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Hampden County, MA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Hampden 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, Hampden County, run by the elected Register of Probate (Rosemary Saccomani) |
| Courthouse | 50 State St., Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Mailing address | Hampden Probate and Family Court, P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102 |
| Phone | (413) 748-7760 (Register's Office, the Registry's public line) |
| Fax | (413) 781-5605 (Register's Office) |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; 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 Hampden-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 Hampden probate 24/7 but is not mandatory; you may also file by mail or in person at the Springfield courthouse |
| Case search | MassCourts public portal at masscourts.org, searchable by name for Probate and Family Court dockets; some records are restricted |
| 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 |
| Court Service Center | Free self-help center inside the courthouse at 50 State St., 1st Floor; in-person Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., plus remote help Monday to Friday |
| Website | https://www.mass.gov/locations/hampden-probate-and-family-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Hampden 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, and so you can complete the notice forms accurately and decide whether counsel is needed.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, business interest, and parcel of Hampden County real estate, along with every debt, before you go to the Registry. Real estate matters in particular: conveying a decedent's home in Springfield, Chicopee, or elsewhere in the county 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 Hampden 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 Hampden Probate and Family Court serves all of Hampden County from a single courthouse at 50 State Street in Springfield, the county seat. The county's communities include Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, Agawam, West Springfield, Ludlow, Palmer, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, and Wilbraham, along with smaller towns from Brimfield, Monson, and Wales on the county's eastern edge to Southwick and the western hill towns such as Blandford and Chester. Estates from every one of these communities are filed with the Registry of Probate in Springfield.
The division formerly operated a satellite registry office at Chicopee City Hall (274 Front Street, Chicopee), but that office has been temporarily closed for renovations since November 1, 2024; while it is closed, all Hampden County probate filing is handled at the Springfield courthouse, by mail, or through eFileMA. Confirm the satellite's status with the Registry before relying on it.
Venue for a decedent's estate is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-201). If the decedent lived anywhere in Hampden County, file in Hampden County. If the decedent was not domiciled in Massachusetts but owned property in the county, venue is also proper here. A proceeding may be transferred to another county for cause or convenience (MGL c. 190B, § 1-303). Uncontested informal probate is decided by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing; formal and contested matters go before a judge of the division.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and photo ID, the names and addresses of the heirs and devisees, and a list of the assets and debts with values. A personal representative named in a will was historically called an executor and one appointed without a will an administrator; Massachusetts now uses personal representative for both.
- Choose the path and the form. Massachusetts uses one statewide set of MPC forms in every division. File the Petition for Informal Probate (MPC 150) for the ordinary uncontested case, the Petition for Formal Adjudication (MPC 160) when there is a dispute or a defective will, or the Voluntary Administration Statement (MPC 170) for a qualifying small estate of personal property under MGL c. 190B, § 3-1201. The governing thresholds are statewide and are on the Massachusetts state page.
- File with the Registry of Probate in Springfield. File at the counter at 50 State St., by mail to P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102, or through eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com), which is available 24/7. eFiling is available but not required. While the Chicopee satellite is closed for renovations, filings are handled at the Springfield courthouse.
- Pay the filing fee. The fee is uniform statewide: $390 for informal or formal probate ($375 plus a $15 surcharge) and $115 for voluntary administration ($100 plus a $15 surcharge), uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026. Newspaper publication and deputy-sheriff service, where required, are separate costs paid outside the court, and Tyler charges its own convenience fee for eFileMA filings.
- Give 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. The MPC forms include the notice and surviving-spouse and heirs companion forms.
- Attend the hearing only if one is set. Informal probate and informal appointment are allowed administratively by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing; 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. For formal matters, confirm the hearing format and any remote-appearance option with the Registry.
- Receive the Letters of Authority. On appointment the court issues Letters of Authority, the proof of the personal representative's authority to act. A certified copy from the Registry of Probate is what banks, transfer agents, and the Registry of Deeds rely on. Request enough certified copies for the institutions involved; additional Letters cost $25 each (uniform statewide, Probate and Family Court filing-fee schedule on mass.gov, verified July 2026).
- Administer and close. Inventory and appraise the assets, pay valid claims in statutory priority, and account to the interested persons. A creditor's claim against the estate must generally be brought within one year after the date of death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-803). If the estate includes Hampden County real estate that must be sold, obtain a license to sell (MGL c. 202) where the will grants no power of sale, and clear the Massachusetts estate tax lien at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds before conveying.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hampden County
Massachusetts uses one statewide set of official Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MPC) forms, and the same forms are filed in Hampden as in every other division. There is no separate Hampden County 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; confirm the current form numbers on the statewide list before relying on a specific one.
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. Hampden accepts them through eFileMA (www.efilema.com), by mail to the Springfield P.O. Box, or in person at the Registry of Probate counter at 50 State Street. For questions about local intake or what the Registry needs, call the Register's Office at (413) 748-7760.
Local nuance
Hampden County-specific considerations
One active courthouse in Springfield. All Hampden County probate is filed with the Registry of Probate at 50 State Street in Springfield. The division's Chicopee satellite registry office (274 Front Street, Chicopee City Hall) has been temporarily closed for renovations since November 1, 2024, and is not currently listed among the division's active locations. Do not plan to file at Chicopee while it is closed; confirm its status with the Registry before relying on it.
