Disclaimer:  This is a series of blogs related to the
impact of COVID-19 on the court system; in particular, the Massachusetts
Probate and Family Court.  This
information may be outdated and it is important to look at the court’s
website.  Also, different courts have
different particularities.  I have gotten
this from both speaking to other lawyers’ and the staff at the Probate and
Family Court along with Zoom conferences and other articles along with reading
the standing orders.

The
judges and courts are looking at things significantly differently. A lot of
courts are pushing cases far out and to not have any decisions made until then.
Some judges are doing full agreements by phone; sometimes you can try and do
pleadings and if it is by agreement it is certainly a possibility that judges
will just allow the pleadings and then decide on the pleadings.  They need to get both parties in agreement
but, if it is a simple issue and no disputes, the judges will do that. Further,
I have had more people coming to mediation to deal with some contested issues
through mediation, you can also deal with it through other methods of ADR.