How to File Probate Online in Massachusetts Using eFileMA

Standing in line at the probate court registry window is nobody's idea of a good time — especially when you're grieving. Massachusetts now offers electronic filing through the eFileMA system, letting you submit most probate petitions from your kitchen table. The system has quirks, but it's faster than driving to the courthouse and waiting for your number.

What You Can File Through eFileMA

The eFileMA system accepts most common probate filings, including:

• Informal Probate Petition (MPC 150)
• Voluntary Administration Statement (MPC 170)
• Formal Probate Petition (MPC 160)
• Estate Inventory (MPC 854)
• Closing Statement (MPC 850)
• Petition for License to Sell Real Estate (MPC 210)
• Various motions and supplemental filings

The one thing you cannot do electronically is submit the original will. Massachusetts requires the physical document — no scanned copies. You must mail or hand-deliver the original will to the court separately, even if you file everything else online. The court won't process your petition until the original arrives.

Setting Up Your eFileMA Account

1. Go to the eFileMA portal at efilema.tylertech.cloud (the system runs on Tyler Technologies' Odyssey platform)
2. Create an account with your email and a password. You'll file as a "Self-Represented Litigant" unless you're an attorney.
3. Complete your profile with your name, address, phone number, and bar number (leave blank if not an attorney).
4. Add a payment method — credit card is the primary option for online filing fees.

Filing Your First Petition: Step by Step

Step 1: Select the correct court. Choose the Probate and Family Court division for the county where the decedent lived. Suffolk is Suffolk, Middlesex is Middlesex, Norfolk is Norfolk, and so on. Filing in the wrong county means rejection and refiling.

Step 2: Create a new case. Select "New Case" and choose the appropriate case type — "Informal Estate" for informal probate, "Voluntary Administration" for small estates, "Formal Estate" for contested or complex matters.

Step 3: Enter party information. Add the decedent (the person who died) and the petitioner (you). The system will also ask for information about heirs and devisees that corresponds to forms MPC 162 and MPC 163.

Step 4: Upload your documents. Convert all forms to PDF before uploading. Each document gets tagged with a filing code that tells the court what it is. Common filing codes:

• Petition for Informal Probate → "Petition"
• Death Certificate → "Death Certificate"
• Military Affidavit → "Affidavit"
• Bond form (if applicable) → "Bond"

Upload each document as a separate PDF. Don't combine everything into one file — the court needs to process each form individually.

Step 5: Pay the filing fee. The system calculates the fee based on your case type ($130 for voluntary administration, $390 for informal/formal probate). Pay by credit card through the portal. You'll receive an email confirmation.

Step 6: Submit and mail the original will. After submitting electronically, print the confirmation page. Then mail the original will to the court with a cover letter referencing your eFileMA case number. Use certified mail with return receipt — if the will gets lost in transit, you'll need proof it was sent.

Tips for Avoiding Common eFileMA Problems

Save frequently. The system can time out if you step away, losing your work. Complete each section and save before moving on.

Use the right file format. PDFs only. The system rejects Word documents, images, and other formats. Scan paper forms at 300 DPI for readability.

Name your files clearly. "MPC-150-Petition.pdf" is better than "scan001.pdf." Court staff process hundreds of filings daily — clear filenames reduce errors.

Check your email for deficiency notices. If the court finds a problem with your filing — wrong form, missing information, illegible scan — they'll email a deficiency notice. You typically have 10 days to correct the issue and refile. Don't ignore these emails.

Print your confirmation. The eFileMA confirmation is your proof of filing date. The filing date matters for statutory deadlines, especially the one-year creditor claim period and the three-month inventory deadline.

When to File in Person Instead

Despite its convenience, eFileMA isn't always the best choice:

• First-time filers who are nervous about the process may benefit from the in-person filing experience, where registry staff can spot obvious problems before accepting the packet
• Filings that require immediate action — some matters need same-day processing that electronic filing can't guarantee
• Complex formal probate cases where you need to discuss the filing with a clerk

For straightforward informal probate and voluntary administration, eFileMA works well and saves you a courthouse trip.

The Massachusetts Probate Process Guide includes form-by-form filling instructions for every MPC document you'll upload to eFileMA — so you can complete the entire filing from home with confidence.

See more Massachusetts guides →