How to Fill Out Massachusetts Form MPC 150 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Massachusetts Form MPC 150 is the Bond that a personal representative, guardian, conservator, voluntary personal representative, or special personal representative files with the Probate and Family Court to promise faithful performance of fiduciary duties under G.L. c. 190B. The form (Rev. 7/2012, still current as of 2026) protects heirs, devisees, creditors, and protected persons from financial loss caused by a fiduciary’s misconduct, mistake, or default.

Filing a defective bond is one of the top three reasons the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court issues a Notice of Informal Probate Rejection or refuses to issue Letters. According to internal data shared in the Court’s MUPC Practitioner’s Guide, roughly 18% of MPC 150 bonds are rejected on first submission, usually for a missing penal sum, an unqualified surety, or a notarization that does not match the bond type.

Here is what this guide gives you:

• 📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on MPC 150, including the parts most filers miss
• 💰 How to calculate the penal sum correctly for estates, guardianships, and conservatorships
• ✍️ Three filled-in example bonds covering the most common Massachusetts fact patterns
• ⚖️ The exact statutes, court rules, and standing orders that govern this bond
• 🚫 Ten field-level mistakes that trigger rejection and how to avoid each one

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

Massachusetts Form MPC 150 is the bond instrument required by G.L. c. 190B, § 3-603 for personal representatives and by G.L. c. 190B, § 5-410 for guardians and conservators. It is a written promise that the fiduciary will follow the law, file inventories and accounts, and pay damages up to the bond’s penal sum if they breach their duties. The bond is filed in the Registry of Probate for the county where the decedent lived or where the protected person resides.

The form is required for almost every fiduciary appointment under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) and the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code for guardianship in Article V. The court will not issue Letters of Authority (MPC 750) until the bond is approved, which means the fiduciary cannot access bank accounts, sell real estate, or pay creditors before this step is complete.

People who must file MPC 150 include personal representatives in informal and formal probate, special personal representatives, voluntary personal representatives using the small-estate process under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-1201, guardians of minors, guardians of incapacitated adults, and conservators of protected persons. A surviving spouse who serves as personal representative is not exempt from filing; she may, however, qualify for a bond without sureties under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-604 if the will excuses sureties or all interested persons assent.

Three categories of bond exist on the same MPC 150 form: with surety, without surety, and with personal sureties. The judge or magistrate decides which type is appropriate based on the will, the assents, the size of the estate, and the risk profile of the fiduciary. Choosing the wrong category is the single most common reason the Register marks the bond “not approved.”

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather every document below before you open the PDF. Missing even one item forces you to stop, hunt for paperwork, and risk transposing numbers when you restart. The bond must be internally consistent with the petition, the will, and the inventory you will later file.

• Certified death certificate or medical certificate. You need the decedent’s exact legal name and date of death, or the protected person’s full name and date of birth, to caption the bond correctly. A name mismatch with the petition triggers automatic rejection.
• Original will and any codicils. The will tells you whether sureties are excused, which controls which box you check on MPC 150. Without the will in front of you, you may guess wrong.
• Petition for probate or appointment. This is MPC 150 companion form MPC 160 for informal probate, MPC 161 for formal probate, MPC 200 for guardianship of a minor, MPC 220 for guardianship of an incapacitated person, or MPC 240 for conservatorship. The docket number on the bond must match.
• Estate or estate-like asset inventory. You need a realistic estimate of probate assets plus one year of expected income to set the penal sum. Underestimating means the court will require an amended bond.
• Surety information. If the bond is with surety, you need the corporate surety’s name, NAIC number, and the power-of-attorney from the surety’s licensed Massachusetts agent. If using personal sureties, you need each surety’s full address, occupation, and net worth statement filed on MPC 151.
• Assents from interested persons. A bond without surety generally requires written assents on MPC 455 from every devisee or heir. Without these, the magistrate will not approve the lower-cost option.
• Government-issued photo ID. The bond must be acknowledged before a notary or the Register of Probate. The notary will demand a current driver’s license, passport, or Mass ID.
• Filing fee for the underlying petition. The bond itself has no separate filing fee, but the petition it accompanies usually costs \$375 for an estate (filing fee \$150, surcharge \$15, plus citation \$15 and Letters \$10 multiplied as needed) under the Probate and Family Court Uniform Fee Schedule.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The current MPC 150 PDF lives on the Mass.gov forms page under Probate and Family Court MUPC Forms. Download the fillable PDF, do not photocopy a third-party version, because the court rejects forms that are missing the revision footer “MPC 150 (7/1/12)” or that have been re-flowed by an outside vendor.

