Guide  MUPC Estate Administration Procedural Guide Second Edition

The Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court is pleased to provide an electronic version of this Probate and Family Court publication for use by judges and staff. 

The contents of this publication are intended to provide general guidance to court staff. This Guide is for education and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should keep in mind that laws and procedures may change. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Probate and Family Court MUPC Hub for any periodic updates.

MUPC Estate Administration Procedure Guide

@2016 by Hon. Elaine M. Moriarty, Hon. R. Anthony Nesi, Hon. Lisa A. Roberts, Thomas P. Jalkut, Christopher G. Mehne, Evelyn J. Patsos. All rights reserved.

The second edition of the MUPC Estate Administration Procedural Guide, as amended in September 2026, is the result of the hard work of dedicated Probate and Family Court judges, staff, and practitioners.  During the course of this work, the MUPC Procedures Committee reviewed the second edition and suggested recommendations for improvement based on the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision, In the Matter of the Estate of Patricia Ann Slavin, 492 Mass. 551 (2023), and added the specifics of the process by which a conservator makes “application” to be granted the powers and duties of a Personal Representative of the estate of their deceased Protected Person pursuant to G. L. c. 190B, § 5-424(e).  

I am grateful for the dedication of those involved and their determination to produce an updated manual that will benefit the staff and judges of the Probate and Family Court, estate practitioners and members of the public.  Thank you.

Brian Dunn, Chief Justice, Probate and Family Court Department

Written and Edited by

• Hon. Elaine M. Moriarty (Ret.), Associate Justice, Norfolk Division
• Hon. Anthony R. Nesi (Ret.), Associate Justice, Bristol Division
• Hon. Evelyn J. Patsos, Associate Justice, Fiduciary Litigation Session 
• Hon. Lisa A. Roberts (Ret.), Associate Justice, Plymouth Division
• Thomas P. Jalkut, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP, Boston
• Christopher G. Mehne, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, Worcester