Massachusetts Probate Court Records
Massachusetts probate court records cover wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships filed across the state's 14 county court divisions. The Probate and Family Court handles all of these matters. It keeps records at each county courthouse. You can search Massachusetts probate court records online through the free MassCourts portal or request copies in person at the clerk's office. Each county has a Register of Probate who manages case files, docket entries, and certified copies. This page shows you how to find and get probate court records from any county in Massachusetts, with links to court resources and official forms.
Massachusetts Probate Court Records Overview
Search Massachusetts Probate Court Records
The MassCourts online portal is the main tool for searching Massachusetts probate court records from home. It is free. No account is needed. The system covers all 14 Probate and Family Court divisions in the state. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. To start, go to the site and check the "I'm not a robot" box. Pick "Probate & Family Court" from the department list. Then choose your county. Name searches need at least two letters for the last name and one for the first. Case number searches use a format like MI15P0123EA, where MI stands for Middlesex County and P means a probate case.
The MassCourts case access portal shows the search form used to find probate court records across Massachusetts.
The portal is free and works for all county court divisions.
MassCourts has probate case data going back to 2000. Document images go back to 2009. Older Massachusetts probate court records need an in-person visit or a mail request to the court. Some case types have access limits. Adoption records are sealed by law in Massachusetts.
Search results in MassCourts can show you:
- Party names and roles in the case
- Case number and filing date
- Case type and current status
- Scheduled court dates
- Docket entries with actions taken
The court dockets search guide from the Trial Court walks you through each step and explains how to read the case number format for probate court records.
Each county uses its own site code in the case number. For example, SU means Suffolk and WO means Worcester.
Under M.G.L. c. 215, § 1, the Probate and Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters in Massachusetts. All wills, estates, trusts, and guardianship cases go through this court. Impounded cases will not show up in search results. You can also call the Trial Court help line at 1-833-91-COURT for help finding Massachusetts probate court records. Staff are on the line Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Copies of Massachusetts Probate Records
You can get copies of Massachusetts probate records in person, by mail, or through the court's virtual registry. Each of the 14 counties has a Register of Probate who handles copy requests. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. The price depends on the type of document. A certified copy of a guardianship decree costs $22.00. Letters of Authority run $25.00 each. Attested copies of a will cost $2.50 per page. Exemplified copies for out-of-state use cost $50 plus $1 per page after the first.
The PFC 18 form is the official request form for getting copies of probate court records from any Massachusetts county.
Download the form from mass.gov and mail it with payment to the court that has your case.
To fill out the PFC 18, enter the court division where the case was filed, the docket number, case name, and type of case. Check the box for the document you need or write it in. Sign and date the form. For mail requests, the court takes attorney's checks, money orders, and bank certified checks only. Make checks out to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Personal checks are not accepted by mail. In person, most courts take cash and credit cards. The Register of Probate processes your request and mails copies back to you. Same-day service is common for walk-in visits when the file is on site. Mail requests can take a few weeks depending on volume. Some older probate cases from the 1930s through 1970s may sit in off-site storage, which adds time to the process.
The copy request page on mass.gov has the full fee list and step-by-step instructions for getting Massachusetts probate court records.
Call the court first to confirm fees before sending payment.
Many courts now offer a virtual registry through Zoom. You talk to staff face to face from home. The virtual registry handles records questions, form help, and case status checks. Call your county court to find out their hours and meeting link.
Massachusetts Probate Court Forms
The Probate and Family Court has forms for every type of probate case. The probate forms page on mass.gov lists every form for wills, estates, trusts, and guardianships in Massachusetts.
All forms are free to download as PDFs from the state site.
Common Massachusetts probate forms include MPC 160 for formal probate of a will, MPC 150 for informal probate, and MPC 170 for voluntary administration. Each form you file creates a new record in the court case file. Under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-102, informal probate goes through the Register without a hearing. The Register checks your papers and can issue Letters of Authority the same day if all is in order. Formal probate under § 3-301 requires a hearing before a judge. You take that path when someone contests the will or when the court must resolve a dispute about who should serve as personal representative.
Filing fees for Massachusetts probate court records vary by case type. Here are the main costs:
- Informal probate: $375 plus $15 surcharge ($390 total)
- Formal probate: $375 plus $15 surcharge and citation fees
- Voluntary administration: $100 plus $15 surcharge
- Guardianship of a minor: no filing fee
- Guardianship of incapacitated person: $240 plus $15 surcharge
- Conservatorship: $240 plus $15 surcharge
Check the filing fee schedule on mass.gov for the full list. You can file probate papers online through eFileMA.com instead of going to the courthouse. The system adds a $22 provider fee for new cases. Credit card payments cost 2.89% extra. eCheck is just $0.25 per transaction. The eFiling guide walks you through the steps to set up an account and submit your first filing.
Note: Filing fees can change, so check the mass.gov fee schedule or call the court before you file to confirm the current cost.
Historical Probate Records in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has some of the oldest probate court records in the country. Plymouth County records date to 1633. Suffolk County has files from 1636. Essex County goes back to 1638. These documents include wills, inventories, bonds, and estate accounts from the colonial era through modern times.
The historic records guide on mass.gov shows which Massachusetts probate court records are online and what years each county collection covers.
Most counties have digitized records going back to the 1600s or 1700s.
Two major databases hold historical Massachusetts probate records. American Ancestors has digitized probate file papers from most counties through a partnership with the Massachusetts Judicial Archives. A free guest account gives you access to search. FamilySearch has probate collections for all 14 counties with indexes and scans of original documents. Coverage varies by county, but many collections run from the 1600s through the early 1900s. The Supreme Judicial Court Archives at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston manages records not held at local courthouses. Reach them at (617) 557-1087 or email archives@jud.state.ma.us for help finding hard-to-locate Massachusetts probate court records.
Under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 1-302, the Probate and Family Court has subject matter jurisdiction over all probate matters in the state. This has been the law since the court system was brought together under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code. Account filing fees for estates also go into probate court records. These range from $0 for estates under $25,000 up to $3,500 for estates over $10 million.
Browse Massachusetts Probate Court Records
Each county in Massachusetts has its own Probate and Family Court that keeps all probate court records for that area. Pick a county below to find court contact info, local filing details, and records access resources.
Massachusetts Probate Court Records by City
Residents of major Massachusetts cities file probate cases at the Probate and Family Court in their county. Pick a city below to learn which court handles probate court records for that area.