Massachusetts law about trusts

Laws, cases, and web sources on the law of trusts in Massachusetts. Trusts can be used for estate planning, asset protection, limiting taxes, and other special purposes. It may be helpful to use an attorney when choosing and devising a trust document.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or if you have a specific question, please contact our law librarians for assistance.

Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 203 Trusts

MGL c. 203C Prudent investment

MGL c. 184, § 35 Trustee’s certificate, requirements, effects
Describes the instrument that must be recorded in the Registry of Deeds when real estate is transferred by a trustee.

Uniform Probate Code, MGL c. 190B (MUPC)
Requires trustees to notify beneficiaries of accounting and much more. 

Uniform Trust Code, MGL c. 203E

• MGL c. 203E, § 408 Pet trusts
• MGL c. 203E, § 604 Limitations on action contesting validity & distribution of trust property
• MGL c. 203E, § 705 Resignation of trustee
• MGL c. 203E, § 708 Compensation of trustee

Forms

Massachusetts trust court forms 
A collection of court forms related to wills, estates, and trusts for use in Probate and Family Court sorted by subject.

Sample Massachusetts Trustee’s Certificate, REBA.

Selected cases

Guilfoil v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 486 Mass. 788 (2021)
Explains the difference between a nominee trust and a true trust. “(T)he retention of a life estate in a primary residence by an applicant for Medicaid benefits did not render the property a countable asset.”

In the Matter of the Estate of Theresa A. Jablonski, 492 Mass. 687 (2023)
A case regarding pet trusts, and how to resolve ambiguity when the pet dies before the testator.

Morse v. Kraft, 466 Mass. 92 (2013)
Explains the concept of decanting trusts. "The sole and disinterested trustee of an irrevocable trust could distribute the trust property in further trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries without their consent or approval, and without the consent or approval of a court, where the trust's broad grant of almost unlimited discretion evidenced the settlor's intent that the disinterested trustee have the authority to do so; further, there was no need to appoint a guardian ad litem in the matter."

Web sources

The Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code: Context, content, and critique by Courtney J. Maloney and Charles E. Rounds, Jr., Mass. Law Review, February 2015, JD Supra.
This lengthy article discusses the MUTC in detail, including discussion of pre-existing Massachusetts laws which are neither folded into the MUTC nor repealed.

Procedural advisory: The Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code, G. L. c. 203E, Mass. Probate and Family Court Department, January 24, 2013.

Trust reformations: Bosch litigation
Procedure for Probate and Family Court. The resolution of these cases is meant to assist the parties in their dealings with the Internal Revenue Service by deciding a matter of state law that will be binding on federal authorities.

Trustee removal: MUTC v. Trust Document, Lexology, 2023.
Discusses removal of trustees when the trust document conflicts with the Mass. Uniform Trust Code.

Types of trusts, Findlaw. 
Definitions of different types of trusts, including revocable and irrevocable trusts.

Print sources

Domestic asset protection trusts: A practice and resource manual by Alexander A. Bove, Jr., American Bar Association, 2021. (eBook available with library card)

Drafting irrevocable trusts in Massachusetts, 3^rd ed., MCLE, 2023.

Drafting wills and trusts in Massachusetts, 6^th ed., MCLE, 2023. 

Flexible trusts and estates for uncertain times, 7^th ed., by Jerold I. Horn, American Bar Association, 2021. (eBook available with library card)

How to deploy trusts in business succession & protecting family vacation homes, MCLE, 2024.

Implementation of special needs, pooled disability, pet & gun trusts, MCLE, 2017.

The law of trusts and trustees, 3^rd ed., by George Gleason Bogert, West, with supplement.
Together with the rev. 2^nd ed., a 21 volume treatise covering the entire field of modern trust uses.

The law of trusts and trustees, rev. 2^nd ed., by George Gleason Bogert, West, with supplement.
Together with the rev. 3^rd ed., a 21 volume treatise covering the entire field of modern trust uses.

Loring and Rounds: A trustee's handbook by Charles E. Rounds, Wolters Kluwer, annual. 
A one volume treatise.

Make your own living trust by Denis Clifford, Nolo, 2023. (2025 eBook available with library card)

Merging mirroring spousal trusts when both are deceased, MCLE, 2024.

Probate law and practice with forms, 3^rd ed. (Mass Practice v.21-22) Thomson Reuters, 2019 with supplements. Part III, Trusts, chapters 37-42.

Real estate law, with forms, 5^th ed. (Mass. practice v. 28), Thomson Reuters, annual. Section 4:15 Types of deeds – Trustee’s deeds. Forms for trustee's certificates are located in sections 37.20. 37.21 and 37.22.

Special needs trusts, Aspen Publishers, loose-leaf.

Special needs trusts: Protect your child's financial future by Kevin Urbatsch, 10^th ed., Nolo, 2023. (eBook available with library card).

The trustee's legal companion by Liza Hanks, 7^th ed., Nolo, 2023. (eBook available with library card)

Trusts 101 by Shelley D. Coelho, National Business Institute, 2021.

Understanding and using trusts, 6^th ed., MCLE, 2024. 

Last updated:	June 4, 2025