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Plymouth County, MA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Plymouth 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, Plymouth County, run by the elected Register of Probate (Matthew J. McDonough) |
| Courthouse (main) | 52 Obery St., Plymouth, MA 02360 (the county seat) |
| Courthouse (Brockton session) | 215 Main St., Brockton, MA 02303 |
| Mailing address | Plymouth Probate and Family Court, 52 Obery St., Plymouth, MA 02360 (mail goes to the street address; there is no separate P.O. Box) |
| Phone | Plymouth (main): (508) 747-6204. Brockton session Register's Office: (508) 897-5400 x2964. Virtual Registry: 1-646-828-7666 (Meeting ID 1606727074) |
| Fax | Plymouth (main): (508) 746-6846. Brockton session Register's Office: (508) 584-4142 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed weekends and court holidays (both locations) |
| 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 Plymouth-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 Plymouth 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; some records are restricted |
| Remote appearance | Informal probate is decided by a MUPC Magistrate with no hearing; a Virtual Registry line (1-646-828-7666) is published for remote registry access, and for formal matters hearing formats are set case by case, so confirm with the Registry of Probate |
| Website | https://www.mass.gov/locations/plymouth-probate-and-family-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Plymouth County, settle two questions: which path fits the estate, and which courthouse will handle it. 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. Those paths and their dollar 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. The Plymouth division sits in Plymouth and in Brockton, and both locations serve the whole county, so confirm with the Registry of Probate where a given estate should be filed before you go.
Before you file, identify every bank, credit-union, brokerage, and retirement account, life-insurance policy, vehicle, business interest, and parcel of Plymouth 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 Plymouth Probate and Family Court serves all of Plymouth County through two courthouses. mass.gov lists the same county-wide roster of communities for both the Plymouth and the Brockton locations: Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, and Whitman. It does not publish a town-by-town split between the two courthouses, so where a case will be heard is confirmed with the Registry of Probate rather than assumed from the town of residence.
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. The main seat is at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth, and the division also sits in a session at 215 Main Street in Brockton. 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 Plymouth County estate opens in the Plymouth division at the location the Registry directs.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue and the location. Plymouth is the right county when the decedent was domiciled here at death (MGL c. 190B, § 3-201). The division sits at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth and at 215 Main Street in Brockton, and both serve the whole county; mass.gov publishes no town split, so confirm with the Registry of Probate which location will take the filing.
- 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 Plymouth or Brockton 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 Plymouth County Registry of Deeds before conveying.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Plymouth County
Massachusetts uses one statewide set of official Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MPC) forms, and the same forms are filed in Plymouth as in every other division. There is no separate Plymouth 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), and the devisees form (MPC 163), along with 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. Plymouth accepts them through eFileMA (www.efilema.com), by mail, or in person at the Registry of Probate counter in Plymouth or Brockton; confirm with the Registry which location will take a given filing.
Local nuance
Plymouth County-specific considerations
Two courthouses, one county-wide catchment. The Plymouth Probate and Family Court sits at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth (the main seat) and at 215 Main Street in Brockton. mass.gov lists the same full Plymouth County roster of communities for both locations and publishes no town-by-town split, so confirm with the Registry of Probate which location will handle a given estate rather than assuming it from the town of residence.
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. Plymouth 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 Plymouth or Brockton Registry of Probate counter. Tyler charges its own convenience fee on top of the statutory filing fee.
Free help at the Brockton Court Service Center. A Court Service Center operates at the Brockton courthouse, 215 Main 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. The center is free, with no lawyer, income, or immigration requirement, and gives procedural help, not legal advice.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Plymouth County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | A Plymouth, Brockton, or Marshfield 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth or Brockton. | 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth or Brockton. | 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 the Plymouth division, filed with the Registry of Probate. 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 Plymouth 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 |
|---|---|
| Plymouth Probate and Family Court (mass.gov/locations/plymouth-probate-and-family-court) | The division's own page: contact details, hours, directions, and the related Brockton location, with links to statewide forms |
| Brockton Court Service Center (mass.gov/locations/brockton-court-service-center) | Free help with forms and court procedure for self-represented filers at the Brockton courthouse, 215 Main Street; in person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, plus remote help, with no lawyer or income requirement |
| Plymouth Law Library, (508) 747-4796 (52 Obery St., Suite 0117, Plymouth) | A Trial Court law library at the Plymouth courthouse with legal research help and public access to Massachusetts statutes and case law on wills and estates |
| 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 Plymouth 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, intake (800) 244-9023 (sccls.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Plymouth County and southeastern Massachusetts, from an office in Brockton |
When to hire an attorney
Many Plymouth families complete an uncontested informal probate on their own, using the statewide MPC forms, eFileMA, and the Brockton 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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, Plymouth County real estate, business interests, and unclaimed property for estate settlement, 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth or Brockton counter.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Plymouth 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 Plymouth County, Massachusetts?
With the Registry of Probate at the Plymouth Probate and Family Court. The division sits in two courthouses: the main seat at 52 Obery St., Plymouth, MA 02360, and a session at 215 Main St., Brockton, MA 02303. Both serve all of Plymouth County, and mass.gov publishes no town split between them, so confirm with the Registry which location will take your filing. You may also file through eFileMA or by mail.
Which Plymouth courthouse, Plymouth or Brockton, handles my case?
mass.gov lists the same full Plymouth County roster of communities for both the Plymouth and the Brockton locations and does not publish a town-by-town split. Because the assignment is not published, confirm with the Registry of Probate which courthouse will handle the estate before you file rather than assuming it from the town where the decedent lived.
Do I have to e-file probate in Plymouth County?
No. eFileMA (Odyssey File & Serve at www.efilema.com) is available for Plymouth 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 Plymouth or Brockton 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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 Registry of Probate at (508) 747-6204.
Do I have to appear in court for Plymouth 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. The division also publishes a Virtual Registry line (1-646-828-7666) for remote registry access; confirm any hearing format with the Registry of Probate.
Who signs off on an uncontested Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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-and-heirs (MPC 162) and devisee (MPC 163) 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 Plymouth County?
Yes. The Brockton Court Service Center, at the Brockton courthouse at 215 Main Street, helps self-represented filers with forms and court procedure, in person Monday to Thursday and Friday mornings, and remotely. It is free, with no lawyer or income requirement, and gives procedural help, not legal advice. The Plymouth Law Library at the Plymouth courthouse and MassLegalHelp (masslegalhelp.org) are also available.
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.