© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
Massachusetts follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesMass. Gen. Laws ch. 203E, § 708Verified May 31, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Massachusetts trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Massachusetts is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 12 months in Massachusetts — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Massachusetts trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Massachusetts average $387 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,161–$2,322 for a simple individual will and $3,920–$5,880 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Massachusetts allows estates under $25,000 to use a simplified Voluntary Administration procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Massachusetts probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Massachusetts, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; estates near or above the Massachusetts estate tax threshold; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
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.
51 firms
Lenox firm serving Berkshire County in estate, trust, and tax planning, elder law, and long-term care strategy. Handles trust and estate administration, Medicaid and VA benefits planning, and life-care coordination. Founder Paula K. Almgren has practiced two decades, is accredited with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and has been named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer six consecutive years.
Location
1 West StreetLenox, MA 01240
Phone
(413) 637-5075
Service Area
1 county
Beverly firm serving Essex County and greater Boston in estate planning, estate and trust administration, and fiduciary income and estate tax matters. Handles probate administration, business succession, elder law, and asset protection. Led by Peter E. Bernardin, both an attorney and a CPA, giving the firm a tax-focused edge on estate and trust accounting over 20+ years of practice.
Location
100 Cummings Center, Suite 217CBeverly, MA 01915
Phone
(978) 712-4378
Service Area
1 county
Waltham firm serving Greater Boston and the broader Commonwealth, with additional offices in Florida and New Hampshire. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, asset protection, and MassHealth/Medicaid planning, plus federal and Massachusetts estate tax work. Led by David M. Beliveau, both an Esq. and CPA, anchoring the firm's tax and elder-law practice.
Location
2 Winter Street, Suite 102Waltham, MA 02451
Phone
(781) 890-8600
Established
2001
Service Area
5 counties
Serving Cape Cod families since 1976 with estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, probate and settlement of estates, elder law, asset protection, and charitable planning. AV rated (highest rating) in Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory and listed in Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Location
1060 Falmouth Road, Suite BHyannis, MA 02601
Phone
(508) 444-9688
Established
1976
Service Area
1 county
West Tisbury firm handling estate planning and probate for year-round and seasonal residents of Martha's Vineyard (Dukes County). Provides tax-sensitive estate planning and trust administration plus probate work — personal representative petitions, inventories and accountings, appraisals, and estate taxes. Formed in 2017 by George Brush, Caroline Flanders, and Timothy Moriarty.
Location
459 State RoadWest Tisbury, MA 02575
Phone
(508) 693-7733
Established
2017
Service Area
1 county
Plymouth-based estate planning and elder law firm led by a Certified Elder Law Attorney with 30+ years of experience. Selected to Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 16 consecutive years (2009-2024). Listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Board of Directors, Massachusetts Chapter of NAELA since 2019.
Location
118 Long Pond Road, Suite 206Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone
(508) 747-8282
Established
1996
Service Area
4 counties
Full-service Massachusetts law firm established in 1914 with 70+ lawyers across four offices. Estate and Tax Planning group includes 12 dedicated practitioners with 24 attorneys listed in Best Lawyers in America. Ranked in Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" nationally and regionally for trusts and estates.
Location
446 Main Street, Suite 1101Worcester, MA 01608
Phone
(508) 791-3511
Established
1914
Service Area
4 counties
Boston firm whose Trusts & Estates group serves individuals, families, and charitable trusts across New England. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, gift and estate tax matters, business succession planning, charitable and planned giving, and probate litigation. Founded in 1974.
Location
303 Congress StreetBoston, MA 02210
Phone
(617) 426-5900
Established
1974
Service Area
Statewide
Barnstable County firm providing estate, trust, Medicaid, and elder law planning services to clients of all ages, with a particular focus on the needs of older and disabled individuals and their families. Founded by four partners with deep roots in the Cape Cod legal community.
Location
5 Main StreetCotuit, MA 02635
Phone
(774) 602-5056
Service Area
3 counties
Serves estate planning and probate clients across Essex County and Cape Ann, including Beverly, Gloucester, Ipswich, Manchester, Danvers, Rockport, Essex, and Peabody. Offers specialized services including special needs planning and Medicaid crisis planning.
Location
224 Washington StreetGloucester, MA 01930
Phone
(978) 989-9999
Service Area
1 county