Confirming Ownership Percentage in Massachusetts Real Property
Confirming Your Percentage Ownership Interest in Massachusetts Real Property Quick summary: To confirm whether you own a percentage of your parents’ real property in Massachusetts, you must search the recorded deed and land records, check for any wills or trusts, review probate or trust filings, and—when necessary—hire a title company or attorney to do a […]
Read article →Massachusetts: How to Ask the Probate Court to Compel an Estate Accounting
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes. In Massachusetts, beneficiaries and other interested persons may ask the Probate and Family Court to require a personal representative (executor or administrator) to provide a full accounting of estate assets, receipts, and disbursements. The court can order interim or final accountings, review and approve (or disallow) the accounting, and provide […]
Read article →How to Qualify as Administrator (Personal Representative) of a Sibling’s Estate in Massachusetts
Can I be appointed the administrator (personal representative) of my sibling’s estate in Massachusetts when they die without a will? Short answer: In Massachusetts, a person who wants to handle a deceased relative’s estate must be appointed by the Probate and Family Court as the estate’s personal representative. If your sibling died intestate (without a […]
Read article →Massachusetts — Recovering Funeral and Pre‑Settlement Expenses from an Estate
Recovering funeral and pre‑settlement expenses from a Massachusetts estate Short summary: If you paid costs for a deceased person before the estate was opened, you may be able to recover those expenses from the estate. In Massachusetts those payments are generally treated as claims against the estate and can have priority as administration expenses, but […]
Read article →Massachusetts: Can an Estranged Spouse Claim Under an Estate If the Divorce Was Not Final?
Detailed Answer This article explains what generally happens under Massachusetts law when a person dies before a pending divorce is final and whether the legally married but estranged spouse can make claims on the deceased's estate. This is general information and not legal advice. For a decision affecting real rights you should consult a Massachusetts […]
Read article →How do I re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died in MA?
Detailed Answer When one or more co-owners on a Massachusetts deed have died, the legal ownership often shifts automatically if the deed created a right of survivorship (for example, joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety). However, the public land records must be updated so title records reflect the surviving owner(s). Below are the practical […]
Read article →How do I force my sibling to give me a copy of our parents’ estate plan in MA after he ignored my formal request?
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article explains general information about Massachusetts law and possible steps you can take. This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice about your situation, consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney. Detailed answer — How to get a copy of your parents’ estate plan in Massachusetts Whether you […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how he calculated my share of the estate? — MA
Detailed Answer If a personal representative (also called an executor or administrator) in Massachusetts sends you a distribution but does not explain how they calculated your share, you have several rights and practical steps you can take to get a clear, documented accounting. The personal representative has fiduciary duties to beneficiaries. Those duties generally include […]
Read article →What documentation is required to prove I'm the next of kin and qualify as administrator in a reopened estate? (MA)
Detailed Answer If you need to reopen a Massachusetts probate estate and be appointed as the administrator (personal representative), the court will require clear proof that you are an interested person and next of kin. The probate judge must be able to verify your relationship to the decedent and that you qualify under Massachusetts law […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate in Massachusetts (MA)
Disclaimer This information is educational only and is not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, contact a Massachusetts probate attorney or the Probate and Family Court. Detailed Answer — What to do when the original estate administrator dies before completing probate (Massachusetts) When the personal representative (often called the administrator or executor) who […]
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