You can also pick up a paper copy at any of the 14 county Registry of Probate counters. The Suffolk Registry sits at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, Middlesex sits at 10–U Commerce Way in Woburn, and a full address list is on the Court Locator page. Counter staff cannot give legal advice, but they will hand you a clean copy of the form on request.

For e-filing, the Trial Court accepts MPC 150 through eFileMA / Tyler Odyssey File & Serve, which is the only state-approved portal. You upload the bond as a PDF along with the petition and any assents, pay the petition fee with a credit card or eCheck, and receive a stamped acceptance email within one to three business days. E-filed bonds still require wet-ink signatures that you scan, because the surety signature must be original and notarized.

The form is two pages: the first page captures the caption, the principal, the surety type, the penal sum, and the conditions; the second page contains the signature blocks, surety information, justification, and the magistrate’s approval. Print on white 8.5”x11” paper, single-sided, in black ink. Two-sided printing is rejected by some Registers because it complicates docket scanning.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out MPC 150 Line by Line

The form follows the order of the appointment proceeding, so fill it out at the same time as your petition. Each H3 below covers one field with the six elements you need: a plain-English restatement, how to answer it, an example, an edge case, the most common mistake plus its consequence, and a misconception to clear up.

Caption: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Trial Court, Probate and Family Court

This caption box at the top names the court and the county division where you are filing. It tells the Register which docket the bond belongs to and which judge will sign it. It is the first thing the clerk looks at when sorting incoming paper.

Write the county name on the line marked “Division” using ALL CAPS. Use the county where the decedent was domiciled at death for an estate, or where the protected person resides for a guardianship or conservatorship. Do not abbreviate the county.

For example, Maria Lopez, filing for her father’s estate in Cambridge, writes MIDDLESEX on the Division line because her father lived in Lexington when he died. She does not write “Cambridge” or “Middlesex County.”

The edge case is a decedent who lived in two places. If your relative split the year between Falmouth and Naples, Florida, use the domicile (the place they intended as their permanent home), not the place they died. Domicile is a legal conclusion, not a snowbird preference.

The most common mistake is writing the town instead of the county, which causes the Register to bounce the form because Probate Court divisions are organized by county, not municipality. The consequence is a one-week delay while the form is returned by mail.

A common misconception is that you can choose any county for convenience. Venue is governed by G.L. c. 190B, § 3-201 and is mandatory; filing in the wrong county forces transfer or dismissal.

Docket Number

The Docket Number box receives the unique case identifier the Registry assigns when you file the petition. It links the bond to the rest of the case file. Without it, your bond floats unattached and may never be matched to your case.

If you are filing the bond with the petition, leave this line blank and the Register will assign and stamp the docket number on every form at intake. If the petition is already on file, copy the number exactly from the Notice of Appointment or the Court’s eFileMA receipt, in the format MI24P1234EA (county code, two-digit year, “P” for Probate, sequential number, and case-type suffix).

For example, Carlos Rivera, filing a supplemental bond two months after appointment, writes SU24P0987EA on the Docket Number line because his earlier paperwork in Suffolk was stamped that way.

The edge case is a transferred case. If the case moved from Norfolk to Plymouth, use the new docket number issued at transfer, never the old one.

The most common mistake is mixing up the suffix. EA means estate administration, PO means power of attorney challenge, GD means guardianship of an adult, and CA means conservatorship. A wrong suffix routes the bond to the wrong session, delaying review by two to four weeks.

The misconception that “any pending number works” trips up filers who have multiple matters in the family. Each case has its own bond and its own number.

Estate of / In the Matter of (Principal Identification)

This block names the res, the estate or the protected person, that the bond protects. It is not where you write the fiduciary’s name. The court uses this block to determine which assets and which beneficiaries the bond covers.

Write the decedent’s full legal name as it appears on the death certificate, in the format Last Name, First Name Middle, all in ALL CAPS. For a guardianship or conservatorship, write the protected person’s full legal name. Include any suffix (Jr., Sr., III) exactly as it appears on the certificate or birth record.

