Massachusetts Superior Court Civil Practice Manual
Protecting the safety and well-being of the child
- Product Number: 2266142WCH
- Publication Date: 11/28/2025
- Edition: 7th Edition 2025
- Copyright: © 2025 MCLE, Inc.
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Product Description
Product Description
Cases in which the state intervenes in a family to protect the safety and well-being of a child are unmistakably complex. The most basic, fundamental rights of parents and children are at stake. Involuntary separation of a child from their parents is an extreme measure and devastating for the whole family. Additionally, these cases involve multiple parties, extensive discovery and motion practice, frequent use of experts, and trials extending over many days. This authoritative manual explains the many facets of state intervention cases—care and protection petitions, Probate and Family Court child protection proceedings, child requiring assistance proceedings, guardianship of minor proceedings, and "private" adoptions—in the Massachusetts courts.
Recent updates:
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Update: June 2023
Dear Subscriber:
Thank you for updating your reference library 2023 edition of Practitioner's Guide to State Intervention in the Family . This entirely revised edition was last published in 2012 under the title Child Welfare Practice in Massachusetts .
Highlights of the 2023 edition include
- dedicated chapters on representing parents and representing children;
- detailed, step-by-step explanations of each and every phase that may arise in state intervention litigation;
- discussion of medical and mental health treatment for children involved in state intervention cases;
- a multitude of exhibits to aid in your practice—including checklists, flow charts, sample motions, and more; and
- a new appendix on the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
Thank you for your continued support as we at MCLE strive to bring you the latest solutions for your practice.
Cordially,
MCLE Press
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Update: June 2023
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
expand allChapter 01 expandPracticing in the Superior Court
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Chapter 02 expandTrial Advocacy
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Chapter 03 expandDrafting Pleadings
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Exhibit 3A
- Civil Action Cover Sheet Buy FormExhibit 3B
- Summons to Defendant Buy FormExhibit 3C
- Notice of Appearance with Certificate of Service Buy FormExhibit 3D
- Service of Summons by Publication Buy FormExhibit 3E
- Sample Complaint Buy FormExhibit 3F
- Sample Answer to Verified Complaint Buy FormChapter 04 expandObtaining Pretrial Security
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Chapter 05 expandInjunctive Relief
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Exhibit 5A
- Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order Buy FormExhibit 5B
- Motion for Preliminary Injunction Buy FormExhibit 5C
- Verified Complaint Buy FormExhibit 5D
- Motion for a Short Order of Notice Buy FormExhibit 5E
- Motion for Appointment of a Special Process Server Buy FormExhibit 5F
- Standstill Agreement Buy FormExhibit 5G
- Confidentiality Stipulation Buy FormChapter 06 expandDispositive Motions
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Exhibit 6A
- Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Certain Counts of Plaintiff’s Complaint Buy FormExhibit 6B
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Certain Counts of Plaintiff’s Complaint Buy FormExhibit 6C
- Defendant’s Notice of Motion to Dismiss Buy FormExhibit 6D
- Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment Buy FormExhibit 6E
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment Buy FormExhibit 6F
- Defendant’s Statement of Material Facts as to Which There Is No Genuine Issue to Be Tried Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9A(b)(5) Buy FormExhibit 6G
- Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Buy FormExhibit 6H
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Buy FormExhibit 6I
- Special Motion to Dismiss (Anti-SLAPP Statute) Buy FormChapter 07 expandOther Rule 9A Motions
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Exhibit 7A
- Motion to Dismiss Buy FormExhibit 7B
- Defendants’ Joint Certificate of Compliance Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9C Buy FormExhibit 7C
- Defendant’s Assented to Motion for Entry of Separate and Final Judgment Buy FormExhibit 7D
- Defendant’s Motion for Entry of Separate and Final Judgment Pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 54(b) (Medical Malpractice Case) Buy FormExhibit 7E
- Defendants’ Joint Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 33(a) and 54(b) Due to Failure to Answer Discovery Requests Buy FormExhibit 7F
- Plaintiff’s Motion to Vacate Judgment Buy FormExhibit 7G
- Plaintiff’s Notice of Motion Pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9E Buy FormExhibit 7H
- Petition for Approval of Third-Party Settlement Buy FormExhibit 7I
- Petition for Settlement Approval Buy FormExhibit 7J
