Massachusetts Order Appointing Special Guardian of An Incapacitated Person is a legal document issued by a court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in order to appoint an individual known as a special guardian to care for an incapacitated person. The special guardian is given the power to make important decisions on behalf of the incapacitated person, such as decisions concerning healthcare, education, and financial matters. The order is based on the Massachusetts Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act and is often used when a person can no longer make decisions for themselves due to age, illness, or disability. There are two types of Massachusetts Order Appointing Special Guardian of an Incapacitated Person: temporary and permanent. A temporary order is usually used when the incapacitated person is expected to recover and regain decision-making capacity, while a permanent order is used when the incapacitated person is not expected to recover. Both types of orders require the court to approve the special guardian's appointment and to determine the scope of the special guardian's authority.