Build Your Massachusetts Estate Plan Today
The Bay State
Access FREE Massachusetts estate planning forms including Last Will and Testament, Healthcare Proxy, and Financial Power of Attorney - all with state-specific requirements to protect your family.
What Makes Massachusetts Different
Like all states, Massachusetts recognizes formally executed wills and living trusts as valid estate planning tools. A standard will here requires 2 adult witnesses, and adding a notarized self-proving affidavit can streamline the probate process later.
The amount a surviving spouse inherits without a will depends on whether your parents are still alive. If they are, your spouse may have to share the estate with them—a result that surprises many people and underscores why having a will matters. Massachusetts uses "per capita at each generation" distribution when dividing assets among descendants. This modern approach ensures that grandchildren whose parent predeceased you share equally with other grandchildren, rather than splitting only their parent's portion.
Massachusetts has a relatively low threshold for simplified estate procedures—only estates under $25,000 can avoid formal probate. This means most families will need to go through the full probate process, making strategies like living trusts or beneficiary designations particularly valuable here.
Massachusetts Estate Planning Resources
Free estate planning forms, calculators, and checklists for Massachusetts. No account required.
Massachusetts Last Will and Testament
Create a free, state-specific will with Massachusetts's witness and notarization requirements included.
Massachusetts Pour-Over Will
Transfer assets to your existing trust. Massachusetts's execution requirements included.
Massachusetts Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. Massachusetts's requirements included.
Massachusetts Financial Power of Attorney
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs. Massachusetts's requirements included.
How Much Does Probate Cost in Massachusetts?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge in Massachusetts?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation in Massachusetts?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
Who Inherits in Massachusetts?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Massachusetts?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes in Massachusetts?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
Do I Need Probate in Massachusetts?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
How Do I Settle an Estate in Massachusetts?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
What Are My Duties as Trustee in Massachusetts?
Step-by-step guide for successor trustees administering a trust. Understand your duties, notification deadlines, and asset management responsibilities.
What Are My Duties as Executor in Massachusetts?
Complete guide for executors and personal representatives navigating probate. Court filings, creditor claims, and distribution timelines.
What Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost in Massachusetts?
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
What Does a Will Cost in Massachusetts?
Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need in Massachusetts?
Calculate how much life insurance coverage you need. Accounts for income replacement, debt payoff, college funding, and state-specific factors like cost of living and estate taxes.
What Should I Expect When Inheriting in Massachusetts?
Find out what to expect when inheriting money, property, or other assets. See timeline estimates, inheritance tax implications, and understand what the executor or trustee is handling behind the scenes.
Does Massachusetts require witnesses for wills?
Massachusetts requires two witnesses to sign a will in the presence of the testator and each other. The witnesses must be competent adults who are not beneficiaries of the will. This witnessing requirement helps establish the validity of the will and can prevent potential challenges during probate proceedings.