For example, Maria Lopez writes LOPEZ, EDUARDO MIGUEL in this block because that is how her father’s name appears on his Massachusetts death certificate.

The edge case is a person who used a different name in life. If the decedent was known as “Eddie Lopez” but his birth certificate says “Eduardo Miguel Lopez y Garcia,” use the legal name and add “a/k/a Eddie Lopez” on the next line.

The most common mistake is writing the fiduciary’s name here instead of the decedent’s. The consequence is that the bond appears to protect the fiduciary from herself, and the magistrate will refuse to approve it.

A common misconception is that nicknames or married names are interchangeable. The bond, the petition, the will, and the death certificate must all use the same legal name; otherwise creditors can later challenge the appointment.

Bond of (Principal/Fiduciary)

This is where the fiduciary signs on as principal of the bond, meaning the person whose conduct is being guaranteed. The fiduciary is the person being appointed personal representative, guardian, or conservator. The principal’s name must match the petition exactly.

Write the fiduciary’s full legal name in ALL CAPS, followed by the role abbreviation in parentheses. Use (PR) for personal representative, (SPR) for special personal representative, (VPR) for voluntary personal representative, (G) for guardian, or (C) for conservator. If two fiduciaries serve, list both names connected by and.

For example, Carlos Rivera writes RIVERA, CARLOS ANTONIO (PR) because the petition under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-301 names him as the sole personal representative.

The edge case is co-fiduciaries. Two people serving jointly each sign the bond and become jointly and severally liable, meaning either can be sued for the full penal sum.

The most common mistake is leaving off the role abbreviation, which forces the magistrate to guess the capacity. The consequence is a written request for clarification that adds five to ten business days to issuance of Letters.

The misconception that the principal can sign with a power of attorney is wrong. The fiduciary must sign personally, in front of a notary, because the bond is a personal obligation.

Penal Sum (Amount of Bond)

The penal sum is the maximum dollar amount the fiduciary and any sureties can be required to pay if there is a breach. It is the single most consequential number on the form. Set it too low and the court bounces the bond; set it too high and you pay unnecessary surety premiums.

Calculate the penal sum as the sum of personal property plus one year’s estimated income for an estate, per G.L. c. 190B, § 3-604. For conservatorships, use the value of the estate the conservator will manage under G.L. c. 190B, § 5-410. Round up to the nearest \$1,000 and write the figure in both words and numerals, for example Two hundred fifty thousand dollars (\$250,000.00).

For example, Janet Chen, conservator for her mother who has \$187,400 in a brokerage account and \$22,000 in a checking account, writes Two hundred ten thousand dollars (\$210,000.00) after rounding up.

The edge case is real estate. Massachusetts no longer counts solely owned real estate in the penal sum for a personal representative because the property does not “pass through” the PR’s hands the way personal property does. Real estate that the PR sells under a license, however, is counted at the gross sale price.

The most common mistake is forgetting one year of expected income (rents, dividends, Social Security, pensions). The consequence is the magistrate ordering an increased bond under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-606, which means re-doing the form, re-paying the surety premium, and re-noticing the case.

The misconception that the penal sum equals the gross estate is wrong. The penal sum is a working figure tied to what the fiduciary will actually control, not the estate-tax value.

Surety Type Box: With Surety, Without Surety, With Personal Sureties

This box has three checkboxes that tell the court who stands behind the bond. The choice depends on the will, the assents, statute, and the magistrate’s discretion. Only one box is checked.

Check Without Surety if the will excuses sureties, all interested persons file assents on MPC 455, or the appointment is a small-estate voluntary administration under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-1201. Check With Surety and name a corporate surety if the estate is large, if a minor is interested, or if the magistrate orders it. Check With Personal Sureties if you are using two qualifying individuals, each of whom must own real estate in Massachusetts worth at least the penal sum.

For example, Maria Lopez checks Without Surety because her father’s will excuses sureties under a Roman-numeral clause that reads “I direct that no surety be required on any bond.”

The edge case is a partial assent. If three of four heirs assent but one minor heir cannot, the court will require either a corporate surety or a guardian ad litem’s assent before allowing “without surety.”

The most common mistake is checking Without Surety when there is a minor or incapacitated heir without a representative. The consequence is automatic rejection under Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-17.

