New Bedford is in Bristol County.

More Probate 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 probate 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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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.

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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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Massachusetts: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysMGL c. 190B §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 12 monthsMGL c. 190B §§ 3-306, 3-801, 3-803, 3-804, 3-805, 3-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Massachusetts pays executors reasonable compensationM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.

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Do I Need Probate?

In Massachusetts, estates with personal property of $25,000M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Voluntary AdministrationM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Massachusetts, creditors have 12 monthsM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

Massachusetts has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableM.G.L. c. 190B §§ 3-301, 3-307 (magistrate appoints without formal hearing)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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