Expertise.com
Get Listed

Best Probate Lawyers in Boston

2023

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls
Probate Lawyers FAQs 〉

Last updated:

Website
55 Union Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02108
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

RackiLaw is an estate planning firm in Boston with more than 15 years of experience in handling a wide variety of estate planning tasks. These include protecting assets from creditors, minimizing administrative expenses and taxes, and assisting families with trust and guardianship planning. The firm also places importance on diversity and seeks to accommodate all individuals and their families. RackiLaw's managing attorney, Greg Racki, is a member of the BU Law teaching faculty. Racki is also a member of the Boston Trusts and Estates Consortium.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Greg Racki - Managing Attorney17 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (38)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
50 Federal St Fl 5, Boston, MA 02110
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2007, Rimon Law is an international law firm with offices in Boston that assists private clients with probate matters. Drawing on decades of experience, its attorneys assist surviving spouses and children as well as successor trustees and executors with the administration of trusts and estates following death. The firm assists with will and trust contests, breaches of fiduciary duty, defense of trustees, and other probate-related matters. Rimon also assists with estate planning for high net worth individuals.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Filmore Rose - Partner15 yrs
Patricia Annino - Partner42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
27 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Estate Settlement
  • Legacy Care

Why choose this provider?

J. Redmond Law PC, located in Brookline, assists Boston-area clients with the probate process following the death of a loved one. Principal attorney Jacqueline L. Redmond, who opened this law firm in 2013, focuses her practice on real estate and wills, trusts, and estates. The compassionate probate lawyer in Boston also represents clients in family law cases. Redmond, who is admitted to the bar in Massachusetts and Florida, has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
5.0 / 5 (14)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (5)

Website
61 South Street, Hingham, MA 02043
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

DGVE law, LLC, is a boutique Massachusetts law firm founded in 2008. It helps Boston area families navigate the probate and trust administration process. The firm also guides individuals in creating wills and estate plans. DGVE law caters to a diverse client base, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of all ages. Founding Attorney Danielle G. Van Ess is a long-time director of the Massachusetts Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys and is currently earning an LL.M. in Taxation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Facebook
4.9 / 5 (25)
Google
4.8 / 5 (24)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (14)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
85 Exchange St Suite 302, Lynn, MA 01901
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Cherry Tree Legal PLLC provides services to individuals and families in Boston and the neighboring communities. It guides clients through the probate, estate, and trust administration processes, which determine how assets from a deceased person's estate are transferred. Its lawyers also handle long-term care and Medicaid planning, financial litigation, money protection, chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy, and criminal law disputes. The firm is a member of the National Care Planning Council and Wealth Counsel.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.8 / 5 (26)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
75 State Street 16th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Estate Administration

Why choose this provider?

For more than 150 years, Hemenway & Barnes LLP has been providing legal representation to clients in the Boston area. It handles probate administration or the court-supervised process of distributing the assets of a deceased person. This covers issues like disputes among beneficiaries and the determination of heirs. The firm's lawyers also work on estate planning matters, like drafting wills and setting powers of attorney. Other practice areas of Hemenway & Barnes include business law, election law, real estate, and taxation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Nancy Gardiner - Managing Partner, Director42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1320 Centre St., Newton, MA 02459
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Lannik Law, LLC, is a family-operated law firm that has been offering legal services in Boston and its surrounding communities for more than 30 years. Its team of attorneys assists clients throughout the whole probate process, including payment of last income taxes, clearing title to real estate, and payment of estate tax. The firm also handles all aspects of elder law such as Medicare, in-home care, guardianships, and conservatorships. Other areas of practice include estate planning and special needs planning.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Susana Lannik - Founder41 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
77 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Warshaw Di Carlo is a law firm that serves clients in Boston. It assists clients in arranging and completing the transfer of their assets and wealth to their lawful beneficiaries. Its attorneys also provide estate planning services that help individuals in preserving their assets for future generations. They draft wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives based on the goals of clients. Founding attorney George Warshaw is a member of the estate planning attorney organization, WealthCounsel.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
George Warshaw - Founder & Managing Partner44 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (25)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
15 Court Square, Boston, MA 02108
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Why choose this provider?