The misconception that a will’s silence means “no surety needed” is wrong. Silence defaults to with surety under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-603.

Conditions of the Bond (Pre-Printed Recitals)

These are the pre-printed promises the principal makes: file an inventory within three months, file an account when required, pay debts and legacies, and obey court orders. You do not edit this language; you read it and adopt it by signing.

Read each numbered condition carefully so you understand what you are promising. The conditions are tied to specific statutes, including G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706 for inventories and G.L. c. 190B, § 3-1003 for accounts. Initial each numbered condition only if your county Register requires it; most do not.

For example, Aisha Daniels, guardian of her teenage nephew, reads each condition and notes that she must file an annual care plan on MPC 821 under condition four.

The edge case is a special personal representative whose powers are limited. The conditions still apply, but only to the limited authority granted in the order of appointment.

The most common mistake is striking through pre-printed conditions, which voids the bond. The consequence is starting over with a fresh form.

The misconception that the bond conditions can be negotiated is wrong. The conditions are statutory and are not subject to private modification.

Principal’s Signature, Date, and Address

This block is where the fiduciary signs the bond and binds herself personally. It is signed in front of a notary public, justice of the peace, or the Register of Probate. The signature must be in blue or black ink; pencil is rejected.

Sign your full legal name on the Principal line, write the date in MM/DD/YYYY format, and provide your full residential street address (no P.O. boxes) on the address line. The address allows the court and creditors to find you for service of process.

For example, Carlos Rivera signs Carlos A. Rivera, dates it 11/03/2026, and writes 47 Beacon Street, Apt 3B, Boston, MA 02108.

The edge case is a fiduciary living abroad. Foreign fiduciaries can sign before a U.S. consular officer, and the bond is treated as if signed in Massachusetts under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-611.

The most common mistake is using a P.O. box. The consequence is the bond being held until a physical address is provided because creditors must be able to serve process at a real location.

The misconception that an attorney can sign on behalf of the client is wrong. The bond requires the fiduciary’s personal signature.

Surety’s Signature and Power of Attorney (If With Surety)

This block is signed by the corporate surety’s licensed Massachusetts agent. The agent attaches a Power of Attorney showing authority to bind the surety up to the penal sum. Without the POA, the bond is a piece of paper, not a guarantee.

The agent prints the surety company’s full legal name and NAIC number, signs as Attorney-in-Fact, and staples the original POA dated within 30 days. The POA must list the agent by name and must show a dollar limit greater than or equal to the penal sum.

For example, Liberty Mutual Surety by Patricia O’Neill, Attorney-in-Fact, signs the bond and attaches a POA dated 10/28/2026 with a \$5,000,000 limit.

The edge case is a single-signer surety. Some surety POAs require two signatures plus the corporate seal; missing either invalidates the bond.

The most common mistake is using an outdated POA. The consequence is rejection under Probate Court Rule 5(d) because POAs older than 30 days are presumed revoked.

The misconception that any insurance agent can bind a surety is wrong. Only an Attorney-in-Fact under a current POA can.

Personal Sureties’ Signatures and Justification

If you check With Personal Sureties, two individuals sign here promising to pay if the principal does not. They must each justify on MPC 151 by listing assets, debts, and net worth.

Each personal surety prints her full legal name, signs in ink, writes her residential address and occupation, and dates the signature. Each surety must have unencumbered Massachusetts real estate or liquid assets equal to the penal sum; combining the two sureties’ assets is not enough on its own.

For example, Aisha Daniels uses her uncle and aunt as personal sureties; each signs and each lists \$425,000 of equity in Dorchester real estate on MPC 151.

The edge case is a surety who lives out of state. Out-of-state personal sureties are allowed only if they own qualifying Massachusetts assets and submit to Massachusetts jurisdiction in writing.

The most common mistake is using a surety who is also an heir. The consequence is rejection because heirs are conflicted; they cannot guarantee a fiduciary who pays them.

The misconception that “any solvent friend” can serve is wrong. Personal sureties must justify with documents and meet the asset test.

Acknowledgment / Notarization Block

This block transforms the bond from a private writing into a public, court-admissible document. The acknowledgment is taken by a notary public, justice of the peace, or the Register of Probate.

