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Bristol County, MA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Bristol Probate and Family Court, a division of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department; there is no separate surrogate or register of wills court |
| Filing office | Registry of Probate, Bristol County, run by the elected Register of Probate (Thomas C. Hoye, Jr.) |
| Courthouse (main) | 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780 (the main seat) |
| Fall River session | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| New Bedford session | 505 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 (closed Wednesdays) |
| Mailing address | Bristol Probate and Family Court, 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Phone | Taunton: (508) 977-6040. Fall River: (508) 672-1751. New Bedford: (508) 999-5249 |
| Fax | Taunton: (508) 977-6088. Fall River: (508) 673-7068. New Bedford: (508) 999-1211 |
| [email protected] (the division's email address) | |
| Hours | Taunton and Fall River: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New Bedford: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed Wednesdays. All closed weekends and court holidays |
| Filing fee | Informal or formal probate and appointment of a personal representative: $390 ($375 plus a $15 surcharge). Voluntary administration: $115 ($100 plus a $15 surcharge). Uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026 |
| Local forms | Massachusetts uses one statewide set of official MPC forms in every division; there is no Bristol-only form set. The load-bearing filings are MPC 150 (informal), MPC 160 (formal), and MPC 170 (voluntary administration) |
| E-filing | eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve, Tyler Technologies) at www.efilema.com is available for Bristol probate 24/7 but is not mandatory; you may also file by mail or in person at any of the three locations |
| Case search | MassCourts public portal at masscourts.org, searchable by name for Probate and Family Court dockets |
| Remote appearance | Informal probate is decided by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing; for formal matters, hearing formats and any remote-appearance options are set case by case, so confirm with the Registry of Probate |
| Website | https://www.mass.gov/locations/bristol-probate-and-family-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Bristol County, know exactly what is in the estate. The path you take depends on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets. Massachusetts offers voluntary administration for a small estate of personal property, informal probate for the ordinary uncontested case, and formal probate when there is a dispute or a defective will. These paths and their dollar thresholds are statewide and are explained on the Massachusetts state page; identify the estate first so you file the right petition once. Because all three Bristol locations serve the whole county, you can then file at whichever of Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford is most convenient.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, business interest, and parcel of Bristol County real estate, along with every debt, and identify each heir and devisee by name. Only then can you pick the right path, complete the notice forms accurately, and decide whether counsel is needed. Selling a decedent's home can require a license to sell if the will grants no power of sale, and it requires clearing the Massachusetts estate tax lien at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Bristol Probate and Family Court serves all of Bristol County through three locations. Venue lies in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-201); if the decedent was not domiciled in Massachusetts, venue is any county where the decedent's property was located. Bristol County covers the cities of Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Attleboro and the towns of Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.
The main seat is in Taunton, at 40 Broadway, Suite 240. The division also holds sessions in Fall River, at 289 Rock Street, and in New Bedford, at 505 Pleasant Street. Unlike some Massachusetts divisions, Bristol does not split its work by town: mass.gov states that each of the three locations serves all the cities and towns in Bristol County. You may file a Bristol County estate at whichever location is most convenient, subject to that location's hours; the New Bedford session is closed on Wednesdays.
Uncontested informal probate is decided by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing; formal and contested matters go before a judge of the division. A proceeding may be transferred to another county for cause or convenience (MGL c. 190B, § 1-303), but a Bristol County estate opens here where venue lies.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue. Bristol is the right county when the decedent was domiciled here at death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-201). All three Bristol locations, Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford, serve the entire county, so you may file at whichever is most convenient rather than at one assigned by the decedent's town.
- Choose the path. Informal probate (MPC 150) is the ordinary uncontested route; formal probate (MPC 160) is used when there is a dispute, a missing or defective will, or an interested party who is unknown or incapacitated; voluntary administration (MPC 170) is for a qualifying small estate under MGL c. 190B, § 3-1201. The paths and thresholds are statewide and are on the Massachusetts state page.
- Gather what the court needs: the original will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the completed MPC petition, the bond, and the notice forms identifying the surviving spouse, heirs at law, and devisees. The estate representative is the personal representative (named in a will, historically an executor; appointed without a will, historically an administrator).
- File with the Registry of Probate. You may file through eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com), which is available 24/7 but not required, or by mail or in person at the Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford counter. Pay the statewide filing fee: $390 for informal or formal probate and appointment, or $115 for voluntary administration (uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026).
- Give the required notice. Informal probate requires advance written notice to interested persons and, where applicable, publication; formal probate proceeds by a Citation and order of notice that the court issues, with return dates. Newspaper publication, where required, is paid to the newspaper, not the court.
- The matter is reviewed. In informal probate, a MUPC Magistrate reviews the petition and may allow it with no hearing, as early as 7 days after death. Formal probate and any contested matter are heard by a judge of the division.
