SENATE DOCKET, NO. 977        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 724

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia S. Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the compensation of a guardian ad litem.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Cynthia S. Creem

 


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 977        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 724

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 724) of Cynthia S. Creem for legislation relative to the appointment of GAL to investigate.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1646 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to the compensation of a guardian ad litem.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                SECTION 1. Chapter 215 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 56A and inserting in place thereof the following section:—

                  Section 56A. Any judge of the probate and family court may appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate the facts of any proceeding pending in said court relating to or involving questions as to the care, custody or maintenance of minor children and as to any matter involving domestic relations except those for the investigation of which provision is made by section sixteen of chapter two hundred and eight. Said guardian ad litem shall, before final judgment or decree in such proceeding, report in writing to the court the results of the investigation, and such report shall be open to inspection to all the parties in such proceeding or their attorneys. The compensation, together with any expense, shall be fixed by the court and shall be paid by the commonwealth or by one or both of the parties, as the court may order, upon certificate by the judge to the state treasurer. The state police, local police and probation officers shall assist the guardian ad litem so appointed, upon his request.