Use This County Probate Reference Before You File
This page is built for the detailed county-level checks that generic probate guides usually miss: local filing fees, Register of Probate contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for Dukes County.
Local Fee Schedule
Review county-specific probate filing charges before you estimate total case cost.
Court Rules and Orders
Check the local rules, judge procedures, and administrative orders that can change how a case moves.
Clerk and Filing Logistics
Confirm where to file, whether e-filing is allowed, and how hearings or notices are handled locally.
Dukes County Register of Probate Guide
Probate and Family Court Department, Dukes Division (Massachusetts Trial Court) · Register of Probate information · Updated July 2026
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Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Formal Administration Standard probate for larger estates | $390 |
Note: Massachusetts sets Probate and Family Court filing fees STATEWIDE by pleading type, not by county and not by estate value, so this county charges the same as every other Massachusetts county. The first-paper total for either informal or formal probate (petition for informal probate and/or appointment, or petition for formal probate of a will, adjudication of intestacy and appointment of a personal representative) is $375 under M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 plus the $15 surcharge under M.G.L. c. 262, § 4C = $390. A Voluntary Administration statement, the Massachusetts small-estate path, is $100 + $15 = $115. Each citation ($15) and each summons ($5), plus newspaper publication, are separate costs paid by the petitioner. Confirm the current amount with the Register of Probate before filing.
Massachusetts sets Probate and Family Court filing fees STATEWIDE by pleading type, not by county and not by estate value, so this county charges the same as every other Massachusetts county. The first-paper total for either informal or formal probate (petition for informal probate and/or appointment, or petition for formal probate of a will, adjudication of intestacy and appointment of a personal representative) is $375 under M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 plus the $15 surcharge under M.G.L. c. 262, § 4C = $390. A Voluntary Administration statement, the Massachusetts small-estate path, is $100 + $15 = $115. Each citation ($15) and each summons ($5), plus newspaper publication, are separate costs paid by the petitioner. Confirm the current amount with the Register of Probate before filing.
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Records portal
Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.
Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- 30 days
- Creditor Claims
- 12 months
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- the decedent's date of death
- Statute
- M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-803
Publication Requirements
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Recording Fees
- First Page
- $100.00
- Additional Pages
- $0.00
Sources (9)
- https://www.mass.gov/locations/dukes-probate-and-family-court
- https://www.mass.gov/orgs/probate-and-family-court
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-filing-fees
- https://www.masscourts.org/eservices/home.page
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-301
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-1201
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-803
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section40
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section4C