- Receive authority. On appointment the court issues Letters of Authority; a certified copy from the Registry of Probate is the proof banks, transfer agents, and the Registry of Deeds rely on. Additional Letters cost $25 each (uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026).
- Administer and close: collect assets, pay valid creditor claims (a creditor generally must act within one year of death, MGL c. 190B, § 3-803), and account to the interested persons. If real estate must be sold and the will grants no power of sale, obtain a license to sell real estate (MGL c. 202); clear the Massachusetts estate tax lien at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds before conveying.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bristol County
Massachusetts uses one statewide set of official Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MPC) forms, and the same forms are filed in Bristol as in every other division. There is no separate Bristol form set. The core filings are the Petition for Informal Probate of a Will and/or Appointment of a Personal Representative (MPC 150), the Petition for Formal Adjudication (MPC 160), and the Voluntary Administration Statement for a small estate (MPC 170). Common companions include the bond (MPC 801), the surviving-spouse, children, and heirs-at-law form (MPC 162), the devisees form (MPC 163), and the instructions sheets.
The forms are published statewide on mass.gov (the Probate and Family Court forms list for wills, estates, and trusts) and on the Trial Court forms portal at courtforms.jud.state.ma.us. Bristol accepts them through eFileMA (www.efilema.com), by mail, or in person at the Registry of Probate counter in Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford.
Local nuance
Bristol County-specific considerations
Three locations, all serving the whole county. The Bristol Probate and Family Court sits in Taunton (40 Broadway, the main seat) and holds sessions in Fall River (289 Rock Street) and New Bedford (505 Pleasant Street). Unlike some Massachusetts divisions, Bristol does not assign estates to a courthouse by the decedent's town: mass.gov states each location serves all the cities and towns in Bristol County. Choose the location that is most convenient, and file the same statewide MPC forms wherever you go.
The New Bedford session is closed on Wednesdays. Taunton and Fall River keep Monday to Friday hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the New Bedford session at 505 Pleasant Street is open only Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and is closed on Wednesdays. Plan an in-person New Bedford filing around that closure, or use eFileMA, mail, or the Taunton or Fall River counter. Confirm current New Bedford hours on the division's mass.gov page before traveling.
A MUPC Magistrate handles informal probate. Uncontested informal probate and informal appointment are administrative proceedings decided by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing, and the Magistrate may act as early as 7 days after death. Formal probate, supervised administration, and any contested matter go before a judge of the division. Do not expect a hearing date for a clean informal filing.
eFileMA is available, not required. Bristol accepts probate filings through eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com) around the clock, but eFiling is not mandatory, including for attorneys. You may still file by mail or in person at any of the three Registry of Probate counters. Tyler charges its own convenience fee on top of the statutory filing fee.
No Court Service Center in Bristol County. There is no physical Court Service Center in Bristol County. The nearest is the Brockton Court Service Center in Plymouth County, which helps self-represented filers with forms and court procedure; a virtual Court Service Center is also available by Zoom or phone. Staff give procedural help, not legal advice.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Bristol County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | A Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford home held jointly with right of survivorship or as tenants by the entirety passes to the surviving spouse outside probate; the survivor records a death certificate and the supporting documents with the Bristol County Registry of Deeds to clear title. Accounts and property in the decedent's sole name may still need informal probate (MPC 150), filed at whichever Bristol location is convenient. | Asset discovery to separate jointly held property from sole-name assets. Packet generation for the MPC 150 filing and notice forms. Guidance on clearing title at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | If the parent left Massachusetts personal property within the voluntary-administration limit and no real estate, the child can use voluntary administration (MPC 170) under MGL c. 190B, § 3-1201 once at least 30 days have passed since death. A larger estate is filed as informal probate (MPC 150), and eFileMA lets the child file from out of state without traveling to Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate fits the voluntary-administration path and holds no real estate. Packet generation for the MPC 170 statement or the MPC 150 petition, formatted for eFileMA. Attorney referral if the estate turns out to be larger or contested. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Informal or formal probate in Bristol, filed at any of the three locations. Because there is no will, the parent is appointed personal representative and receives Letters of Authority. With no will granting a power of sale, the parent must obtain a license to sell real estate (MGL c. 202) before conveying the home, and clear the Massachusetts estate tax lien at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the appointment petition, the license-to-sell papers, and the estate-tax lien release. Attorney referral if an heir dispute or the sale turns contested and moves before a judge. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Bristol Probate and Family Court (mass.gov/locations/bristol-probate-and-family-court) | The division's own location pages: Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford contact details, hours, directions, and forms links |
| Brockton Court Service Center (mass.gov/info-details/court-service-centers) | Free help with forms and court procedure for self-represented filers, in nearby Plymouth County; there is no Court Service Center in Bristol County. A virtual center is reachable by Zoom or phone |