Flowers and Manning, LLP is a Boston-based law firm that has been serving business owners and individuals since 2000. Its team of attorneys has 45 years of combined experience. They handle probate administration, a costly and protracted proceeding that requires extensive legal knowledge to ensure that assets are transferred properly to the right beneficiaries. Flowers and Manning, LLP also helps create clear-cut estate plans and guides clients throughout the process to protect principals, beneficiaries, and the estate itself.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Walter Flowers - Partner44 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
10 Tremont Street Suite 600, Boston, MA 02108
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Bove & Langa Law Firm is a full-service trust and estate practice that has been serving the residents of Boston and the surrounding areas for over three decades. It guides surviving family members through the probate process, which includes transferring the decedent's property under court authority. It also offers related services such as estate and trust administration, estate planning, and asset protection. Firm partners Alexander Bove, Jr. and Melissa Langa are both fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)
Avvo
3.5 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
185 Devonshire Street Suite 302, Boston, MA 02110
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Mark R. Scialdone guides clients through the probate process. It provides legal counsel in matters such as probate and estate administration, probate litigation, and will contest to individuals and other fiduciaries in Boston and surrounding communities. The law office also handles inherited real estate sales and partition petitions. Its legal team is aware of probate litigation factors such as emotionally charged issues and family dynamics. The practice was founded in 2015.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (8)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
100 Cambridge Street, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02114
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Butcher Law assists Boston clients dealing with probate litigation and estate-related matters. It represents appointed and nominated personal representatives, beneficiaries, devisees, heirs, and trustees in state and federal trial and appellate courts. The firm’s principal lawyer, Darian M. Butcher, handles breach of fiduciary duty actions, trust reformation and termination, and will contests. Before establishing her own practice, she litigated probate cases for another firm. Butcher serves as the co-chair of the Trust and Estates Education Committee of the Boston Bar Association.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1 Nelson Terrace Suite D, Melrose, MA 02176
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Lucas Law Group manages the probate and estate planning concerns of its clients in Boston. The firm represents nonprofit organizations, beneficiaries, and trustees who are mentioned in a decedent's will. It handles different probate matters including real estate partitions, contested wills, conservatorships, trust administration, and contested guardianship. Since 2013, lawyer David R. Lucas has been taking on a family-centered approach by treating his clients like his relatives. Lucas is a Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund trustee.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (43)
Facebook
4.8 / 5 (37)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (19)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
858 Washington Street, Dedham, MA 02026
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Samuel, Sayward & Baler LLC is a dedicated representative of its clients' financial interests. The firm's probate lawyers near Boston work with the personal representative of a deceased's estate and help manage the settlement of funds. They advise the representative of the fiduciary responsibilities of debt and tax payments as well as asset sales. The attorneys also oversee the equitable distribution of beneficiary funds. Samuel, Sayward & Baler's other practice areas include estate planning, veteran's benefits, and elder law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Suzanne Sayward - Partner38 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
125 High Street Oliver Street Tower, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Wagner Law Group has assisted families going through the process of estate distribution in Boston since 1996. The firm guides clients through the probate court process, determines assets, analyzes the estate's tax efficiency, and organizes post-mortem planning such as disclaimers. It also handles probate litigation, including will contests. In addition, the law firm helps avoid filing ancillary probate by assisting clients with the transfer of real estate situated in a different state. It has forged strategic partnerships with Rarick & Beskin and the Aaronson Law Corporation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
11 Beacon Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02108
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Since 1995, Pierce & Mandell, P.C., has been providing legal guidance and representation to clients in several metros, including Boston. Its team of trial lawyers handles probate and fiduciary litigation, including will contests, petitions for civil commitments, guardianship and conservatorship petitions, and trust interpretation. They also deal with contested accountings, declaratory judgment actions, and trust modifications. Pierce & Mandell also practices business law, personal injury, and intellectual property law. The firm is an active supporter of community initiatives including the Eddie Mandell Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
29 Stanhope Street, Boston, MA 02116
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Grolman LLP provides legal assistance and counsel from its office in Boston. The boutique firm helps clients navigate the probate process, which involves protecting, collecting, and administrating a deceased person's assets. It also litigates disputes concerning business transactions and represents investors, lenders, developers, and property owners in real estate cases. Estate planning and appellate law services are also provided. The law office, which has been in service for over 20 years, is headed by Ira H. Grolman, a public administrator.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.7 / 5 (9)
Facebook
4.2 / 5 (7)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
Two Seaport Lane Seaport East, Suite 1200, Boston, MA 02210
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

