Child Requiring Assistance (CRA)

The
recent Standing Order OE-144 has closed courthouses off to the public other
than for emergency situations. This order goes into effect May 4, 2020 and will
be in effect until at least June 1, 2020.

This
order is applicable to non-emergency CRA hearings. According to Mass.gov,  these hearings will
be continued after June 1, 2020 or after September 1, 2020 for all school based
hearings.

Cases
where a disposition order is scheduled to expire following extensions will be
dismissed. Cases in which the child is under temporary custody of the DCF will
be heard virtually.

A
party may also file a motion to bring the matter forward if they demonstrate
extreme circumstances if the child is in temporary custody of the DCF. The
party should state this on the title page of the motion.