How to File Guardianship Through eFileMA in Massachusetts

Massachusetts lets you file a guardianship petition from your kitchen table through eFileMA, the Trial Court's electronic filing portal. If getting to the Registry of Probate during business hours is difficult — and for a grandparent juggling a child's school schedule, it often is — electronic filing can save you a trip.

What eFileMA Is

eFileMA is the official electronic filing system for the Massachusetts Trial Court, including all 14 Probate and Family Court divisions. You create an account, upload your petition and supporting documents as PDFs, pay the filing fee online, and receive a confirmation once the court processes your submission.

The system is available at efilema.com around the clock, though court processing happens during business hours.

What It Costs

Filing a new guardianship case through eFileMA costs a one-time $22 vendor fee plus credit card processing charges. The MPC 140 petition has no court filing fee, but the court charges $15 for each citation; the Order and Notice in a minor guardianship case is a citation. Service and publication may add costs.

If you are indigent, file an Affidavit of Indigency and request a waiver of the eFileMA provider fee. Massachusetts Rule of Electronic Filing 8(f) requires the provider fee to be waived upon request when the filing party is indigent or represented by court-appointed counsel.

How to File Step by Step

1. Create an eFileMA account with your name, email, and contact information
2. Select the correct court — choose the Probate and Family Court division for the county where the child lives
3. Start a new case and select the minor guardianship case type
4. Upload documents in order — begin with the MPC 140 petition, then attach:
   • Child Care or Custody Disclosure Affidavit (Trial Court Rule IV)
   • Child's certified birth certificate
   • Bond of Guardian (MPC 801)
   • Military Affidavit (TC0002)
   • Proposed Decree and Order (MPC 740)
   • Parental consent (MPC 440) or minor consent (MPC 441), if applicable
5. Pay the applicable fees — the court fees and the one-time $22 eFileMA provider fee, plus credit-card processing charges
6. Submit and save your confirmation — the system emails you an envelope number

The registry reviews your filing and issues a docket number, typically within one to three business days. You will receive an email when the filing is accepted or returned; the acceptance email includes the docket number, and a returned filing email explains why.

Tips for a Smooth E-Filing

Download forms first, then fill them. Mass.gov warns that interactive PDF features may not work properly in a web browser. Download each form to your computer, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, complete it, save it, and then upload the saved PDF to eFileMA.

Check file sizes. eFileMA has upload limits. If the birth certificate scan is too large, reduce the resolution or compress the file before uploading.

Upload in order. For a new case, file the MPC 140 petition first. Use the Probate and Family Court's preferred eFiling order for the remaining documents.

Keep your confirmation email. It is your proof of filing date, which matters for calculating the 14-day notice period and the return date.

When In-Person Filing Makes More Sense

eFileMA works well for straightforward filings, but some situations favor an in-person visit:

• You have questions about which forms to include and want help from a Court Service Center staff member
• You are asking the court to hear an emergency filing immediately; the court's eFiling guidance says these filings must be made in person

The Full Filing Sequence

Whether you file electronically or in person, the forms and requirements are identical. The Massachusetts Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide covers the complete filing sequence — every form, the upload order for eFileMA, and what to expect after you submit — so the court accepts your petition without a round of corrections.

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