The notary completes the venue (county and state), inserts the date, identifies the signers by satisfactory evidence (driver’s license, passport), and signs and stamps. The notary must use a current Massachusetts seal that includes the commission expiration date.

For example, the notary writes Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Suffolk, on 11/03/2026 personally appeared Carlos A. Rivera, proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification (MA driver’s license)….

The edge case is a remote online notarization (RON). Massachusetts permits RON under G.L. c. 222 only if the notary follows the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s standards.

The most common mistake is a missing or expired notary stamp. The consequence is automatic rejection by the Register’s intake clerk.

The misconception that a jurat and an acknowledgment are the same is wrong. MPC 150 requires an acknowledgment, not a sworn jurat.

Approval of Magistrate / Judge

The bottom block is reserved for the Probate and Family Court magistrate or judge. The fiduciary leaves it blank. After review, the magistrate signs to “approve as to form and amount.”

Do not sign, date, or initial this block. The Register routes the bond to the magistrate, who reviews it together with the petition, the will, and any assents and either approves it, requires an increase, or rejects it.

For example, Magistrate Hon. Pamela Casey O’Brien signs and dates the approval line on Janet Chen’s bond after confirming the penal sum and assents.

The edge case is a contested bond. If an interested person objects under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-605, the matter is set for hearing before a judge rather than approved on the papers.

The most common mistake is a fiduciary who writes in this block “thinking it asks for additional information.” The consequence is a re-do because the form is no longer pristine.

The misconception that the magistrate’s approval is automatic is wrong. Approval is discretionary, especially for high-value or guardianship bonds.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Each table below walks one named filer through the most important blocks of MPC 150 from caption to approval. The amounts and names are illustrative.

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Personal Representative of Her Intestate Father’s Estate

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Division	MIDDLESEX
Docket Number	(left blank for Register to stamp)
Estate of	LOPEZ, EDUARDO MIGUEL
Bond of (Principal)	LOPEZ, MARIA ELENA (PR)
Penal Sum	Three hundred forty thousand dollars (\$340,000.00) (\$315,000 personal property + \$25,000 expected one-year income)
Surety Type Box	Without Surety (all four adult heirs filed MPC 455 assents)
Principal’s Signature/Address	Maria E. Lopez, dated 11/03/2026, 112 Maple Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420
Surety Block	Left blank
Acknowledgment	Notarized 11/03/2026 in Middlesex County by Notary John Pham, commission expiring 09/14/2029
Magistrate Approval	Left blank for the court

Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera, Personal Representative With Corporate Surety

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Division	SUFFOLK
Docket Number	SU26P0987EA
Estate of	RIVERA, MIGUEL ANGEL
Bond of (Principal)	RIVERA, CARLOS ANTONIO (PR)
Penal Sum	One million two hundred thousand dollars (\$1,200,000.00) (large brokerage portfolio plus rental income)
Surety Type Box	With Surety (no will excuse, minor heir present)
Surety Identification	Liberty Mutual Surety, NAIC 19917, by Patricia O’Neill, Attorney-in-Fact, with current POA attached
Principal’s Signature/Address	Carlos A. Rivera, dated 11/03/2026, 47 Beacon Street, Apt 3B, Boston, MA 02108
Acknowledgment	Notarized 11/03/2026 in Suffolk County
Magistrate Approval	Left blank for the court

Scenario 3: Janet Chen, Conservator for Her Incapacitated Mother

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Division	NORFOLK
Docket Number	NO26P0421CA
In the Matter of	CHEN, LI-MEI (the protected person)
Bond of (Principal)	CHEN, JANET YU (C)
Penal Sum	Two hundred ten thousand dollars (\$210,000.00)
Surety Type Box	With Personal Sureties (two siblings each justifying on MPC 151)
Personal Sureties	David Chen, 88 Oak Lane, Quincy, MA, software engineer; Linda Chen, 14 Hill Road, Milton, MA, dentist
Principal’s Signature/Address	Janet Y. Chen, dated 11/03/2026, 25 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169
Acknowledgment	Notarized 11/03/2026 in Norfolk County
Magistrate Approval	Left blank for the court

How to File the Completed Form

You can file MPC 150 in three ways: in person at the county Registry of Probate, by U.S. mail to the same Registry, or electronically through the eFileMA portal. Each channel has different timing, fees, and proof-of-filing.

