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After a parent dies · Massachusetts
Executor duties and deadlines in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a personal representative is a fiduciary held to the trustee standards of care in chapter 203C. In Massachusetts, the personal representative must prepare an inventory within 3 months after appointment. In Massachusetts, the inventory lists each item with its fair market value as of the date of death.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- In Massachusetts, a personal representative is a fiduciary held to the trustee standards of care in chapter 203C. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 190B §3-703. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Massachusetts, the personal representative must prepare an inventory within 3 months after appointment. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 190B §3-706. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Massachusetts, the inventory lists each item with its fair market value as of the date of death. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 190B §3-706. Checked November 2, 2026
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
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More for Massachusetts
- How to order a death certificate in Massachusetts
- How probate works in Massachusetts after a parent dies
- Small estates in Massachusetts: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- Executor duties and deadlines: all states
Neighbouring states
- Executor duties and deadlines in Connecticut
- Executor duties and deadlines in New Hampshire
- Executor duties and deadlines in Maryland
- Executor duties and deadlines in Michigan
Questions
Where do these Massachusetts facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 190B §3-703; Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 190B §3-706. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Massachusetts or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.