New Bedford is in Bristol County.

More Estate Planning Firms in Bristol County

Serves Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable counties and families throughout Massachusetts from Fall River. Handles probate of wills, administration of estates, voluntary administration of small estates, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, and MassHealth long-term care planning with irrevocable trusts. Most planning is handled by phone and video, with in-person signings.

Since 2005Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning+2

Serves Bristol County from Attleboro, where it is the oldest law firm in town, tracing its roots to a 1946 partnership. Guides executors and trustees through probate and trust administration, from inventorying the decedent's property and paying debts and taxes to resolving will and trust disputes and distributing assets.

Since 1946Serves 1 countyEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

Serves Bristol and Plymouth counties from Somerset, including Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Brockton and Attleboro. Guides personal representatives and administrators through probate and estate administration, from proving the will to distributing the assets, and drafts and administers trusts.

Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateSpecial Needs PlanningAsset Protection+2

Serves Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties from Fall River and Quincy. Attorneys Wilfred C. Driscoll, Jr. and Laurie A. Sanford petition for guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults and offer limited assistance representation for discrete probate and estate tasks. Attorney Driscoll has served as a Probate Court master and guardian ad litem.

Since 2002Serves 4 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipMedicaid PlanningFamily Law

Serves Bristol and Barnstable counties, the SouthCoast and Cape Cod from Fall River, where Attorney Jane E. Sullivan opened her practice in 1996. After a death she represents the fiduciary through probate of the will, administration of intestate estates and trusts, sale of real estate and the related tax matters. She also handles guardianships, conservatorships and Medicaid appeals.

Solo PracticeSince 1996Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning+4

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.

Since 1987Serves the whole stateVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

All 6 estate planning firms in Bristol County →

Probate in Bristol County

Probate Court Record

Bristol County Probate and Family Court

Bristol County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780

E-filing

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Bristol County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Bristol County? →Settling an estate in Bristol County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Massachusetts

Free Massachusetts forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Massachusetts.

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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Last Will and Testament

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.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

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.

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Financial Power of Attorney

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 Oct 21, 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 Oct 21, 2026View source.

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Pour-Over Will

In Massachusetts, a pour-over will is signed before 2M.G.L. c. 190B § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

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Transfer on Death Deed

Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

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All Massachusetts forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Massachusetts

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Massachusetts: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.

Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Massachusetts, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Massachusetts takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

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.

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How Much Does Probate Cost?

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. Attorney fees run 2.2%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

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.

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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

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%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under 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.: the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified 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.

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All Massachusetts tools