How Do I Claim a Small Estate in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts requires its official small estate form (MPC 170 Voluntary Administration Statement); the builder does not produce a substitute document for it.

The Massachusetts small-estate procedure

Massachusetts requires its official form — MPC 170 Voluntary Administration Statement — for small-estate collection (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, §§ 3-1201, 3-1202). This tool does not prepare a substitute document for a mandatory official form.

Frequently asked questions

Massachusetts requires its official small estate form (MPC 170 Voluntary Administration Statement); the builder does not produce a substitute document for it.

An estate of $25,000 or less, per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, §§ 3-1201, 3-1202. The procedure is available 30 days after the death.

MPC 170 Voluntary Administration Statement is published by the state. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, §§ 3-1201, 3-1202 requires the official form, so this tool does not prepare a substitute document.

Personal property only: the procedure applies where the decedent "dies leaving an estate consisting entirely of personal property," which may include one motor vehicle plus other personal property within the cap. Any Massachusetts real property in the estate disqualifies voluntary administration.