Free help at the Springfield Court Service Center. A Court Service Center operates inside the Springfield courthouse at 50 State Street, 1st Floor, and helps self-represented filers with forms and court procedure, including Probate and Family Court matters. In-person hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; remote help is also available Monday to Friday. Staff give procedural help, not legal advice, and there is no lawyer or income requirement.
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. Hampden 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 to the Springfield P.O. Box or in person at the Registry of Probate counter. Tyler charges its own convenience fee on top of the statutory filing fee.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 | The Hampden Probate and Family Court's Chicopee satellite registry office (274 Front Street, Chicopee City Hall) was temporarily closed for renovations. While it is closed, all Hampden County probate filing is handled at the Springfield courthouse, by mail, or through eFileMA. | mass.gov Hampden Probate and Family Court |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Hampden County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | A Springfield, Chicopee, or Holyoke 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 Hampden County Registry of Deeds to clear title. Accounts and property in the decedent's sole name may still need informal probate (MPC 150), filed with the Registry of Probate in Springfield. | 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 Hampden County Registry of Deeds. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | For a qualifying small estate of personal property with no real estate, the child can file the Voluntary Administration Statement (MPC 170) under MGL c. 190B, § 3-1201 once at least 30 days have passed since death, and it is decided without a hearing. A larger estate is filed as informal probate (MPC 150). Either can be filed through eFileMA or by mail to the Springfield P.O. Box, so an out-of-state filer can proceed without traveling to Springfield. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate qualifies and holds no real estate. Packet generation for the MPC 170 statement or the MPC 150 petition, formatted for eFileMA or mail. Attorney referral if the estate turns out to be larger or contested. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The parent files informal or formal probate with the Registry of Probate in Springfield and, once issued Letters of Authority, can act for the estate. Because the home must be sold and there is typically no will granting a power of sale, the personal representative obtains a license to sell (MGL c. 202) and clears the Massachusetts estate tax lien at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds before conveying. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the appointment petition, the license-to-sell paperwork, 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 |
|---|---|
| Hampden Probate and Family Court, (413) 748-7760 (mass.gov/locations/hampden-probate-and-family-court) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, hours, directions, forms links, and Registry contact information |
| Springfield Court Service Center, 50 State St., 1st Floor (mass.gov/locations/springfield-court-service-center) | Free help with forms and court procedure for self-represented filers, inside the Springfield courthouse; in-person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, plus remote help Monday to Friday, with no lawyer or income requirement |
| Massachusetts Probate and Family Court forms and self-help hub (mass.gov/orgs/probate-and-family-court) | The statewide MPC forms, 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 Hampden 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 |
| Community Legal Aid, (855) 252-5342 (communitylegal.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Western and Central Massachusetts, including Hampden County, covering probate and estate matters |
| Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (masslawhelp.com) | Attorney referrals statewide, including Hampden probate and estate matters |
When to hire an attorney
Many Hampden County estates are uncontested and can be handled without an attorney, using the statewide MPC forms, eFileMA, and the Springfield Court Service Center: a qualifying small estate of personal property moves by voluntary administration (MPC 170) without a hearing, and an ordinary case moves by informal probate (MPC 150) before a MUPC Magistrate. Consider counsel 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 Hampden 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 Massachusetts probate attorney serving Hampden County.
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, Hampden County real estate, business interests, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value for estate settlement and can pick the right Massachusetts probate path before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the Hampden filing: the MPC petition (informal MPC 150, formal MPC 160, or voluntary administration MPC 170), the bond, and the surviving-spouse, heirs, and devisee notice forms, formatted for upload through eFileMA or for the Springfield counter.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Massachusetts probate attorney serving Hampden County.
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 for probate in Hampden County, Massachusetts?
With the Registry of Probate at the Hampden Probate and Family Court, 50 State St., Springfield, MA 01103, or by mail to P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102. Hampden County is a single division of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and serves the whole county, including Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, Agawam, West Springfield, Ludlow, and Palmer. You may also file through eFileMA.
Is the Chicopee probate office open?
No. The Hampden Probate and Family Court's satellite registry office at Chicopee City Hall, 274 Front Street, has been temporarily closed for renovations since November 1, 2024, and is not currently listed among the division's active locations. While it is closed, file at the Springfield courthouse, by mail, or through eFileMA, and confirm the satellite's status with the Registry before relying on it.
Do I have to e-file probate in Hampden County?
No. eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com) is available for Hampden 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 to the Springfield P.O. Box or in person at the 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 Hampden 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 Hampden 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. For questions about a specific filing, call the Register's Office at (413) 748-7760.
Do I have to appear in court for Hampden 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 and any remote-appearance option with the Registry of Probate.
Who signs off on an uncontested Hampden 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 Hampden 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 the surviving-spouse, heirs, and devisee notice forms 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 Hampden County?
Yes. The Springfield Court Service Center, inside the courthouse at 50 State Street, 1st Floor, helps self-represented filers with forms and court procedure, in person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, and remotely Monday to Friday. It gives procedural help, not legal advice, and has no income requirement. Community Legal Aid (communitylegal.org) offers free civil legal help to income-eligible Hampden 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.