent without a judge.
The Care Type Finder will help you decide between:
And if you are the parent of the minor, the tool can also help you let the court know that you disagree with someone trying to become the guardian of your child or that you want a new guardian for your child.
Answer a few questions about your family's situation to get suggestions for the correct type of support.
Learn more about this formThis interview helps a Massachusetts parent or someone else who cares about the wellbeing of a minor attend and have a chance to talk to the judge in a minor guardianship case.
It can help the parent or other person:
If you want to be heard but do not yet know if you agree or disagree, you can use this interview to ask the judge to let you speak at the hearing.
It can also help the parent ask the judge to give them a lawyer for the case.
Learn more about this formIf you are or if you know a minor who needs a responsible adult to make decisions for them other than their parent or their current guardian, you can use this interview to ask the court to appoint a guardian.
The guardian can make decisions about the minor's health, education, finances, and general welfare in place of the minor's parent.
Learn more about this formIf your child, or the child of someone you care about, has a guardian and you believe the guardian should be removed or replaced, you can use this interview to ask the court to remove the guardian.
It will help you make a petition to remove a guardian and optionally, let you name a new guardian.
It can also help you make up to 5 other forms that you may need to file with your petition. The other forms include: