Emergency Petitions

(1) Emergency Petitions. (a) Upon determining that: 1. an emergency exists; and 2. the person with a disability lacks the capacity to consent to the provision of protective services, the Commission, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Developmental Services, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, a caretaker or a member of the immediate family of the person with a disability may petition the Probate and Family Court for the county where the person with a disability resides, for an emergency order of protective services. (b) Each petition for an emergency order of protective services shall contain a statement of the specific facts upon which the petitioner relies in seeking such determination. (2) Emergency Hearings. (a) Pursuant to the authority granted it by M.G.L. c. 19C, § 7, the Court shall: 1. give notice to the person with a disability who is the subject of the petition at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. The court may dispense with notice upon finding that immediate and reasonably foreseeable harm to the person with a disability or others will result from the 24-hour delay and that reasonable attempts have been made to give such notice; 2. appoint counsel to represent the subject of the petition if he or she is indigent; 3. appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of the subject of the petition regarding the right to counsel if the court determines that he or she lacks the capacity to waive the right of counsel; 4. hold a hearing on an emergency petition for protective services no more than 72 hours of its being filed; and 5. issue an appropriate order. (b) No more than 144 hours after the issuance date of the original order authorizing the provision of emergency protective services, the original petitioner may petition the court to: 1. continue emergency protective services with the consent of the person with a disability pursuant to 118 CMR 7.02(1); 2. continue emergency protective services pursuant to the previously entered order of the court for an additional duration as determined appropriate by the court; or 7/23/21 118 CMR - 39 118 CMR: DISABLED PERSONS PROTECTION COMMISSION 8.03: continued 3. entertain a petition for the appointment of a guardian or a conservator. (c) If the court entertains a petition for the appointment of a guardian or conservator, the court, for good cause shown, may order continued protective services as part of its determination regarding such petition. (d) If an order to continue emergency protective services is issued, it must state the services to be provided and designate an individual or agency to be responsible for performing or obtaining the services required by the person with a disability.