What are the filing deadlines for an intestate succession?

In the state of Massachusetts, the filing deadlines for an intestate succession depend on the type of estate and the situation of the decedent’s surviving family members. Generally, the executor of the estate will have the responsibility of filing any necessary paperwork and meeting any deadlines. For instance, if the decedent was survived by a spouse and children, the intestate succession must usually be filed within three years of the decedent’s death. The executor then has one year to file a final accounting after the initial filing. In the event that the decedent is not survived by a spouse or children, the estate must be handled in such a manner as to get the highest possible cash return to the surviving family members. This type of estate must usually be filed within four years and the executor then has three years to file a final accounting. When administering an estate in which no spouse or children survived the decedent, the executor is required to file an inventory of the decedent’s assets within six months of the death. The executor then has an additional three months to submit a listing of the estate’s creditors and an additional three months to file a petition for distribution of the estate. In all cases, the executor is responsible for filing any necessary paperwork and meeting all filing deadlines in order to finalize the administration of the estate. Failure to do so may result in the executor being held personally liable for the delays.

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What are the filing deadlines for an intestate succession?

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