§ 1 Nature of adoption; district or juvenile court
§ 2 Written consent of certain persons; form of consent; identification of father
§ 2A Decree of adoption; entry; conditions precedent
§ 2B Adoption decrees; mandatory language
§ 3 Dispensing with required consent in certain cases
§ 3B Registration of interest for pre-adoptive or adoptive placement; criminal record review
§ 4 Notice
§ 4A Fathers of children born out of wedlock; adoption rights
§ 5 Failure to object after notice; proceedings
§ 5A Children under fourteen; adoption; regulations; removals
§ 5B Adoptive custody; factors considered; request for religious designation
§ 5C Inspection of pleadings, reports, etc.; docket book
§ 5D Release of information concerning adoption
§ 5E Department of children and families adoption report
§ 6 Decree of court; force and effect; private hearings
§ 6A Certificates of adoption
§ 6B Adoption nunc pro tunc
§ 6C Agreement for post-adoption contact or communication
§ 6D Enforcement of agreement
§ 6E Decisions of adoptive parent on behalf of child
§ 9 Succession to property; right of child adopted in foreign state
§ 10 Second adoption; effect
§ 11 Appeals
§ 11A Adoption services offered by certain persons or agencies; penalty
§ 12 Petitions for change of name
§ 13 Notice and certificate; decree; entry; conditions precedent
§ 14 Annual return of changes of name

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 210 - Adoption of Children and Change of Names

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.