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March 13, 2026 Clouds | 42°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.1265 194th (Current)

An Act relative to determining the best interest of children in probate and family court

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1265) of Bruce E. Tarr and Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to determining the best interest of children in probate and family court. The Judiciary.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Bruce E. Tarr

Judiciary

• Change the terminology used in the custody statute • Retain the appropriate sections of the current statute – but rewriting some to clear up confusion and/or contradictions as well as attempting to number and organize them in a more coherent fashion • Develop a list of factors that are not overwhelming, that can be more easily understood by pro se litigants and that are organized/tiered in a coherent fashion. The factors are divided into three sections with the first section addressing the well-being of the child, the second section addressing the safety of the child and the parties and the third section addressing whether a plan is workable and realistic.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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