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File a voluntary administration for an estate

Voluntary administration is a simplified probate procedure for an estate with minimal assets and no real estate. Find out how to file a voluntary administration for an estate and what forms you'll need.

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1. Fill out the forms

To complete a voluntary administration, you'll need to file:

You may also need to file:

Some forms may not display properly in your browser. Please download the forms and open them using Acrobat reader.

Key Actions

Find out when it’s necessary to probate an estate  Learn about the types of probate for an estate  What to do if you can't open court PDFs 

Additional Resources

Open file,  Instructions for Voluntary Administration with or without a Will (MPC 961)
Open file,  Checklist for voluntary administration (MPC 965)

2. Gather the fees

The filing fee includes one attested copy of the Voluntary Administration Statement issued by the Register of Probate. Contact the Probate & Family Court location you're filing at to find out what forms of payment are accepted for fees. 

Name Fee
Voluntary administration statement filing fee $100
Voluntary administration filing surcharge fee $15

3. File the forms and fees

There are 3 ways you can file a voluntary administration for an estate.

Online

You can eFile a voluntary administration for an estate online. For information on how to eFile, please see eFiling in the Probate and Family Court.

By mail

You can mail the forms and fees to the Probate & Family Court in the county where the decedent lived at the time of death.

In person

You can submit the forms and fees in person at the Probate & Family Court in the county where the decedent lived at the time of death.

Key Actions

Find your Probate & Family Court  Learn about eFiling in the Trial Court 

4. Check the status of your case

To find out how to check the status of your case, please see How to search court dockets.

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