Middlesex Probate Court: Filing Guide, Fees, and What to Expect

You've just been named executor of an estate in Middlesex County — the largest county in Massachusetts, covering 54 cities and towns from Cambridge to Lowell to Framingham. Now you need to figure out where to go, what to bring, and how to avoid having your filing rejected at the window. Here's everything the court website doesn't tell you.

Where to File and How to Get There

Middlesex Probate and Family Court sits at 10A Superior Courthouse, 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801. If you're expecting the historic Cambridge courthouse, note that probate operations moved to the Woburn location. Confirm the current address on mass.gov before driving — courthouse locations have shifted in recent years.

Parking is available in the Trade Center garage. Arrive early, especially on Mondays and the first business day after holidays, when filing volume spikes. The registry window typically opens at 8:30 AM, and the line builds quickly by 9:00 AM.

If you prefer to skip the trip entirely, Massachusetts now offers electronic filing through the eFileMA system for most probate petitions, including informal probate (MPC 150) and voluntary administration (MPC 170). You'll need to create an account, upload your documents as PDFs, and pay the filing fee online. The system can be clunky — save your work frequently and keep copies of everything you upload.

What to Bring for Your First Filing

The most common reason filings get rejected at the Middlesex window is missing paperwork. For a standard informal probate petition, your filing packet must include:

• MPC 150 (Petition for Informal Probate of Will) — typed or printed in black ink
• MPC 162 (Surviving Spouse, Children, Heirs at Law) — listing every legal heir, even those not named in the will
• MPC 163 (Devisees) — listing everyone named in the will and any trust beneficiaries
• The original will — not a photocopy, not a scan. The court requires the physical document
• Certified death certificate — obtainable from the Registry of Vital Records or the local town clerk
• MPC 470 (Military Affidavit) — required under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act unless all heirs sign written assents
• Filing fee — $390 for informal probate ($375 + $15 surcharge), payable by check, money order, or credit card at the window

You also need to send notice to all interested parties at least seven days before filing. And if the decedent received MassHealth benefits, you must send certified mail notice to the DMA Estate Recovery Unit in Worcester — this is a separate, mandatory step that trips up a surprising number of pro se filers.

Filing Fees at Middlesex Probate Court

Middlesex follows the statewide fee schedule set by the Trial Court:

These are court fees only. You'll also face costs for certified death certificates ($32–$54 depending on source), newspaper publication of notice ($100–$300 depending on the paper), and recording fees at the Registry of Deeds if real estate is involved.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Filing

Handwritten alterations on the will. If the original will has any handwritten changes — crossed-out beneficiaries, added bequests, margin notes — you cannot use informal probate. The case must go through formal probate with a judge, which adds weeks to months.

Wrong court division. You must file in the county where the decedent lived at death, not where you live or where the property is located. If someone lived in Middlesex County but owned a vacation home in Barnstable, the primary probate goes through Middlesex.

Missing the MPC 162 form. Even if the decedent left a clear will naming specific beneficiaries, you still must file the heirs-at-law form listing the intestate heirs. The court needs this information to determine who has standing to object.

Forgetting the DMA notice. Massachusetts requires certified mail notice to the Division of Medical Assistance at least seven days before filing any probate petition. The magistrate will check for this. No proof of mailing, no acceptance of your petition.

After Your Petition Is Accepted

Once the Middlesex magistrate grants your informal probate, you'll receive Letters of Authority — the document that proves you're the legally appointed personal representative. Banks, insurance companies, and the RMV all require these letters before releasing assets or transferring titles.

Your clock starts immediately. You have three months to file a formal inventory (MPC 854) listing every probate asset. You must wait out the full one-year creditor claim period before making final distributions. And if the estate exceeds $2 million in total value, you'll need to file a Massachusetts estate tax return (Form M-706) within nine months.

The Massachusetts Probate Process Guide walks through every deadline, form, and decision point from the day of death through final closing — organized specifically around the MUPC four-track system so you always know which path applies to your situation.

Key Resources for Middlesex County Filers

• Court hours and contact: Check mass.gov/courts for current hours at the Woburn location
• eFileMA portal: File electronically to avoid the trip and the line
• Middlesex South Registry of Deeds: For recording real estate transfers, estate tax lien releases, and homestead declarations
• Middlesex North Registry of Deeds: Covers Lowell division municipalities

If the estate includes real estate, you'll interact with both the probate court and the registry of deeds. The probate court grants your authority and (if needed) a license to sell. The registry of deeds is where you record the actual transfer documents and clear any estate tax liens.

See more Massachusetts guides →