Skip to main content
← All state guides

Massachusetts

MA · 10 guides

Planning ahead

End-of-Life Planning Checklist for Massachusetts Residents

End-of-life planning checklist for Massachusetts: Health Care Proxy, MOLST, Durable POA, will, beneficiary designations, and funeral preferences.

8 min read
Estate tax

Estate and Inheritance Tax in Massachusetts 2026

Massachusetts estate tax 2026: $2 million threshold, $99,600 credit, Form M-706, and how MassHealth recovery interacts with the estate. No inheritance tax in MA.

7 min read
Executor duties

Executor Duties and Timeline in Massachusetts

What a Massachusetts personal representative (executor) must do: appointment, inventory, creditor notice, MassHealth, taxes, and distribution.

10 min read
Funeral laws

Funeral and Burial Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts funeral and burial laws: cremation rules, green burial, aquamation status, home burial, who controls arrangements, and consumer rights.

9 min read
Probate

How Probate Works in Massachusetts

Massachusetts probate explained: voluntary administration, informal probate, and formal probate. Fees, forms, timelines, and MUPC citations.

10 min read
Financial

How to Close Bank Accounts After a Death in Massachusetts

How to access and close bank accounts after a death in Massachusetts. Joint accounts, small estate rules, Letters of Authority, and what to do with each account type.

9 min read
Death certificates

How to Get a Death Certificate in Massachusetts

How to order a Massachusetts death certificate from RVRS or city/town clerk. 2026 fees, processing times, and how many copies you need.

7 min read
Funeral costs

Massachusetts Funeral Cost Guide 2026

How much does a funeral cost in Massachusetts? Average costs for burial, cremation, and direct cremation in 2026, plus your legal rights to itemized pricing.

7 min read
Benefits

Social Security Survivor Benefits in Massachusetts

Social Security survivor benefits for Massachusetts families: $255 lump sum, monthly benefits, who qualifies, how to apply, and MassHealth interaction.

7 min read
Getting started

What to Do When Someone Dies in Massachusetts

Step-by-step guide for Massachusetts families after a death, covering probate, death certificates, and estate tax. Updated for 2026.

12 min read