Quick answer: Massachusetts charges a flat $390 to open standard probate — a $375 petition fee plus a $15 surcharge under M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 — the same for informal and formal probate. Voluntary administration (small estates) is $115. These are just court fees; they don't include the PR fee, attorney fees, or the estate tax.
The Massachusetts probate fee schedule
Probate is filed with the Probate and Family Court in the county where the person lived — Middlesex, Worcester, Essex, Suffolk (Boston), Norfolk and the state's 14 counties. Unlike many states, the fee is statewide and flat, not graduated by estate value:
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Informal probate petition | $375 + $15 surcharge = $390 |
| Formal probate petition | $375 + $15 surcharge = $390 (+ $15 citation) |
| Supervised administration | $375 + $15 surcharge = $390 |
| Voluntary administration | $100 + $15 surcharge = $115 |
| Sworn closing statement | $75 |
Per M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 and the § 4C surcharge. Informal probate is not cheaper than formal — it's faster and carries less process, but the base fee is the same. None of these figures is indexed for inflation.
Other costs to plan for
- Publication of the citation — newspaper notice to interested persons; ~$100–$300.
- Certified copies of the Letters of Authority — needed by banks and title; a few dollars each.
- Bond — no separate fee for the initial bond or letters; a surety premium applies only if a surety bond is required.
- Appraisals — for the inventory, due within 3 months of appointment.
The real costs are the PR fee and the estate tax
The $390 filing fee is small next to the reasonable PR and attorney fees and, for estates above $2 million, the Massachusetts estate tax (Table B, 0.8–16%). See the whole picture in the Massachusetts probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the Massachusetts probate cost calculator.