Back to Massachusetts
Middlesex County, MA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Middlesex Probate and Family Court, a division of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department |
| Courthouse (South) | 10-U Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801 (the main seat) |
| Courthouse (North) | 370 Jackson Street, 5th floor, Lowell, MA 01852 |
| Register of Probate | Tara E. DeCristofaro (elected Register of Probate) |
| Phone | Woburn (South): (781) 865-4000 main, (781) 865-4008 probate and estates. Lowell (North): (978) 656-7700 |
| [email protected] (serves both locations) | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 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 Middlesex-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 Middlesex probate 24/7 but is not mandatory; you may also file by mail or in person at either courthouse |
| 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 |
| Fax | Woburn (South) Registry: (617) 225-0781. Lowell (North) Clerk's Office: (978) 619-1014 |
| Website | https://www.mass.gov/locations/middlesex-probate-and-family-court-south-woburn (Woburn) and https://www.mass.gov/locations/middlesex-probate-and-family-court-north-lowell (Lowell) |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
The most common Middlesex misstep is filing at the wrong courthouse. Because the division splits its work between Woburn (South) and Lowell (North) by the decedent's town, the same paperwork belongs at different counters depending on where the person lived. Before anything else, confirm which location serves the decedent's town, then decide which path fits: informal probate, formal probate, or voluntary administration for a small estate. The paths and their thresholds are statewide and are covered on the Massachusetts state page; the choice determines which MPC form you file and whether a MUPC Magistrate or a judge handles it.
Before you file, identify every bank, credit-union, brokerage, and retirement account, life-insurance policy, vehicle, business interest, and parcel of Middlesex 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. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court serves all of Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts, through two courthouses. 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. Within Middlesex, the division then routes the case to Woburn or Lowell by the decedent's town.
The South location in Woburn, 10-U Commerce Way, is the main seat and serves Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester, and Woburn. Burlington was reassigned to the Woburn (South) catchment effective March 1, 2023.
The North location in Lowell, 370 Jackson Street, serves the remaining Middlesex towns: Acton, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Marlborough, Maynard, Natick, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wayland, Westford, and Wilmington. File the estate at the location that serves the decedent's town of residence; a case may be transferred for cause or convenience (MGL c. 190B, § 1-303), but it opens where venue and the town assignment point.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue and the courthouse. Middlesex is the right county when the decedent was domiciled here at death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-201). Then match the decedent's town to a location: Woburn (South) for its 18 towns, Lowell (North) for the remaining Middlesex towns. Filing at the wrong location delays the case.
- 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 for the correct location. 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 Woburn or Lowell 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 Middlesex Registry of Deeds before conveying.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Middlesex County
Massachusetts uses one statewide set of official Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MPC) forms, and the same forms are filed in Middlesex as in every other division. There is no separate Middlesex 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, the surviving-spouse-and-heirs and devisee notice forms, 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. Middlesex accepts them through eFileMA (www.efilema.com), by mail, or in person at the Registry of Probate counter for the location that serves the decedent's town, Woburn (South) or Lowell (North).
Local nuance
Middlesex County-specific considerations
Two courthouses, split by town. Middlesex is the only Massachusetts division with two full courthouses. The South location in Woburn (10-U Commerce Way) serves Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester, and Woburn. The North location in Lowell (370 Jackson Street) serves the remaining Middlesex towns. File where the decedent's town points.
Burlington now files in Woburn. Effective March 1, 2023, Burlington was reassigned from the North (Lowell) catchment to the South (Woburn) catchment (mass.gov). If you are working from an older list, confirm the current assignment before filing.
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. Middlesex 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 the Woburn or Lowell Registry of Probate counter. Tyler charges its own convenience fee on top of the statutory filing fee.
Free help at the Lowell Court Service Center. A Court Service Center operates inside the Lowell (North) courthouse at 370 Jackson Street 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 by Zoom or phone through the statewide Court Service Center. Staff give procedural help, not legal advice.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2023 | Burlington was reassigned from the North (Lowell) catchment to the South (Woburn) catchment; estates of Burlington decedents now file at the Woburn courthouse. | mass.gov Middlesex Probate and Family Court South - Woburn |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Middlesex County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | A Cambridge, Newton, or Lowell 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 Middlesex Registry of Deeds to clear title. Accounts and property in the decedent's sole name may still need informal probate (MPC 150), filed at the Woburn or Lowell location for the couple's town. | 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 Middlesex 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, filed at the location that serves the parent's town. A larger estate is filed as informal probate (MPC 150), and eFileMA lets the child file from out of state without traveling to Woburn or Lowell. | 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 Middlesex, filed at the location for the child's town. 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 Middlesex 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 |
|---|---|
| Middlesex Probate and Family Court (mass.gov/locations/middlesex-probate-and-family-court-south-woburn and -north-lowell) | The division's own location pages: Woburn and Lowell contact details, hours, directions, and each courthouse's town list |
| Lowell Court Service Center (mass.gov/locations/lowell-court-service-center) | Free help with forms and court procedure for self-represented filers, inside the Lowell courthouse at 370 Jackson Street; in-person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, plus remote help 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 Middlesex 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 |
| Northeast Legal Aid (northeastlegalaid.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of northern Middlesex County and the Merrimack Valley, including wills and estates through its elder law unit |
| Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (masslawhelp.com) | Attorney referrals statewide, including Middlesex probate and estate matters |
When to hire an attorney
Many Middlesex families complete an uncontested informal probate on their own, using the statewide MPC forms, eFileMA, and the Lowell Court Service Center. 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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, Middlesex 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 Middlesex filing: 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 Woburn or Lowell counter.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Middlesex 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 Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
With the Registry of Probate at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court location that serves the decedent's town. The South location is at 10-U Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801, and serves Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester, and Woburn. The North location is at 370 Jackson Street, 5th floor, Lowell, MA 01852, and serves the remaining Middlesex towns. You may also file through eFileMA or by mail.
Which Middlesex courthouse, Woburn or Lowell, handles my case?
It depends on the town where the decedent lived, not on where you live. The Woburn (South) courthouse handles its 18 assigned towns, and the Lowell (North) courthouse handles the rest of Middlesex County. Burlington moved to the Woburn (South) catchment effective March 1, 2023. If you are unsure, confirm the town assignment with the Registry of Probate before filing.
Do I have to e-file probate in Middlesex County?
No. eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com) is available for Middlesex 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 Woburn or Lowell 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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 Middlesex 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 and 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 Middlesex County?
Yes. The Lowell Court Service Center, inside the North courthouse at 370 Jackson Street, helps self-represented filers with forms and court procedure, in person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, and remotely by Zoom or phone. It gives procedural help, not legal advice. 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.