Free Massachusetts forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Massachusetts requires 2M.G.L. c. 201D § 2Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredM.G.L. c. 201D § 2Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Massachusetts requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityM.G.L. c. 190B §§ 5-501 to 5-507; c. 183 §§ 29, 32Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementM.G.L. c. 190B §§ 5-501 to 5-507; c. 183 §§ 29, 32Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.
In Massachusetts, a will is signed before 2M.G.L. c. 190B § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyM.G.L. c. 190B § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Massachusetts: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Massachusetts runs $3,920Estimate: 10 hours at $392, Clio's Massachusetts Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,880Estimate: 15 hours at $392, Clio's Massachusetts Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,161Estimate: 3 hours at $387, Clio's Massachusetts Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,322Estimate: 6 hours at $387, Clio's Massachusetts Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
In Massachusetts, four years at a public university cost about $117,036NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 6% above the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxM.G.L. c. 65C § 2A; St. 2023, c. 50; St. 2024, c. 206, § 13; St. 2025, c. 9, § 35Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $2,000,000M.G.L. c. 65C § 2A; St. 2023, c. 50; St. 2024, c. 206, § 13; St. 2025, c. 9, § 35Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Massachusetts costs an estimated $27,714No specific statute for general probate attorney fees; reasonable compensation subject to court review. M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-720 covers litigation expense reimbursement only.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.2%No specific statute for general probate attorney fees; reasonable compensation subject to court review. M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-720 covers litigation expense reimbursement only.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%No specific statute for general probate attorney fees; reasonable compensation subject to court review. M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-720 covers litigation expense reimbursement only.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $25,000M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
Probate in Massachusetts takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%No specific statute for general probate attorney fees; reasonable compensation subject to court review. M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-720 covers litigation expense reimbursement only.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%No specific statute for general probate attorney fees; reasonable compensation subject to court review. M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-720 covers litigation expense reimbursement only.Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Massachusetts automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceM.G.L. c. 190B, § 2-804Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
57 elder law firms in Massachusetts, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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57 firms
Solo PracticePittsfield, MA
Serves Berkshire County from an office in downtown Pittsfield. Attorney Lynn Morelli handles probate administration and guardianships, and prepares wills, trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies. Her practice also covers elder law, asset preservation and long-term care planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 3 more
FirmQuincy, MA
Serves the South Shore and Greater Boston from Quincy. Represents personal representatives and beneficiaries in probate, from petitions, inventories and accountings to debts, taxes and distribution, and handles guardianship, conservatorship and fiduciary litigation. Partner Natalie Logan Berardi leads the estate administration and trust accounting work; meetings are available over Zoom.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 7 more
FirmHolliston, MA
Serves clients throughout Massachusetts from offices in Holliston and Hyannis. Guides executors through probate and estate administration and handles trust administration, guardianship, and MassHealth applications. Founding attorney Jay Marsden spent more than 16 years as an investment advisor at Fidelity Investments; initial consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
FirmWorcester, MA
Serves Worcester and Suffolk counties from offices in Worcester, Westborough, and Boston. Settles estates through the probate court, prepares estate and fiduciary income tax returns, and serves as trustee; its litigators handle will contests and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Established in 1916.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more
FirmWoburn, MA
Serves Middlesex County families from Woburn, including Winchester, Wakefield, Lexington, and Arlington. Represents executors through probate and estate administration and guides successor trustees through trust administration, along with guardianship, conservatorship, and MassHealth applications. Founding attorney Michael Monteforte, Jr. has practiced for almost 25 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 7 more
FirmWakefield, MA
Serves Middlesex and Essex counties from offices in Wakefield and Newburyport. Represents personal representatives and trustees through estate and trust administration, from appointment petitions to inventories, accounts, and estate tax returns, and litigates will contests and trust disputes. Founded in 1945; its elder law attorneys also complete MassHealth applications.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmMelrose, MA
Serves Middlesex County and North Shore families from Melrose. Administers estates after a death, gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing to heirs, and litigates contested wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Founder Michael A. Stankavish is a former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association's Elder Law and Disability Committee.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 6 more
FirmNatick, MA
Serves clients throughout Massachusetts from offices in Natick and Northampton, with meetings held online. Guides personal representatives through probate, from valuing estate property to estate tax returns and distribution, and administers trusts through court and tax filings and beneficiary accountings. Founded in 2010 by Tiffany A. O'Connell, a Certified Elder Law Attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
FirmTaunton, MA
Serves Bristol and Plymouth counties from Taunton, with offices in Fall River, Dartmouth and Plymouth and two in Rhode Island. Handles probate and estate administration, intestate estates, real estate in probate, will contests, and trust administration and trust disputes such as breach of fiduciary duty and trustee removal. Spanish and Portuguese services are available.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
Solo PracticeWest Yarmouth, MA
Serves Barnstable County from West Yarmouth on Cape Cod. Guides personal representatives through probate and trustees through trust administration, and handles will and trust contests, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, and partition of inherited real estate. Chantal Hayes Rice also mediates estate and trust disputes.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more
FirmSpringfield, MA
Serves Hampden and Hampshire counties from Springfield and Northampton. Litigates will contests, contested guardianships, fiduciary removal and breach of duty claims, accountings and claims against probate estates, alongside estate planning and elder law. Established in 1969; Michele J. Feinstein and Carol Cioe Klyman co-authored the third edition of Massachusetts Elder Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 8 more
FirmBoston, MA
Serves Suffolk County from Park Plaza in Boston. Handles probate, estate administration and trust settlement, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and MassHealth applications and fair hearings; its attorneys also serve as independent trustees. Founded and led by Scott E. Squillace, with concentrations in LGBTQ and international estate planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more
FirmGreenfield, MA
Serves Franklin County from Greenfield. Handles estate administration and probate for families settling an estate, alongside estate planning with wills, trusts and powers of attorney, real estate and personal injury work. Established in 1990 by John J. Stobierski and now owned by John P. Connor; offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawPersonal InjuryReal Estate
FirmNew Bedford, MA
Serves Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties from offices in New Bedford, Easton, Plymouth and Hyannis. Handles estate administration, probate and trust administration, alongside elder law, MassHealth planning and special needs planning. Managing partners Daniel M. Surprenant and Michelle D. Beneski are Certified Elder Law Attorneys; meetings are held in person or virtually.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
Solo PracticeWorcester, MA
Serves Worcester and Middlesex counties from Worcester, including Fitchburg, Leominster, Marlborough, Hudson, Shrewsbury and Westborough. Attorney Kristina R. Vickstrom handles probate and estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship, and MassHealth applications and appeals, alongside estate planning and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 3 more
FirmSomerville, MA
Serves clients in Somerville, Cambridge, Burlington and Andover from Somerville. Handles probate administration, trustee services once a trust takes effect, guardianship and conservatorship, and fiduciary litigation when a will or trust is contested, alongside special needs planning and MassHealth applications and appeals. The attorneys are Christina T. Vidoli and Michael R. Couture.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmNeedham, MA
Serves Norfolk and Suffolk counties from offices in Needham and Boston. Its private client group handles estate and trust administration and fiduciary services, and its litigators handle probate litigation, alongside trust and estate planning, tax planning and elder law. Partner Brian D. Bixby has written the MCLE Probate Manual chapter on will contests for more than 40 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more