2012 Massachusetts General Laws
PART II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS(Chapters 183 through 210)
TITLE II DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, WILLS, ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS AND ABSENTEES, GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP AND TRUSTS
CHAPTER 190B MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE
ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEFINITIONS AND PROBATE JURISDICTION OF COURT
Section 1-404 Guardian ad litem and next friend

Section 1-404. [Guardian Ad Litem and Next Friend.]

(a) If, in a formal proceeding involving trusts or estates of decedents, minors, protected persons, or incapacitated persons, and in judicially supervised settlements, or otherwise, a minor, a person with an intellectual disability, an autistic person, or person under disability, or a person not ascertained or not in being, may be or may become interested in any property, real or personal, or in the enforcement or defense of any legal rights, the court in which any action, petition or proceeding of any kind relative to or affecting any such estate or legal rights is pending may, upon the representation of any party thereto, or of any person interested, appoint a suitable person to appear and act therein as guardian ad litem or next friend of such minor, person with an intellectual disability, autistic person, or person under disability or not ascertained or not in being; and a judgment, order or decree in such proceedings, made after such appointment, should be conclusive upon all persons for whom such guardian ad litem or next friend was appointed.

(b) The reasonable expenses of such guardian ad litem or next friend, including compensation and counsel fees, shall be determined by the court and paid as it may order, either out of the estate or by the plaintiff, petitioner or the commonwealth. If such expenses are to be paid by the plaintiff or petitioner execution therefor may issue in the name of the guardian ad litem or next friend.

(c) Nothing in this code shall affect the power of a court to appoint a guardian or conservator to defend the interests of a minor impleaded in such court, or interested in a suit or matter there pending, nor the power of such court to appoint or allow a person, as next friend for a minor, to commence, prosecute or defend a suit in his behalf.

(d) If it appears in a probate or appointment proceeding that a spouse, heir at law or devisee is an incapacitated or protected person or a minor, notice of all proceedings shall be given to the incapacitated or protected person or minor and to his guardian or conservator. Unless the spouse, heir or devisee is represented by someone other than the petitioner or is under guardianship or conservatorship, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem who shall receive notice of all proceedings.