Search Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court Records, Forms, Fees & Case Information
Use official Mass.gov and MassCourts resources to search Probate and Family Court dockets, find forms for wills, estates and trusts, request court records, check filing fees, locate the correct county court, and avoid wrong private record portals.
Choose what you need below. Massachusetts Probate and Family Court users commonly need case lookup, docket search, estate forms, wills and trusts forms, guardianship or conservatorship guidance, fee information, copy requests, or court-location help.
🔎 Search probate case information
Use this for: Probate and Family Court docket lookup, scheduled court dates, case number search, party search, and basic case routing.
Best official path: use Mass.gov’s court docket and case information page or MassCourts eAccess.
Important: MassCourts says online information is not the official court record. Contact the correct court if you need certified records or official copies.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court Quick Facts
In Massachusetts, probate matters are handled by the Probate and Family Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. This court department handles both probate matters and family-law matters, so users may see the court called “Probate Court,” “Family Court,” or “Probate and Family Court.”
What This Massachusetts Probate Court Guide Covers
Official Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court Path
For Massachusetts probate search intent, start with the official Mass.gov Probate and Family Court page. Probate and Family Court is the court department used for probate matters such as wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, name changes, and related court orders.
Do not confuse Massachusetts Probate and Family Court with Superior Court, District Court, Housing Court, Land Court, Registry of Deeds, private background-check websites, or historical genealogy databases. For current court cases, use Mass.gov and MassCourts first.
Use Mass.gov’s Search Court Dockets, Calendars and Case Information page or MassCourts eAccess for basic case information.
MassCourts states that information on the site is not the official record of the court.
Use Mass.gov Probate and Family Court forms, including dedicated wills, estates, and trusts form collections.
Use Mass.gov’s record-copy guidance or contact the correct Probate and Family Court division for certified copies.
How to Search Massachusetts Probate Court Case Information
Mass.gov provides a court docket, calendar, and case information page for members of the public and attorneys. For Probate and Family Court matters, users can search through official Trial Court resources and MassCourts eAccess.
Start with the official Mass.gov case search page
Use the Mass.gov search page for court dockets, calendars, and case information before private lookup websites.
Open MassCourts eAccess
MassCourts lets users look up basic case information and pay some court fees online, but the site is not the official court record.
Select the proper court department and division
Choose Probate and Family Court and the correct county division, such as Suffolk, Middlesex, Worcester, Norfolk, Essex, Plymouth, Bristol, Hampden, or another Massachusetts county.
Use strong search details
Search by docket number, party name, decedent name, case type, filing year, fiduciary name, or attorney name when available.
Contact the court for official records
If you need a certified copy, decree, appointment, estate document, divorce record, or official order, contact the correct Probate and Family Court division.
Estate, Will and Trust Matters in Massachusetts Probate Court
Massachusetts Probate and Family Court provides official forms for wills, estates, and trusts. These matters may include informal probate, formal probate, voluntary administration, appointment of a personal representative, estate accounting, trust petitions, fiduciary filings, and related decrees or orders.
Use this path when a deceased person’s property must be administered, transferred, settled, or reviewed by the court.
Use this path when a will, codicil, personal representative appointment, or probate decree is involved.
Use this path for trust petitions, trustee actions, trust accounting, and related Probate and Family Court filings.
File in the correct Probate and Family Court division based on the case type and required venue rules.
Massachusetts Guardianship and Conservatorship Information
Massachusetts Probate and Family Court handles guardianship and conservatorship matters. These cases can involve minors, incapacitated adults, protected persons, fiduciary appointments, medical certificates, accountings, care plans, financial oversight, and court orders.
Use this path when a person may need a court-appointed guardian for personal, care, or decision-making issues.
Use this path when a person’s property, income, assets, settlement, or finances may require court-supervised management.
Some guardianship or custody-related matters involving children may require specific Probate and Family Court forms.
Guardians and conservators may have reporting, accounting, inventory, or court-review responsibilities.
Why Massachusetts Probate Court Is Also Family Court
Massachusetts uses a Probate and Family Court system, so the same court department can handle both probate matters and family-law matters. Users searching “Massachusetts probate court” may also see divorce, custody, child support, paternity, adoption, name change, and domestic relations resources on the same Mass.gov court pages.
