Massachusetts has 14 counties but probate is handled by the Probate and Family Court, with sessions in each county. The state adopted the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) in 2012, replacing its former patchwork. Median home values around $565,000 — the third-highest in the country — make every Massachusetts inherited home a meaningful equity transaction.
Massachusetts adopted the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MGL chapter 190B, effective March 31, 2012). MUPC offers Informal Probate (section 3-301) — fast, no court hearing — and Formal Probate (section 3-401) for contested or complex estates. Voluntary Administration (section 3-1201) is the small-estate path for estates under $25,000 in personal property (excluding the homestead-protected portion of real estate).
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court runs sessions in 14 county courthouses, with the Norfolk County (Canton) and Middlesex County (Cambridge/Woburn) sessions handling the largest volume. The state's online docket access via masscourts.org is comprehensive.
Massachusetts has a state estate tax (MGL chapter 65C) with one of the country's lowest exemption thresholds — $2M as of 2026, far below the federal $13.61M. This means many Boston-area inherited homes trigger state estate tax. Estate tax returns are due 9 months after death (section 65C-3) and the closing often waits for the estate tax certificate.
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Not every estate goes through it — it depends on how the home was titled, whether there's a will or trust, and Massachusetts rules. We'll help you find out.
Start with probate →Selling isn't the only option. Talk through whether it makes sense for you and what you'd actually walk away with after costs and the stepped-up basis.
Explore selling →Renting, holding, or renovating could be worth it. See what the numbers look like in your specific market before deciding.
Look at keeping it →Before you sell, rent, or move in, understand the home's real condition — and what fixing it up would actually take locally.
Check repairs →Informal probate typically clears in 9 to 14 months. Formal probate runs 12 to 18 months. Estate-tax-triggered estates often run 14 to 20 months because of the 9-month estate tax filing window.
No. Massachusetts has NOT adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act for real estate. Real property transfers by will, intestate succession, joint tenancy with survivorship, or trust.
Yes. MGL chapter 65C with a $2M exemption — one of the lowest in the country. Many Boston-area inherited homes trigger state estate tax.
Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties (Greater Boston) dominate volume and equity. Worcester County sees strong secondary volume. Cape Cod (Barnstable) and the Islands (Dukes, Nantucket) have lower volume but extreme per-listing equity.
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