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Massachusetts Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

Massachusetts PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Bristol County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Massachusetts) for Bristol County.
How Probate Works in Massachusetts: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Bristol County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
  - Massachusetts Probate Forms and the
  - Massachusetts State Probate Court Website.
Small Estates Procedures in Massachusetts: Learn how to use Massachusetts's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
- In Massachusetts, there's no Affidavit procedure available for small estates. There is a summary probate procedure available for estates that have no real property and a value that is less than $25,000, plus the value of a vehicle. Interested persons must file a Will (if any), inventory of the assets and a list of heirs with the court, and offer to serve as a voluntary personal representative.
  
  Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch 190B, 3-1201 and following.
  
  You can also use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and costs of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.
  
  Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch 190B, 3-1203, 1204.
Massachusetts Estate Taxes:
- The state of Massachusetts imposes an estate tax on property owned in Massachusetts. If you are inheriting property from the state of Massachusetts, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $1,000,000.
Avoiding Probate in Massachusetts. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Bankruptcy & Debt

MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for Bristol County, Massachusetts (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
Massachusetts BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Massachusetts law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Massachusetts?:
  - Yes. Federal exemptions are available.
- Massachusetts Homestead Exemption
  - Automatic homestead $125,000; Declared homestead $500,000 for property you occupy or intend to occupy (including mobile home); (co-owners may not double) (special rules if over 62 or disabled, may double to 1,000,00).
- Massachusetts Vehicle Exemption
  - $7,500; $15,000 if used by elderly or disabled debtor
Massachusetts BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits

Benefit Amounts in Massachusetts: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $52 per week
- Maximum:
  - $1,015 per week
- Duration:
  - In Massachusetts, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 30 weeks. When extended benefits are available or unemployment is low, the maximum is 26 weeks.
Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance
  - 617-626-6800
Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
Massachusetts Wage & Hour Law
- Massachusetts Minimum Wage:
  - The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Bay State must be paid at least $15 an hour.
    
    Bristol County Minimum Wage
    
    The minimum wage in Bristol County is $15, the state minimum wage.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Massachusetts and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Massachusetts.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Massachusetts.
  - In Massachusetts, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $6.75 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $15 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.