- Motion and Supporting Statement of Reasons to Sever Buy FormExhibit 7K
- Motion and Statement of Reasons to Bifurcate Buy FormExhibit 7L
- Motion to Consolidate Buy FormExhibit 7M
- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion to Consolidate Buy FormExhibit 7N
- Motion for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms and to Impound the Record Buy FormExhibit 7O
- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms and to Impound the Record Buy FormExhibit 7P
- Defendants’ Motion for Protective Order as to Notice of Deposition; Rule 9A Statement of Reasons; Rule 9A Request for Hearing; Rule 9C Certificate of Compliance Buy FormExhibit 7Q
- Motion to Quash Plaintiff’s Deposition Notices Buy FormExhibit 7R
- Defendant’s Motion for Continuance of Trial Date, Assented to by Plaintiff Buy FormExhibit 7S
- Motion for Protective Order Regarding Depositions of Nonparty Witnesses Buy FormExhibit 7T
- Statement of Reasons in Support of Motion for Protective Order Regarding Depositions of Nonparty Witnesses Buy FormExhibit 7U
- Third-Party Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave of Court to File Third-Party Complaint Buy FormExhibit 7V
- Statement of Reasons in Support of Third-Party Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave of Court to File Third-Party Complaint Buy FormExhibit 7W
- Motion to Withdraw as Counsel Buy FormExhibit 7X
- Motion to Compel Arbitration Buy FormExhibit 7Y
- Defendant’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents Buy FormChapter 08 expandPreparing Discovery
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Checklist 8.1
- Deposition of Plaintiff Buy FormExhibit 8A
- Notice of Oral Deposition and Schedule A Buy FormExhibit 8B
- Notice of Video Deposition Buy FormExhibit 8C
- Assented-to Motion for Court Approval for Taking Audiovisual Expert’s Deposition for Use at Trial Buy FormExhibit 8D
- Plaintiff’s Interrogatories Propounded to Defendant Buy FormExhibit 8E
- Defendants’ First Set of Interrogatories Propounded to the Plaintiff (Personal Injury) Buy FormExhibit 8F
- Plaintiff’s Request for Admissions Buy FormExhibit 8G
- Plaintiff’s Request for the Production of Documents Propounded to Defendant Buy FormExhibit 8H
- Plaintiff’s Objection to Defendants’ Filing of Defendants’ Motion to Conduct Supplementary Discovery Buy FormChapter 09 expandDiscovery Motions
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Exhibit 9A
- Memorandum in Support of Motion to Compel Discovery Buy FormExhibit 9B
- Memorandum in Support of Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Order to Provide Discovery Buy FormExhibit 9C
- Defendant’s Motion to Compel Responses to Discovery by Defendant Buy FormExhibit 9D
- Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents Plaintiff Had Previously Agreed to Produce Buy FormExhibit 9E
- Memorandum in Support of Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Discovery Request Buy FormExhibit 9F
- Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant’s Renewed Motion for Costs and Sanctions Buy FormExhibit 9G
- Joint Motion to Extend Time for Discovery Buy FormExhibit 9H
- Joint Motion to Extend Tracking Order Buy FormChapter 10 expandAlternatives to Litigation
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Chapter 11 expandPretrial Preparation
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Chapter 12 expandPresenting Evidence
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Chapter 13 expandTrying the Case
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Exhibit 13A
- Motion in Limine to Preclude Testimony of Expert Buy FormExhibit 13B
- Motion in Limine to Exclude Testimony of Expert on Business Ethics Buy FormExhibit 13C
- Motion in Limine to Exclude Certain Proposed Trial Exhibits Buy FormExhibit 13D
- Motion in Limine to Exclude Settlement References Buy FormExhibit 13E
- Motion to Submit Jury Verdict Questionnaire Buy FormExhibit 13F
- Motion for a Directed Verdict Buy FormExhibit 13G
- Plaintiff’s Motion for a New Trial Buy FormChapter 14 expandJury Issues
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Chapter 15 expandJudgment
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Exhibit 15A
- Request for Default Buy FormExhibit 15B
- Judgment by Default (Mass. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1)) Buy FormExhibit 15C
- Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment with Affidavit as to Military Service (Mass. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2)) Buy FormExhibit 15D
- Agreement for Judgment Buy FormExhibit 15E
- Stipulation of Dismissal (With Prejudice) Buy FormExhibit 15F
- Notice of Settlement and Request for Entry of Nisi Order Buy FormExhibit 15G
- Proposed Judgment Buy FormChapter 16 expandPosttrial Motions
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Chapter 17 expandPosttrial and Appellate Rights
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Chapter 18 expandThe Jury Selection Process and Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire
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Chapter 19 expandElectronic Discovery
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- Editors & Authors