Massachusetts General Laws
Article V - Protection of Persons Under Disability and Their Property
Section 5-412a - Emergency Orders; Temporary Conservators

Section 5–412A. [Emergency Orders; Temporary Conservators.]
(a) While a petition for appointment of a conservator or other protective order is pending and after hearing and without notice to others, the court may make orders to preserve and apply the property of the person to be protected as may be required for the support of the person to be protected or his dependents.
(b) While a petition for appointment of a conservator is pending, if a person to be protected has no conservator, and the court finds that following the procedures of this article will likely result in substantial harm to the property, income or entitlements of the person to be protected or those entitled to the person's support occurring prior to the return date, and no other person appears to have authority to act in the circumstances, on appropriate motion the court may appoint a temporary conservator having the powers who may exercise only those powers granted in the order. A motion for appointment of a temporary conservator shall state the nature of the circumstances requiring appointment, the particular harm sought to be avoided, the actions which will be necessary by the temporary conservator to avoid the occurrence of the harm and the name and address of any attorney in fact designated under a durable power of attorney of which the person to be protected is the principal, and the petitioner shall attach a copy of any such durable power of attorney, if available. Such motion shall be accompanied by an affidavit containing facts supporting the statements and requests in the motion. The appointment may be for a period of up to 90 days except that upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances set forth in its order, the court may order an appointment for a longer period to a date certain. The court may for good cause shown extend the appointment for additional 90 day periods.
(c) If an appointed conservator is not effectively performing duties and the court further finds that the welfare of the person to be protected requires immediate action, it may appoint, with or without notice, a special conservator for the protected person having the powers of a general conservator, except as limited in the letters of appointment. The authority of any conservator previously appointed by the court is suspended as long as a special conservator has authority. The appointment may be for a period of up to 90 days except that upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances set forth in its order the court may order an appointment for a longer period to a date certain. The court may for good cause shown extend the appointment for additional 90 day periods.
(d) The petitioner shall give written notice 7 days prior to any hearing for the appointment of a temporary conservator in hand to the person to be protected and by delivery or by mail to all persons named in the petition for appointment of conservator. A certificate that such notice has been given, setting forth the names and addresses of those to whom notice has been given, shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
(e) If the court determines that an immediate emergency situation exists which requires the immediate appointment of a temporary conservator, it may shorten or waive the notice requirements in whole or in part and grant the motion, provided, however, that prior notice shall be given to the person to be protected as the court may order and post-appointment notice of any appointment is given to the person to be protected and those named in the petition for appointment of conservator stating further that any such person may move to vacate the order of the court or request that the court take any other appropriate action on the matter, and on said motion to vacate, the court shall hear said motion as a de novo matter, as expeditiously as possible. A certificate stating that such notice has been given shall be filed with the court within 7 days following the appointment. Upon failure to file such certificate the court may on its own motion vacate said order.
(f) In the event that any person to whom notice is required is of parts unknown, such notice shall be delivered or mailed to that person's last known address, and the fact of such delivery or mailing shall be recited in the certificate of notice.
(g) Appointment of a temporary conservator, with or without notice, is not a determination of a persons incapacity or disability.
(h) The court may remove a temporary or special conservator at any time. A temporary conservator and a special conservator shall make any report the court requires. In other respects the provisions of parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this article concerning conservators apply to temporary and special conservators.

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