Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 215, § 30 (2026)

Rules and forms; power of judges to make

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 30. The judges of the probate courts or a majority of them shall from time to time make rules for regulating the practice and for conducting the business in their courts in all cases not expressly provided for by law and shall prescribe forms, and, as soon as convenient after making or prescribing them, shall submit a copy of their rules, forms and course of proceedings to the supreme judicial court, which may alter and amend them, and from time to time make such other rules and forms for regulating the proceedings in the probate court as it considers necessary in order to secure regularity and uniformity.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1928–1988 · leading case: Worcester Cnty. Nat'l Bank, 162 N.E. 217 (Mass. 1928).

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Worcester Cnty. Nat'l Bank, 162 N.E. 217 (Mass. 1928). “The form of letter testamentary in common use by probate courts and doubtless approved by this court under G. L. c. 215, § 30, begins with the assertion, after naming the person, “You are appointed executor.”

Strange v. Powers, 260 N.E.2d 704 (Mass. 1970). “” This resembles Rule 8 of the Rules of the Probate Courts (1959), as approved by the Justices of this court, which reads, “If a notice, given in accordance with the forms approved as provided by G. L. c. 215, § 30, or otherwise, is held by the judge to be insufficient, he may…”

Wimberly v. Jones, 526 N.E.2d 1070 (Mass. App. Ct. 1988). “G. L. c. 215, §§ 30, 31. Under the pre-1986 rules and decisions concerning the framing of jury issues in connection with will contests, if the contestants had offered to prove all the facts stated in Mrs.”

First Nat'l Bank v. Sullivan, 350 N.E.2d 473 (Mass. App. Ct. 1976). “It was for this reason, we think, that the petitioning counsel in the present cases employed the form prescribed under G. L. c. 215, § 30, for use under § 39A. *423 See the Richter article, at 63.”

McNulty v. Howe, 195 N.E. 735 (Mass. 1935). “demur, plead, or answer to the petition;” and that he "shall answer fully, directly and specifically to every material allegation or statement in the petition.”

The Home Nat'l Bank of Brockton, 168 N.E.2d 267 (Mass. 1960). “G. L. c. 215, § 30. That form cannot be changed by the Probate Court.”

Crowell v. Sallen, 458 N.E.2d 1222 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). “See G. L. c. 215, § 30; Home Natl. Bank, petitioner, 341 Mass.”

French v. Ballantyne, 21 N.E.2d 959 (Mass. 1939). “The form of letter testamentary in common use by probate courts and doubtless approved by this court under G. L. c. 215, § 30, begins with the assertion, after naming the person, ‘You are appointed executor.”

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