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 Norfolk 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.
Norfolk County Register of Probate Guide
Probate and Family Court Department, 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 amounts as the other 13. The first paper in either informal or formal probate (petition for formal probate of a will, adjudication of intestacy and appointment of a personal representative, OR petition for informal probate and/or appointment) is $375 under M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 plus the $15 surcharge under M.G.L. c. 262, § 4C, for a $390 total. A Statement of Voluntary Administration (the small-estate path) is $100 + $15 = $115. Depositing a will for safekeeping is $75. Each citation ($15), each summons ($5), and newspaper publication are separate costs the petitioner pays. Schedule: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-filing-fees (statute: M.G.L. c. 262, §§ 40, 4C). 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 amounts as the other 13. The first paper in either informal or formal probate (petition for formal probate of a will, adjudication of intestacy and appointment of a personal representative, OR petition for informal probate and/or appointment) is $375 under M.G.L. c. 262, § 40 plus the $15 surcharge under M.G.L. c. 262, § 4C, for a $390 total. A Statement of Voluntary Administration (the small-estate path) is $100 + $15 = $115. Depositing a will for safekeeping is $75. Each citation ($15), each summons ($5), and newspaper publication are separate costs the petitioner pays. Schedule: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-filing-fees (statute: M.G.L. c. 262, §§ 40, 4C). 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
- 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 (13)
- https://www.mass.gov/locations/norfolk-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.mass.gov/info-details/probate-and-family-court-forms
- https://www.masscourts.org/eservices/home.page.2
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-301
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-401
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-1201
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section2-516
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-803
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section3-706
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section40
- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleVI/Chapter262/Section4C