Massachusetts allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Dukes County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Massachusetts are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Dukes County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate and Family Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmWest Tisbury, MA
Serves 1 county
Serves year-round and seasonal residents of Martha's Vineyard (Dukes County) from West Tisbury. Handles trust and probate administration, personal representative petitions, inventories and accountings, appraisals and estate taxes, alongside tax-sensitive estate planning, and represents clients in the Probate and Land Courts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationSpecial Needs Planning
- Office
- 459 State RoadWest Tisbury, MA 02575
FirmEdgartown, MA
Serves 1 county
Serves Dukes County from Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, including out-of-state clients who own Island real estate. Settles estates and administers trusts both within and outside the probate court, and plans around the Massachusetts estate tax and highly appreciated Island property. Jennifer S. Rako is the firm's estate and trust attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
- Office
- 106 Cooke StreetEdgartown, MA 02539
Solo PracticeCenterville, MA
Serves 4 counties
Serves Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket and Plymouth counties from Centerville. Handles probate of wills and estates, from the petition to appoint an executor or administrator through inventory, creditor payment and final distribution, and helps successor trustees administer living trusts; it does not accept will contests. Initial consultations are complimentary.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
- Office
- 1645 Falmouth Road, Suite 1ECenterville, MA 02632
FirmHyannis, MA
Since 1976 · Serves 5 counties
Serves Barnstable, Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk and Dukes counties from Hyannis. Advises personal representatives and trustees through estate administration, trust administration, probate and settlement of estates, and prepares estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns. Founded in 1976 by F. Keats Boyd, Jr.; the initial strategy session is free.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
- Office
- 1555 Iyannough Road, Suite 1B WestHyannis, MA 02601
FirmBoston, MA
Serves 4 counties
Serves Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth and Dukes counties from offices in Boston and Duxbury, with offices in Brookline, Hingham and Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. Handles trust and estate administration and probate, fiduciary litigation for fiduciaries and beneficiaries, and contested guardianship and conservatorship actions. Partner Sean Hagan advises on estate and tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
- Office
- 4238 Washington Street, Unit BBoston, MA 02131
FirmWaltham, MA
Serves the whole state
Serves Massachusetts from Waltham, concentrating on Greater Boston, with offices in New Hampshire and Florida. Guides executors, administrators and trustees through probate court proceedings, trust administration and distribution, and estate and fiduciary tax returns, and handles guardianship and conservatorship petitions. Founder David M. Beliveau is also a Certified Public Accountant.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 7 more
- Office
- 2 Winter Street, Suite 102Waltham, MA 02451
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
