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The New Informal Probate Process This personal representative can be appointed in as little as seven days after a loved one's death, compared to the six weeks to five months it used to take to appoint an executor or administrator.

Informal probate is an administrative proceeding and is processed by a Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) Magistrate instead of a judge. Hearings aren't required or allowed by the court. ... A magistrate can issue an informal order as early as 7 days after the decedent's (the person who has died) death.

The informal probate process involves much less court intervention than other probate procedures, such as formal or supervised probate. In an informal probate process, the court appoints an executor or supervisor who will manage the distribution of the deceased person's estate.

But for estates in Massachusetts that exceed the small estate's threshold, and for which there is either no Will, or a Will (but not a Living Trust), probate will be required before an estate can be tranferred to the decedent's heirs or beneficiaries.

Probate is a court-supervised legal process through which an individual, usually a surviving spouse or close family member, is given authority to gather the decedent's assets, pay outstanding debts, taxes and expenses, and distribute any remaining assets according to the terms of a will or, if there is no enforceable ...

A will must be executed in accordance with Massachusetts laws to be admitted for probate. The will must be signed by the deceased person, or testator, and at least two mentally competent witnesses.

In Massachusetts, creating a living trust will help you avoid probate for virtually any asset you own -- real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, and so on. You need to create a trust document (it's similar to a will) naming someone to take over as trustee after your death (called a successor trustee).

The court and the IRS are often involved and their participation might affect the amount of time it takes to settle an estate. In Massachusetts, much of the work in probating a will is completed within approximately nine months, but the entire process usually takes 1 to 2 years.

The American Association of Retired Persons has ventured that the costs typically range from 7-10% of the total gross estate, or averages around $1500-$2000. Other sources have suggested that the average cost of probate in Massachusetts might come in a little lower, at around 5%.

There is no requirement that a will or property go through probate, but if the decedent owned property that is not arranged specifically to avoid probate (see below), there is no way for the beneficiaries to obtain legal ownership without it.

It generally takes about six to eight weeks from the time the papers are presented to the probate court to the time the executor becomes legally appointed.

There is no set amount or percentage, according to the Forum for Massachusetts Law. Ideally, the decedent states in his will exactly what compensation his executor will receive.

A will must be executed in accordance with Massachusetts laws to be admitted for probate. The will must be signed by the deceased person, or testator, and at least two mentally competent witnesses.

How Long Does it Take to Probate a Will? Probate is the legal process a person must go through to settle the estate of a deceased person who died with a will. The average probate process can be anywhere from a few months to over a year; the time frame varies widely by state.

Simplified Probate The personal representative, when authorized by the court, gathers property, pays debts, notifies the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance of the death, and eventually distributes the remaining property. This process is called Voluntary Administration.