Brockton, MA Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Brockton, MA Consumers

Massachusetts Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Massachusetts PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Plymouth County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Massachusetts) for Plymouth County.
• How Probate Works in Massachusetts: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Plymouth County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Massachusetts probate forms from the Massachusetts probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Massachusetts: Learn how to use Massachusetts's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • 
    In Massachusetts, there's no Affidavit procedure available for small estates. There is a summary probate procedure available for estates that have no real property and a value that is less than $25,000, plus the value of a vehicle. Interested persons must file a Will (if any), inventory of the assets and a list of heirs with the court, and offer to serve as a voluntary personal representative.

    Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch 190B, 3-1201 and following.

    You can also use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and costs of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.

    Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch 190B, 3-1203, 1204.

     

• Massachusetts Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Massachusetts imposes an estate tax on property owned in Massachusetts. If you are inheriting property from the state of Massachusetts, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $1,000,000.

• Avoiding Probate in Massachusetts. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

---

Massachusetts Wage & Hour Law

• Massachusetts Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Bay State must be paid at least $15 an hour. 

    Plymouth County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Plymouth County is $15, the state minimum wage. 

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Massachusetts and whether they apply to you.
• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Massachusetts. 
• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Massachusetts.

  • In Massachusetts, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $6.75 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $15 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Massachusetts law from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards. 617-626-6975

---

Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Massachusetts: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Massachusetts, unemployment benefits range from $52 per week to $1,015 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Massachusetts, you can calculate your weekly benefit by adding up all of your wages during the two highest paid quarters of the base period; dividing this amount by 26 to determine your average weekly wage during this time; then dividing that total by two. 

  • Duration:

    In Massachusetts, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 30 weeks. When extended benefits are available or unemployment is low, the maximum is 26 weeks. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Massachusetts.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

---

Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Massachusetts MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Plymouth County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Massachusetts BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Massachusetts law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Massachusetts BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

---

Child Custody & Family Courts in Massachusetts 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Massachusetts Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Plymouth County: Plymouth County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

---

Massachusetts Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Massachusetts!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Massachusetts? Learn about whether Massachusetts imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Plymouth County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

---

Democracy In Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Brockton 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Brockton, MA.
• Gerrymandering in Massachusetts: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

---

Find a Lawyer in Brockton, MA

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration

---