What to Do After a Death in Nantucket County, Massachusetts
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
Handling an estate in Nantucket County starts with a few urgent tasks: securing the property, ordering death certificates, and stopping the deceased's benefit payments. Court filings at the Probate and Family Court come after.
Certified death certificates are needed at nearly every step—the Probate and Family Court, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all require originals. Ordering extra copies through Nantucket County vital records early saves time later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Calculate the number of death certificates you'll need for banks, courts, and insurers:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Use this checklist to stay on top of deadlines and required steps:
Once appointed as personal representative, Massachusetts law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the Probate and Family Court within 90 daysMGL c. 190B § 3-706Verified Apr 15, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Massachusetts requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 12 monthsM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-803Verified Apr 15, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
Start by securing the deceased's property—collect mail, lock up valuables, and document everything. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and stop benefit payments before overpayments create a debt the estate must repay.
Contact banks and credit card companies immediately to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the Probate and Family Court at 508-228-2669 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
File any life insurance claims promptly with known carriers—these proceeds may be needed for estate settlement expenses or will transfer directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate.
An attorney may be worth the cost when the estate involves contested assets or complex valuations that First Justice Hon. Kevin R. Connelly at the Probate and Family Court will need to rule on.
Attorney fees in Massachusetts typically range from 2%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.Verified Apr 15, 2026 to 4%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.Verified Apr 15, 2026 of estate value, with many Nantucket-area attorneys offering flat-rate arrangements for straightforward estates without disputes.
Professional help is especially worthwhile when the estate triggers Massachusetts estate tax requirements, involves procedures the executor hasn't navigated before, or raises liability concerns.
Legal Sources
- M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-803
- MGL c. 190B § 3-706
- 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.
Data sourced from Massachusetts statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the Nantucket County probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Massachusetts death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Massachusetts does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 12 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Massachusetts estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of Nantucket County probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
Probate and Family Court
Nantucket County
16 Broad Street, 2nd Floor
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone:
508-228-2669Fax:
508-228-3662
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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