Do I Need a Lawyer for Probate in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts court filing fee is $390M.G.L. c. 262, § 40; M.G.L. c. 262, § 4CVerified Sep 8, 2026View source, and publication of the creditor notice is a separate cost set by the newspaper. Massachusetts requires a bond of the personal representative by defaultM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-603Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so a bond premium is a cost too unless the will or the heirs waive it. The filing fee is a fraction of what probate costs with counsel: attorney fees are the largest line, and self-filing removes that line while court costs, publication and executor compensation stay the same.

A simple estate in Massachusetts typically takes 6 months to 9 months. The creditor claim period of 12 monthsM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-803Verified Sep 8, 2026View source is the floor: final distribution waits for it to run. Self-filed probate takes the same time as attorney-filed probate; the court's calendar, not the filer, sets the pace.

In Massachusetts, estates with personal property of $25,000M.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Voluntary AdministrationM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysM.G.L. c. 190B § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate. In Massachusetts the affidavit is filed with the court, and holders honor the court's certified copy — but no letters testamentary or of administration issue. It is the simplest probate-related filing to handle without an attorney.

Probate in Massachusetts runs from filing the petition for probate, which requests Letters from the court, through notice to heirs and creditors, the inventory, payment of debts and taxes, to distribution of what remains and the closing of the estate. Each step has its own court requirement and deadline. The Massachusetts estate settlement plan carries every step from filing to final distribution.