| Massachusetts Probate and Family Court forms (mass.gov/lists/probate-and-family-court-forms-for-wills-estates-and-trusts) | The statewide MPC forms list, including MPC 150, 160, and 170, and the MUPC Estate Administration procedural guides for informal, formal, and voluntary administration |
| eFileMA (www.efilema.com) | The Odyssey File & Serve portal for filing Bristol probate online, available 24/7 and open to self-represented filers |
| MassLegalHelp (masslegalhelp.org) | Plain-language self-help on wills, estates, and probate for the public |
| South Coastal Counties Legal Services, (800) 244-9023 (sccls.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Bristol County, with offices in Fall River and New Bedford and an estate-planning clinic for elders |
| Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (masslawhelp.com) | Attorney referrals statewide, including Bristol probate and estate matters |
When to hire an attorney
Many Bristol families complete an uncontested informal probate on their own, using the statewide MPC forms and eFileMA. Counsel makes sense when a matter is contested and moves before a judge, such as a will contest, an objection to an account, or a fiduciary-removal dispute; when the estate is insolvent or its solvency is in doubt; when Bristol County real estate must be sold and the will grants no power of sale, so a license to sell (MGL c. 202) is required; when a Massachusetts estate tax return may be due; or when heirs are in conflict. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Bristol County probate attorney when the situation calls for counsel.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Bristol County real estate, business interests, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and can pick the right Massachusetts probate path before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the Bristol filing for estate settlement: the MPC petition (informal MPC 150, formal MPC 160, or voluntary administration MPC 170), the bond, and the surviving-spouse-and-heirs and devisee notice forms, formatted for upload through eFileMA or for the Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford counter.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Bristol County probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
With the Registry of Probate at the Bristol Probate and Family Court. The main seat is at 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780, and the division also holds sessions at 289 Rock Street, Fall River, and 505 Pleasant Street, New Bedford. Each of the three locations serves all of Bristol County, so you may file at whichever is most convenient. You may also file through eFileMA or by mail.
Which Bristol courthouse should I use, Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford?
Any of them. Unlike some Massachusetts divisions, Bristol does not assign estates to a courthouse by the decedent's town; mass.gov states that Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford each serve all the cities and towns in Bristol County. Choose the location that is most convenient, but note that the New Bedford session is closed on Wednesdays.
Do I have to e-file probate in Bristol County?
No. eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com) is available for Bristol probate 24 hours a day and is open to self-represented filers, but eFiling is not mandatory, including for attorneys. You may still file by mail or in person at the Taunton, Fall River, or New Bedford Registry of Probate counter. Tyler charges its own convenience fee on top of the statutory filing fee.
How much does it cost to file probate in Bristol County?
The filing fees are set by statute and are uniform across all Massachusetts divisions. Informal or formal probate and appointment of a personal representative is $390 ($375 plus a $15 surcharge), and voluntary administration for a small estate is $115 ($100 plus a $15 surcharge) (uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026). Newspaper publication, where required, is paid to the newspaper, not the court.
How do I look up a Bristol County probate case?
Use the MassCourts public portal at masscourts.org, which covers Probate and Family Court dockets and is searchable by name. Some family matters are impounded and will not appear.
Do I have to appear in court for Bristol probate?
Usually not for a clean informal filing. Uncontested informal probate is reviewed by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing, and the Magistrate may act as early as 7 days after death. Formal probate and any contested matter are heard by a judge of the division; confirm the hearing format with the Registry of Probate.
Who signs off on an uncontested Bristol probate?
A MUPC Magistrate of the Probate and Family Court, not a judge. Informal probate and informal appointment are administrative proceedings the Magistrate reviews and allows without a hearing. A judge is involved only in formal, supervised, or contested matters.
What forms do I use for Bristol probate?
The statewide official MPC forms, the same set used in every Massachusetts division. The core filings are MPC 150 (informal probate), MPC 160 (formal probate), and MPC 170 (voluntary administration for a small estate), with the bond (MPC 801) and notice forms (MPC 162 and MPC 163) as companions. They are on the mass.gov Probate and Family Court forms list and the Trial Court forms portal at courtforms.jud.state.ma.us.
Is there free help with probate in Bristol County?
There is no Court Service Center in Bristol County itself; the nearest is the Brockton Court Service Center in Plymouth County, and a virtual Court Service Center is reachable by Zoom or phone for help with forms and court procedure. South Coastal Counties Legal Services (sccls.org, (800) 244-9023) offers free civil legal help to income-eligible Bristol County residents, and MassLegalHelp (masslegalhelp.org) offers plain-language self-help online.
What proof of authority does the personal representative get?
Letters of Authority, issued by the court on appointment. A certified copy from the Registry of Probate is the proof banks, transfer agents, and the Registry of Deeds rely on to release accounts and record deeds. Additional Letters cost $25 each (uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.