Use Mass.gov’s Probate and Family Court record-copy guidance for divorce records and related certified copies.
Name change certificates and related records may be requested through Probate and Family Court procedures.
Custody, support, paternity, and adoption matters may appear under Probate and Family Court rather than a separate family court.
When searching online, select the correct case type so probate matters and family matters are not mixed up.
Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Forms
Mass.gov provides a collection of Probate and Family Court forms by subject, including wills and estates, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, divorce, child custody, child support, restraining orders, and other Probate and Family Court matters.
All Probate & Family Forms
Use the statewide Mass.gov forms page for official Probate and Family Court forms.
Open FormsWills, Estates & Trusts
Use this official Mass.gov collection for estate, will, and trust forms.
Open Estate FormsCourt Self-Help
Use Mass.gov court self-help resources for general filing and court-process help.
Open Self-HelpMassachusetts Probate and Family Court Filing Fees
Mass.gov provides a Probate and Family Court filing-fee page. The official fee page notes that listed fees do not include citation or summons fees, and that each citation is an additional $15 and each summons is an additional $5. Publication and other costs may also apply depending on the filing.
Use the official Probate and Family Court filing-fee page before filing any petition, complaint, account, or probate document.
Mass.gov notes that each citation is an additional $15 when applicable.
Mass.gov notes that each summons is an additional $5 when applicable.
If you cannot afford fees, check Mass.gov guidance about the Affidavit of Indigency and fee waiver procedures.
Certified Copies, Probate Records and Court Documents
Mass.gov provides guidance for getting copies of Probate and Family Court records, including divorce records, name change certificates, decrees, and orders of appointment. Online case information can help you identify a case, but official use often requires a copy issued by the court.
Ask the correct court division whether you need a certified copy, attested copy, decree, appointment, or other official record.
Use the docket number, case name, party name, filing year, and case type when requesting records.
Some records may be impounded, confidential, restricted, or unavailable online even if the docket exists.
Many Probate and Family Court location pages offer virtual registry assistance for case and filing questions.
Find the Correct Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Location
Massachusetts Probate and Family Court is organized by county divisions. The correct filing location depends on the case type, county, residence, decedent’s residence, child’s residence, venue rules, and other case-specific facts. Use the official Mass.gov court locator and individual court-location pages before visiting or mailing documents.
Probate and Family Court divisions include county-based locations such as Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.
Some counties may have more than one courthouse or specialized routing. Always verify the proper division before filing.
Many Mass.gov location pages include virtual registry access for Probate and Family Court assistance.
Check hours, phone number, parking, accessibility, filing window rules, and whether the matter can be handled remotely.
Official Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court Links
Probate and Family Court
Main Mass.gov page for the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department.
Open Court PageCase Search
Search court dockets, calendars, and case information through Mass.gov.
Open Case SearchMassCourts
Look up basic case information and pay some court fees online.
Open MassCourtsRecord Copies
Official instructions for getting Probate and Family Court records.
Open Copy GuideCommonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court FAQs
What is the official Massachusetts probate court called?
The official court department is the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. It handles probate matters and family-law matters.
How do I search Massachusetts probate court cases?
Use Mass.gov’s Search Court Dockets, Calendars and Case Information page or MassCourts eAccess. Select Probate and Family Court and the correct county division when available.
Is MassCourts the official court record?
No. MassCourts states that information on the site is not the official record of the court. Contact the correct Probate and Family Court division for official or certified records.
Where do I find Massachusetts probate forms?
Use the official Mass.gov Probate and Family Court forms page. There is also a dedicated Mass.gov collection for wills, estates, and trusts forms.
How do I get certified copies of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court records?
Use Mass.gov’s guide for getting copies of Probate and Family Court records or contact the correct county division. You may need the docket number, case name, case type, and filing year.
Does Massachusetts Probate Court handle guardianships and conservatorships?
Yes. Guardianship and conservatorship matters are handled through the Probate and Family Court, along with related forms, accountings, appointments, and court orders.
Are filing fees the same for every Massachusetts Probate and Family Court?
Use the official Mass.gov filing-fee page to confirm current fees. The fee page notes that listed fees do not include citation or summons fees when those apply.