With 17 offices, including one in Boston, Seyfarth offers a wide range of legal services for clients across the globe. These include estate and trust planning, administration, and litigation. The firm's attorneys represent individuals, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries through various processes, including tax planning, asset discovery, guardianship cases, estate management disputes, asset collection, and transfer tax matters. Seyfarth gives back to the community by making grants and supporting its staff in their charitable activities through The Seyfarth Shaw Charitable Foundation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Facebook
4.6 / 5 (13)
Google
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
30 Church Street, Suite 210, Belmont, MA 02478
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Senior Solutions LLC Attorneys at Law takes on probate cases for clients throughout the Boston metro and the nearby areas. It has been serving the local community since 2001, helping clients navigate the probate process by providing legal guidance and advocacy in the distribution of a decedent's assets to the proper beneficiaries. With one of its attorneys, Kathy McNair, appointed as Public Administrator to manage estates for residents who pass away with no known heirs, the firm can also act as a personal representative of an estate.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kathy Mcnair - Principal25 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (34)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Boston, Massachusetts?

    The Boston Police Department can be reached at 617-343-4500 for non-emergencies.

  • Who can serve as a personal representative for a probated estate in Boston?

    Generally, the personal representative is appointed by the court based on legal priority. If there is a will validated by the court, the person indicated in the decedent’s will as personal representative will serve as such during the Boston probate. If there is no will, the decedent’s surviving spouse has legal priority to serve as personal representative for the estate. In the absence of a surviving spouse, the heirs of the decedent take legal priority.

  • Is there a deadline to start the probate process in Boston?

    Yes, probate matters in Boston must be initiated within three years of the decedent’s passing. Note that this three-year limitation does not apply to the legal process of determining the decedent’s heirs, ancillary probate procedures, and voluntary administration. It is ideal to initiate probate early, as it may take weeks for the will to be authenticated by the court.

  • Which estates can be probated through voluntary administration in Boston?

    Voluntary administration is a simplified probate process for estates that do not include real estate, are worth $25,000 or less, and are initiated 30 days after the decedent's death. The petitioner must submit a completed Voluntary Administration Statement (MPC 170) form, the decedent's will (if any), and the death certificate to the Probate & Family Court in the decedent's county of residence. In Boston, this is the Suffolk Probate & Family Court at 24 New Chardon St.

  • Who can contest a will during probate in Boston?

    An individual must have legal standing to be able to contest a will in Boston. Legal standing means you have a legal or financial interest in the will’s outcome. Individuals with legal standing include the decedent’s spouse, beneficiaries indicated in the will, legal heirs, estate creditors, and beneficiaries indicated in an older or newer will. Basically, anyone who is named in the will or who stands to gain if the will being contested is invalid.

  • Can refuse to inherit from a probated estate in Boston?

    Yes, you can refuse your inheritance using a disclaimer. You have nine months from the date of the decedent’s passing to submit a written disclaimer to the estate executor. As a disclaimer, you will have no part in what will happen to the disclaimed asset afterward. The asset’s redistribution will follow the will (if instructions exist) or Massachusetts' rules on inheritance. A Boston probate lawyer can help you prepare the disclaimer.

Back to top