Estate Inventory and Appraisement (Massachusetts)

Court filing: Use official form MPC 854 or MPC 854(a) if filing an inventory with the Probate and Family Court. This signed inventory may be mailed to interested persons under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706(c).

The Court's inventory page and administration guide provide the official filing forms and instructions.

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE

1. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION

2. DECEDENT INFORMATION

3. DUTY AND FILING DEADLINE

Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706(a), within 3 months after appointment, an original personal representative shall prepare an inventory of the property owned by the decedent at the time of death, listing it with reasonable detail and indicating, as to each listed item, its fair market value as of the date of death and the type and amount of any encumbrance that may exist with reference to any item.

The personal representative shall file a copy with the court, or mail a copy to all interested persons whose addresses are reasonably available; the personal representative may also file the original with the court (§ 3-706(c)). A successor personal representative prepares an inventory of estate property within 3 months after appointment, valued as of the successor's appointment date (§ 3-706(b)). A court filing must use MPC 854 or MPC 854(a).

4. APPRAISAL METHOD

Under G.L. c. 190B, § 3-707, the personal representative may employ one or more qualified and disinterested appraisers to assist in ascertaining the fair market value, as of the date of death, of any asset the value of which may be subject to reasonable doubt; different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets.

• The personal representative may use reliable account records for readily ascertainable values (cash, deposit balances, exchange-listed securities).
• The name and address of each appraiser should be indicated on the inventory next to the item or items appraised.

5. SCHEDULE A — REAL ESTATE

Schedule A Subtotal: $[________________]

6. SCHEDULE B — TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY

Schedule B Subtotal: $[________________]

7. SCHEDULE C — CASH, BANK & FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

Schedule C Subtotal: $[________________]

8. SCHEDULE D — SECURITIES & BUSINESS INTERESTS

Schedule D Subtotal: $[________________]

9. SCHEDULE E — OTHER ASSETS

Schedule E Subtotal: $[________________]

10. RECAPITULATION / SUMMARY

11. VERIFICATION

I certify under the penalties of perjury that the foregoing Inventory and Appraisement is a complete and accurate inventory, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, of the decedent's property at death if I am the original personal representative, or of estate property at my appointment if I am a successor personal representative. The values are fair market values as of the valuation date selected in Section 1.

Date: [__/__/____]

Personal Representative Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FULL LEGAL NAME]

12. APPRAISER'S CERTIFICATE

I certify that I am a qualified and disinterested appraiser, that I appraised the items identified below, and that the stated values represent the fair market value of those items as of [__/__/____] (the applicable valuation date).

13. CERTIFICATE OF FILING / SERVICE

Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706, the personal representative has (check one):

☐ Filed official form MPC 854 or MPC 854(a), using the information in this inventory, with the Probate and Family Court, [COUNTY] Division; or
☐ Mailed a copy to all interested persons whose addresses are reasonably available, as listed below.

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE / ATTORNEY NAME]
BBO No. (if applicable): [________________]

14. ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Official form MPC 854 (with schedules) or MPC 854(a) (without schedules), if filing with the court
☐ Appraisal report(s) for assets appraised under § 3-707
☐ Bank / brokerage statements as of the applicable valuation date
☐ Real estate deed(s) and registry references
☐ Motor vehicle and titled-asset records
☐ Updated inventory or supporting schedule, if additional property is discovered
☐ Certificate / proof of mailing to interested persons (if mailing in lieu of filing)

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• G.L. c. 190B, § 3-706 — Duty of personal representative; inventory and appraisement (3-month deadline; file or mail)
• G.L. c. 190B, § 3-707 — Employment of appraisers
• Massachusetts Trial Court, MUPC Estate Administration Procedural Guide, § 10.2 — asset scope, valuation dates, and required court filing form
• Form MPC 854 (Inventory): https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0108