13. Can a person be forced to take their medications?
Unless the Rogers order specifically limits the administration of the antipsychotic medications to voluntary or non-forcible means, it can be forcibly administered. However, this is not likely to happen outside of an inpatient hospital setting or emergency room.
14. Do I need an attorney to obtain a Rogers Guardianship?
You are not required to have an attorney to obtain a guardianship, but obtaining a Rogers treatment plan order has many steps and can be complex. It is always best to speak to a lawyer before filing court papers. Read more at “Getting Legal Help: Limited Assistance Representation” on the MGA Guardianship Information web page.
15. Where can I find more information and help?
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court offers guardianship information and resources on its website. Go to: http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/upc.html
Additionally, some divisions of the Probate and Family Court maintain their own websites with information on filing a guardianship petition. Search on-line under the county name and Probate and Family Court, i.e. Plymouth Probate and Family Court or Suffolk Probate and Family Court.
For Notice Requirements:
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/articles-1-5-glc-190B.pdf
For the Guardian Care Plan/Report (Form MPC 821):
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/upcforms.html
For the Monitor Report (Form MPC )
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/upcforms.html
For Legal Services for Low Income Clients:
Contact local legal aid or Senior Partners for Justice/ Volunteer Lawyers Project. 617- 603-1700 or 1-800-342-LAWS
For Family Guardianship Clinics, offering help to low-income eligible adults in filling out the Adult Care Plan/Report & Adult and Minor Guardianship Petitions:
http://www.spfj.org/MSex_Gship.htm
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/probateandfamilycourt/upc.html
Joanne Moses, Esq. concentrates her practice on guardianships. Attorney Moses was Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Mental Health for over 25 years, primarily trying cases involving Rogers guardianships and commitments of seriously mentally ill persons. She volunteers with Senior Partners for Justice at the Volunteer Lawyers Project.
Was this helpful? What other questions or topics would you like to know more about?
Email your suggestions to Ellen M. DiPaola, Esq., MGA Information and Resources Chairperson, edipaola@comcast.net. Please do not send personal or confidential information. Thank you.
Disclaimer.The MGA website is maintained exclusively for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Visitors to this web site who have a legal problem should always consult an attorney for legal advice. Viewing or using the information on the website does not create an attorney-client relationship. The guest contributor’s appearance on this website is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute a referral or endorsement of their firm or business, agency or organization. The third party web sites are listed solely as a convenience, and their listing does not imply endorsement of the agencies or organizations.