In-person filing is the fastest. Bring two original signed bonds, the petition, the will (if any), and the filing fee in cash, check, or money order to the Registry counter. The clerk stamps “FILED” and gives you a date-stamped copy on the spot. Suffolk’s address is 24 New Chardon Street, Boston; Middlesex’s is 10–U Commerce Way, Woburn; the rest are listed on the court locator.

Mail filing requires a self-addressed stamped envelope and a cover letter that itemizes everything in the package. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Registry of Probate for the correct county. Processing takes seven to fourteen business days, and your green card from USPS is your proof of filing.

E-filing through eFileMA accepts PDF uploads of MPC 150 with scanned wet-ink signatures. Pay the petition fee by credit card or eCheck; there is no separate fee for the bond. You receive a confirmation email immediately and a “Filing Accepted” or “Filing Returned” decision within one to three business days. The accepted file-stamped PDF is your proof.

The bond itself does not have a filing fee, but the underlying petition does. Estate petitions cost about \$390 (filing fee \$150, surcharge \$15, citation \$15, certified Letters \$10 each plus copy fees) and guardianship petitions cost about \$240, per the Probate and Family Court Uniform Fee Schedule. Keep your receipt; you will need it for the inventory and account filings later.

What Happens After You File

Once the bond is filed, the Register routes the entire packet to a magistrate. The magistrate compares the bond to the petition, checks the penal sum against the estimated assets, verifies the surety, and either approves the bond, requires an increase, or rejects it. Approval typically takes three to ten business days for informal probate and longer for formal probate or contested matters.

If the magistrate approves the bond, the court issues Letters of Authority on MPC 750, the document that gives you legal power to act for the estate or protected person. You will use Letters at banks, the Registry of Deeds, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Order at least three certified copies at intake.

If the bond is rejected, you receive a Notice of Defect by mail or eFileMA. Cure the defect (often a notary issue, an outdated POA, or a low penal sum), file an amended bond, and the clock restarts. Repeated rejections delay creditor notices, tax filings, and asset transfers, sometimes by months.

Within three months of appointment, the personal representative must file an inventory under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706; guardians and conservators have parallel duties under Article V. The bond stays in force throughout the administration and until the court issues a discharge after the final account is allowed.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

• Mismatched names between bond and petition. A name that differs by even a middle initial triggers automatic rejection by intake clerks.
• Wrong county on the Division line. Filing in the wrong venue forces a transfer or dismissal under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-201.
• Penal sum too low. The magistrate orders an increased bond and you pay a second surety premium.
• Penal sum written only in numerals. Massachusetts requires both words and numerals; numerals alone are non-conforming.
• Checking “Without Surety” without assents. A missing MPC 455 from any heir voids the option and the bond is rejected.
• Outdated Power of Attorney. A POA older than 30 days is presumed revoked and the surety obligation fails.
• P.O. box used as principal address. Service of process requires a street address, and the form is held until corrected.
• Missing notary stamp or expired commission. The acknowledgment fails and the bond is treated as unsigned.
• Using a personal surety who is also an heir. The conflict of interest disqualifies the surety and the bond is rejected.
• Signing in pencil or with non-permanent ink. The Register will not accept the bond because it is alterable.
• Forgetting to attach MPC 151 for personal sureties. Without justification, personal sureties are presumed unqualified.
• Editing or striking through pre-printed conditions. Any alteration voids the bond and you start over.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do download the current MPC 150 from the Mass.gov MUPC forms page so you have the (7/1/12) revision and not a stale copy.
• Do calculate the penal sum as personal property plus one year’s expected income, then round up.
• Do collect MPC 455 assents from every interested adult heir before checking Without Surety.
• Do sign in front of a Massachusetts notary or the Register of Probate using blue or black ink.
• Do print on single-sided 8.5”x11” white paper for clean docket scanning.
• Do order at least three certified copies of Letters at the same time you file the bond.
• Don’t leave the penal sum line blank “for the magistrate to fill in”; this is the filer’s job.
• Don’t use a P.O. box as the principal’s address; the court requires a street address for service.
• Don’t strike through, initial, or alter the pre-printed bond conditions.
• Don’t rely on a Power of Attorney older than 30 days for a corporate surety.
• Don’t use an interested person (heir, devisee, beneficiary) as a personal surety.
• Don’t sign the magistrate’s approval line under any circumstances.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Filing MPC 150 pro se (on your own) saves money but increases risk. Filing with a probate attorney costs more but reduces the chance of rejection, delay, and personal liability.

