About Decree and Order to Modify Bond
A court order modifying the bond requirements for a fiduciary in a probate estate, including changing the penal sum, adding/removing sureties, or eliminating bond requirements.
When you'd use it: After a fiduciary petitions the court to modify their bond due to changed circumstances affecting the estate or the fiduciary's ability to maintain the original bond terms.
Where to get the official form
Decree and Order to Modify Bond 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 to Modify Bond in Massachusetts
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Decree and Order to Modify Bond (MPC 776) when after a fiduciary petitions the court to modify their bond due to changed circumstances affecting the estate or the fiduciary's ability to maintain the original bond terms. 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 to Modify Bond 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 to Modify Bond 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).