Redact Legal Massachusetts Small Estates Forms For Free

One of the most common ways to avoid probate is to create a living trust. Through a living trust, the person writing the trust (grantor) must "fund the trust" by putting the assets they choose into it. The grantor retains control over the trust's property until their death or incapacitation.

A Massachusetts small estate affidavit is a legal document used to present a claim on the estate or part of the estate of a deceased loved one.

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.

The following assets are exempt from probate in Massachusetts: Property jointly owned with right of survivorship. Property held in tenancy by the entirety. Accounts with transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designations. Small estates (under $20,000) Certain life insurance policies. Certain retirement accounts.

The decedent must have left an estate that consists entirely of personal property valued at $25,000 or less (excluding the value of a car). 30 days or more have passed since the decedent's death. The petitioner must be an interested person, but doesn't need to be a resident of Massachusetts.

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.