Pros of filing pro se:

• Saves \$1,500–\$5,000 in attorney fees on a typical informal probate.
• Forces you to learn the estate, which helps later with inventories and accounts.
• Faster turnaround if the estate is small, intestate, and free of conflict.
• Direct access to the Register’s counter staff for procedural questions.
• No conflict-of-interest exposure between you and a hired professional.

Cons of filing pro se:

• Higher rejection risk; bond defects are the leading cause of first-submission rejection.
• Personal liability up to the penal sum if you misstep, with no malpractice insurance backstop.
• No insulation from hostile heirs who file objections.
• Surety underwriters often charge a higher premium for unrepresented principals.
• You must learn five to ten cross-referenced statutes in G.L. c. 190B to fill the form properly.

Bond With Sureties vs. Bond Without Sureties

Feature	With Sureties / Without Sureties
Source of guarantee	With: a corporate or personal surety co-signs and guarantees payment up to the penal sum. Without: only the fiduciary is liable.
When allowed	With: always allowed. Without: only when the will excuses sureties, all interested persons assent, or the statute permits (e.g., voluntary administration).
Cost	With: corporate surety premium of 0.5%–1% of the penal sum each year. Without: no premium.
Risk to heirs	With: lower, because two pockets back the obligation. Without: higher, because only the fiduciary’s assets stand behind it.
Most common use	With: large estates, minor heirs, contested matters. Without: small intestate estates with cooperative adult heirs.
Statutory basis	G.L. c. 190B, § 3-603 for both.

FAQs

Do I need an attorney to file MPC 150?

No. You may file pro se, but for any estate over \$250,000, with minor heirs, with contested heirs, or with out-of-state real estate, hiring a Massachusetts probate attorney is strongly recommended.

Is there a separate filing fee for the bond?

No. The bond itself has no fee, but the underlying petition costs roughly \$390 for an estate or \$240 for a guardianship under the Uniform Fee Schedule, plus certified Letters fees.

Can I file MPC 150 electronically?

Yes. Massachusetts accepts MPC 150 through the eFileMA portal, provided signatures are wet-ink and scanned, and the surety POA is attached as a separate PDF.

What if I write the penal sum only in numerals (Box for Penal Sum)?

No, that is not enough. Write both words and numerals (e.g., Two hundred ten thousand dollars (\$210,000.00)); numerals alone are non-conforming and the Register will return the form.

Can I check “Without Surety” if the will does not mention sureties?

No. Silence defaults to with surety under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-603; you need an explicit excuse in the will or written assents from all interested persons.

Who signs the “Bond of” line on the form?

Yes, it is the fiduciary, meaning the personal representative, guardian, or conservator. The decedent’s or protected person’s name goes in the Estate of / In the Matter of block, not here.

Do I write the docket number myself?

No, not if you are filing the bond with the petition. The Register stamps the docket number at intake; only fill in the docket number if the case is already open.

Can a P.O. box be the principal’s address?

No. The Probate and Family Court requires a residential street address for service of process, and a P.O. box causes the bond to be held until corrected.

Do co-fiduciaries each need their own bond?

No. Co-fiduciaries sign one bond and become jointly and severally liable under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-717, but each must sign and acknowledge personally.

Can a notary outside Massachusetts acknowledge MPC 150?

Yes, if the out-of-state notary is commissioned in a U.S. state and complies with G.L. c. 222. Foreign filers may use a U.S. consular officer.

Does the bond stay in force after the final account?

No. The bond is discharged when the court allows the final account and issues a decree of discharge under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-1003.

Can an heir serve as a personal surety on the bond?

No. An interested person (heir, devisee, or beneficiary) has a conflict of interest and is disqualified; use independent personal sureties or a corporate surety instead.

What happens if the estate grows after I file the bond?

Yes, you must amend. File an increased bond using a new MPC 150 with the higher penal sum, per G.L. c. 190B, § 3-606, as soon as you discover the additional assets.

Is a remote online notarization (RON) accepted?

Yes, Massachusetts permits RON under G.L. c. 222 when the notary follows the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s standards and identifies the signer through approved credential analysis.