About Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative
This form formally appoints a successor personal representative to administer an estate when the previously appointed representative resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, or is removed.
When you'd use it: File this form when a previously appointed personal representative is no longer able or willing to serve and the court must appoint a successor representative.
Where to get the official form
Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative is published through the Massachusettscourts' official forms page. Open it to find and download the current version directly from the court rather than a third-party copy:
Official court source
Open the official Massachusetts forms page →
Source: courtforms.jud.state.ma.us
Link last checked: June 27, 2026
How to file Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative in Massachusetts
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative (MPC 765) when file this form when a previously appointed personal representative is no longer able or willing to serve and the court must appoint a successor representative. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Massachusetts probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Decree and Order for Formal Appointment of Successor Personal Representative to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Massachusetts county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).