Access Nantucket Probate Court Records

Nantucket County probate court records are kept at the Probate and Family Court on Broad Street in the town of Nantucket. This is the smallest probate court in Massachusetts. It serves just one town, covering the islands of Nantucket, Tuckernuck, and Muskeget. You can search for wills, estate files, guardianship orders, trust cases, and conservatorship records through this office. The island location makes access unique compared to mainland courts. Online tools like MassCourts let you search from home, and eFiling helps you file new cases without a trip to the island. Historical probate records here go back to 1706.

Nantucket Probate and Family Court

The Nantucket County Probate and Family Court is on the second floor at 16 Broad Street in the town of Nantucket. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1116, Nantucket, MA 02554. Register Sarah Maxwell runs the clerk office and also serves as the ADA coordinator. First Justice Hon. Kevin R. Connelly presides. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Call the court at (508) 228-2669 or (508) 228-6852. The fax is (508) 228-3662. Email goes to nantucketprobate@jud.state.ma.us. This court handles the full range of probate matters, even though it only serves one town. Wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, and adoptions all go through this office. The year-round population sits around 14,000, but summer brings more than 50,000 people to the island. Many non-residents own property on Nantucket, and their estates may need probate here.

The court's mass.gov page shows current contact info, hours, and links to forms for Nantucket County probate court records.

You can find the court address, phone numbers, and staff details from this page.

How to Search Nantucket Probate Court Records

The MassCourts portal lets you look up Nantucket County probate court records from any computer. Set the department to "Probate & Family Court" and pick Nantucket. Search by name or case number. The system shows party names, docket entries, filing dates, and case status. Cases filed from 2009 forward may have document images you can view online.

Going to the court in person requires a trip to Nantucket Island. The Steamship Authority runs ferries from Hyannis. The traditional ferry takes about two hours and 15 minutes. The fast ferry is about an hour. Car spots on the ferry are very limited and expensive, so most people walk on. Once on the island, the courthouse is a short walk from the ferry dock on Broad Street.

Virtual Registry appointments are available by request. Call (508) 228-2669 to set one up. This is not a walk-in virtual service like some other courts have. You need to schedule a time first. During off-season months from November through April, the court may have reduced services. Weather can shut down the ferries, which affects the court too.

Note: Nantucket has no on-site probation services; all probation matters are handled through Barnstable County Probate and Family Court at (508) 375-6710.

Filing Probate Cases in Nantucket County

Because of the island location, many people use the eFileMA system to file probate cases in Nantucket County. The eFiling platform charges a $22 provider fee for each new case plus the court filing fee. No extra fee applies for subsequent filings in the same case. Credit card payments carry a 2.89% surcharge. eCheck costs $0.25.

A probate filing guide for Nantucket walks through the steps for getting a case started. The preferred order for eFiling is the complaint or petition first, then supporting affidavits, financial statements if needed, proposed orders, and then any other documents. All official forms are free on mass.gov.

This resource covers the filing process for probate cases on Nantucket Island step by step.

Fee waivers are available if you qualify. File an Affidavit of Indigency with the court. The eligibility rules are posted on mass.gov. The court reviews your finances and decides.

Nantucket County Probate Fees

Filing fees at Nantucket match the statewide schedule. Informal probate is $390 total. Formal probate costs $405. Voluntary administration is $115. Conservatorship and guardianship of an incapacitated person are each $255. Guardianship of a minor is free. The complete fee schedule is on mass.gov.

To get copies of Nantucket County probate court records, use the PFC 18 form. Certified copies of decrees cost $20 to $22 each. Plain copies are $1 per page. Attested copies are $2.50 per page. Mail the form with payment to P.O. Box 1116, Nantucket, MA 02554. Checks go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By mail, the court takes attorney checks, money orders, and bank certified checks only.

Nantucket Probate Court Records Guide

Probate case files on Nantucket hold the same types of documents as any other county. Estate cases include the will, petition, inventory, and accounts. Guardianship files have petitions, medical evidence, and court orders. Under M.G.L. c. 190B, the court handles informal and formal probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters. Most records are public and available at the clerk's office or by mail request.

One thing that sets Nantucket apart is the number of second-home estates. Many property owners live off-island for most of the year. When they pass, their estates may involve probate in both Nantucket and their home state. Real property on the island gets handled through this court. The personal representative files accounts under M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706 to show how estate assets are managed. Most records are public and open to anyone who asks.

Historical Probate Records in Nantucket County

Nantucket County has probate records going back to 1706. These early records cover over three centuries of island history. FamilySearch has Nantucket probate records from 1706 to 1867 available online. Ancestry.com also has wills and probate records for the county. The Nantucket Historical Association holds supplementary records and research materials that can fill in gaps not covered by the court's own files.

The historic records guide on mass.gov lists exactly what has been digitized for Nantucket and every other county. For genealogy researchers, the early probate files show property transfers, family ties, and daily life on the island from the colonial period through the 1800s. Wills and inventories are especially useful for tracing family lines and understanding what people owned.

Towns in Nantucket County

Nantucket County has just one town: the Town of Nantucket. It covers the main island plus the smaller islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget. All probate filings go through the single courthouse on Broad Street. The town does not have a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Nantucket County is an island county about 30 miles south of Cape Cod. The closest courts on the mainland are in Barnstable County. Dukes County on Martha's Vineyard is the other island probate court in Massachusetts.