Today, Governor Patrick signed into law a bill that extends the effective
date of the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, G.L. c. 190B (MUPC ) -- as
it applies to estates and trusts -- to March 31, 2012. The MUPC was
set to take effect on January 2, 2012. The Boston Bar Association has been
advocating for the implementation of the MUPC for more than twenty years and
will continue to work with the Legislature and the Probate and Family Court to
ensure that these important provisions become law.
"This landmark piece of legislation improves what was an unacceptable
situation concerning the appointment and conduct of guardians," said BBA
President Lisa C. Goodheart. "The MUPC will also simplify the probate
process for families and our courts while expediting the process for
administering estates." The MUPC facilitates the appointments of executors
and also provides options for choosing informal or formal procedures to open and
close probate matters.
The MUPC became effective for guardianship on July 1, 2009. Still
under consideration by the Legislature is a bill establishing a uniform trust
code, containing technical corrections to the MUPC, and granting the Probate and
Family Court statutory authority to collect fees under the MUPC.
The Probate and Family Court's statement on the
delay including amended Standing Order 5-11 and revised forms and instructions
can be found
here.