A Message from Anastasia Welsh Perrino, Esq., Register 

 Dear Court Customers and Members of the Bar,  

Due to the exponential increase in Covid-19 cases nationwide, and the real possibility that Covid  numbers will increase in the near future, we are implementing temporary changes to our scheduling of cases and protocols for doing business in the Registry Office for the safety of our litigants, attorneys and staff.  

Beginning Monday, November 30, 2020, and continuing until December 31, 2020, all in-person hearings,  including trials, will be conducted by Zoom, except for emergency cases which cannot be heard by Zoom. Attached  is the Zoom Meeting ID and Password for each Judge’s Session. If you oppose the change of status of your case  from in-person to remote, you may file an emergency motion to address the matter, by Zoom. Staffing in the  judicial department will be reduced by 50% during that time, meaning that there will always be one Judge with a  Sessions Clerk and Secretary sitting in court each day, while the other Judge, Sessions Clerk and Secretary works  remotely by Zoom. The Acting Judicial Case Manager and Senior Court Clinician will also be working a varied,  remote schedule. We will re-assess our ability to increase staffing and to resume in-person hearings at the end of  the month of December, and will keep you informed. 

With respect to the Registry, staffing in the Registry Office will be reduced by 50% beginning Monday,  November 30, 2020 and continuing until December 31, 2020. As half of the Registry Staff will be working  remotely, we strongly encourage you to do your business with the Registry virtually. Beginning November 30,  2020, you may speak with a Registry Staff Member on video conference in the Virtual Registry Monday through  Friday from 9am to 11am and from 2:15pm to 3:30pm. The link for the Virtual Registry is https://www.mass.gov/service-details/barnstable-probate-and-family-court-virtual-registry. In addition, you are  strongly encouraged to E file your cases where possible. The following case types may be E filed: 1A and 1B  Divorces, Voluntary Personal Representative Statements, Informal Petitions, Formal Petitions and Guardianships  of Incapacitated Persons. Please visit the E file link at https://efilema.tylerhost.net/ofsweb#e 

You may send Emergency pleadings and questions to barnstableprobate@jud.state.ma.us. If the case  type can be E filed, you should file the Emergency by E file and call us to let us know there is an Emergency. You  may call the Registry at (508) 375-6710. 

There is a drop box at the front door by security if it is necessary for you to come to court to file  paperwork. 

At this time, we will not be taking in person appointments to review old case files until further notice.  Please email your request to the email address noted above. We will do our best to get you the information.  The Registry will take copy order requests at the Email address above also. Please allow at least 5 business days  to process your request. 

Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these challenging times. We hope that your families are well and we wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!