Mass. Gen. Laws » Part IV Title II Chapter 276
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 85A (2026)

Probation officers of the probate court; support and maintenance enforcement

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 85A. In addition to other duties, a probation officer of the probate court may, when ordered to do so by the court, examine all records and files in divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody and paternity cases in which orders or decrees have been entered to ascertain whether the persons to whom payments of money should have been made regularly received the various and definite amounts provided for in the orders or decrees of the court and, where there are dependent minor children, that the same are applied for the support, maintenance, education and betterment of said dependent minor children, and that said dependent minor children are properly cared for by their custodian. Said officers shall bring into court when necessary, by citation or otherwise, all persons who are delinquent in making payments ordered or decreed by the court and shall ascertain in the case of dependent minor children whether they are receiving proper maintenance and education and whether they are liable to become public charges. Consistent with these and other duties, a probation officer shall assist the IV–D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A to enforce child support orders.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1980–2003 · leading case: First Just. of the Bristol Div. of the Juv. Court Dep't v. Clerk-magistrate of the Bristol Div. of the Juv. Court Dep't, 438 Mass. 387 (Mass. 2003).
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First Just. of the Bristol Div. of the Juv. Court Dep't v. Clerk-magistrate of the Bristol Div. of the Juv. Court Dep't, 438 Mass. 387 (Mass. 2003). · cites it 2× “Probation officers in the Probate and Family Court Department are responsible for enforcement of support and maintenance payments, and have full power to initiate contempt proceedings, if necessary, to collect delinquent payments, and investigate and make findings as to the…”
Furtado v. Furtado, 402 N.E.2d 1024 (Mass. 1980). “” G. L. c. 276, § 85A, inserted by St. 1969, c.”
In Re Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc., 467 N.E.2d 866 (Mass. 1984). “1981), as well as the testimony of probation officers assigned to a Probate Court, G. L. c. 276, §§ 85A and 85B; see Hayden v.”
Hayden v. Hayden, 443 N.E.2d 903 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). “Such an officer by G. L. c. 276, § 85A, inserted by St. 1969, c.”
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