Probate cost in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, estates up to $25,000 can often skip full probate. For a $300,000 estate, the court fee is $390.
Massachusetts's small estate limit is $25,000. Above it, the estate usually goes through probate.
- Court fee to open probate source$390
- Attorney feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
- Executor feeNo legal schedule: set by agreement or the courtset by agreement
Probate total$390+
The total leaves out the costs shown without a number.
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus sourceOne-time price for one person$149
- Yearly feeoptional yearly renewal$40
- Moving a home into the trustSet by your county recordercounty recording fee
Trust total$149+
Assets left outside the trust can still need probate.
Probate cost by estate size
| Estate value | Court fee | Attorney (law) | Executor (law) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $390 | not set by law | not set by law | $390+ |
| $250,000 | $390 | not set by law | not set by law | $390+ |
| $500,000 | $390 | not set by law | not set by law | $390+ |
| $1,000,000 | $390 | not set by law | not set by law | $390+ |
"Not set by law" means the fee is agreed with the lawyer or set by the court, so it is not in the total. Use your own numbers.
The rules in Massachusetts
- Small estate limit: $25,000 (Voluntary administration (sworn statement of voluntary personal representative), MGL c.190B 3-1201). Does not cover real estate. Heirs wait 30 days after the death. Estate must be entirely personal property: one motor vehicle plus other personal property up to $25,000. Statement filed with the Probate and Family Court. Filing fee $100 plus $15 surcharge. Statute read from a Wayback copy dated 2026-09-28 in the first pass (malegislature.gov refused the connection); not re-read in the v3 pass. Source
- Simplified probate: Informal probate (MGL c.190B Article III). Source
- Court fee: $390 for a $300,000 estate. Formal and informal petitions are each $375 plus the mandatory $15 surcharge, so $390 total. Publication costs are extra. Page read from a Wayback copy dated 2026-10-05 in the first pass because mass.gov returned 403. Source
- Attorney fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. No statutory schedule known. Not verified from statute text.
- Executor fee: No legal schedule: set by agreement or the court. MGL c.190B 3-719 is reported to provide reasonable compensation. Not read (malegislature.gov unreachable).
Some Massachusetts rules could not be checked on a current official page. Each rule links to the source we used. Confirm with the court or a lawyer before you rely on it.
General information from official state sources, not legal advice.