Letters of Guardianship in Massachusetts: How to Get Certified Copies

After the judge grants your guardianship petition and you file the required bond (MPC 801), the Register of Probate issues Letters of Guardianship. This document is your official proof of legal authority over the child — and you are going to need it more often than you might expect.

What Letters of Guardianship Are

Letters of Guardianship are the court-issued certificate confirming that you have been appointed as guardian of a specific minor child. They carry the court seal and the Register's signature. Schools, doctors, hospitals, insurers, and government agencies accept certified copies as conclusive legal proof of your authority.

Unlike a temporary decree, permanent Letters of Guardianship have no fixed expiration date. Under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 5-210, the guardian's authority ends upon the guardian's death, removal, or court-approved resignation, or the child's death, adoption, marriage, or attainment of majority.

How to Get Certified Copies

You obtain certified copies from the Registry of Probate in the county where your case was filed. The process is straightforward:

1. Visit the registry in person, or call to ask whether mail or fax requests are accepted in your county
2. Request certified (attested) copies of the Letters of Guardianship — ask for several (see below)
3. Pay $2.50 per page for each attested copy
4. The registry stamps and seals each copy

Some registries can process the request while you wait; others mail copies within a few business days.

How Many Copies You Need

Order more copies than you think you will need. Each institution typically keeps one on file, and you want originals available rather than chasing replacements later. Common places that require a certified copy:

• School enrollment — the registrar keeps a copy in the child's file
• Pediatrician and dentist — medical offices need it to confirm your authority to consent to treatment
• Hospital emergency room — carry one with you any time you take the child for medical care
• Health insurance — adding the child to your plan or enrolling in MassHealth
• DTA (Department of Transitional Assistance) — applying for TAFDC child-only grants or SNAP
• Social Security Administration — applying for benefits on behalf of the child
• Banks — opening a custodial account or managing the child's funds
• Passport office — applying for the child's passport requires proof of legal custody

Five to eight certified copies is a reasonable starting point. You can always request more later.

Letters vs the Decree

The Decree and Order of Appointment (MPC 740) is the judge's written order granting guardianship. Letters of Guardianship are the separate certificate the Register issues after the decree is entered and the bond is filed. Some agencies accept the decree; others specifically ask for the Letters. Having both on hand covers all situations.

What If You Need Copies Years Later

Under S.J.C. Rule 1:11, guardianship-of-minor case records must be retained for at least 10 years or until the minor reaches age 20, whichever is later. If you need copies after that, contact the Registry with your docket number to check whether the record is still available. The $2.50 per-page attested-copy fee applies each time.

Getting to the Letters

The Letters come at the end of the filing process — after the petition, notice, background check, hearing, decree, and bond. If you are still in the early stages, the Massachusetts Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide walks through each step in order, including a post-appointment section on obtaining and using your Letters of Guardianship at schools, medical offices, and benefit agencies.

See more Massachusetts guides →