Make Legal Massachusetts Probate Forms For Free

A revocable living trust can be used to avoid probate. A trust holds legal title to property for the benefit of another person (?beneficiary?). The person who creates the trust (?the grantor?) chooses a manager (sometimes themselves), known as the trustee, to manage the assets in order to protect them.

Even if an estate contains probate assets, you might be surprised to learn you may not need to go through a full formal probate. If the value of the decedent's estate is less than $25,000 and does not contain any real property, than a limited version of probate called Voluntary Administration may qualify.

The general rule is that an estate has to file for probate within 3 years of when the decedent died. An executor is the person named in the will who will manage the estate. If there's no will, an administrator is appointed by a court to manage a decedent's estate.

Letters and probate fees Type of pleadingFiling feeFormal Probate of Will, Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative, Petition$375Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative, Petition$375Formal Removal of Personal Representative, Petition$100General Petition, Probate$15027 more rows

You'll need to file: Petition for Informal Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (MPC 150) Surviving Spouse, Children, Heirs at Law (MPC 162) Devisees (MPC 163) The original will. A certified copy of the death certificate. Notice of Informal Probate and Return of Service (MPC 550)

You'll need to file: Petition for Formal Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (MPC 160) Surviving Spouse, Children, Heirs at Law (MPC 162) A certified copy of the death certificate if it's available, or an affidavit if it's not. Citation-Return of Service (MPC 560), which the court will give you.