# Probate & Estate Planning | Dunn & Phillips, P.C. > Estate planning lawyers in Western Massachusetts. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate handled in plain language by a firm that answers the phone. [Canonical page](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/practice/wills-estates/) --- / Probate & Estate Planning # Probate & Estate Planning Wills, trusts, and probate guidance that protects families across generations. [Request a Probate & Estate Planning Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Probate%20%26%20Estate%20Planning) Putting off a will feels easier than facing it, until a family is left untangling the result. And losing someone is hard enough without a court process you don’t understand. We write the plan in plain English so your family is protected, and we walk you through probate one step at a time, for families across Western Massachusetts. ### What we help you with - Wills - Trusts - Health care proxies and powers of attorney - Estate and probate administration - Guardianship - Transfers of real property We start by listening, then tell you which documents fit your family and explain them without the jargon. Probate in Massachusetts has its own deadlines, and waiting can narrow a family’s options. The earlier we look at things together, the more straightforward the path tends to be. **Start your plan. Call (413) 787-9955.** Your Probate & Estate Planning team - [Cornelius W. Phillips, III Named Founding Partner · Springfield](/team/cornelius-phillips) - [Haley Daigneault Senior Paralegal · Springfield](/team/haley-daigneault) Contact the firm The form below is the best place to start. You can also email us, or call if you prefer. An initial conversation is without obligation. [Request a Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Probate%20%26%20Estate%20Planning) Email us [Prefer to call? (413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) This page is general information only, not legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every matter depends on its own facts; for advice on your particular circumstances, talk to a licensed attorney. Published by Dunn & Phillips, P.C., 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108. Responsible attorney: Cornelius W. Phillips, III. Free PDF worksheets ## Free estate worksheets Two free PDF worksheets, one to get ready for your estate plan and one to guide you through settling a loved one's estate, from a Western Massachusetts firm. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Estate Planning Worksheet What to gather and decide before you meet with us: your documents, people, and wishes, in one PDF worksheet. From a firm that has planned estates since 1988. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-estate-planning-worksheet.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Executor's Probate Checklist A stage-by-stage guide to settling an estate in Massachusetts: every filing and deadline, in one PDF worksheet. From a firm that guides executors every week. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-executor-probate-checklist.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Insights ## More on Probate & Estate Planning [All insights](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/blog) - [May 19, 2026 Do You Even Need Probate in Massachusetts If There's a Will? A will does not skip probate; it directs it. Whether your family needs a full probate in Massachusetts depends less on the will and more on how the property was titled. Here are the lighter paths and what passes outside court. Read](/blog/do-i-need-probate) - [April 30, 2026 What Does an Executor Actually Do in Massachusetts? Being named to settle a loved one's estate is an honor and a real responsibility. Here is what the role, called a personal representative in Massachusetts, involves. Read](/blog/what-an-executor-does) - [March 28, 2026 Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney: The Documents Everyone Needs These two documents protect you while you are alive, not just your estate after. Here is what each one does in Massachusetts, and why every adult should have them. Read](/blog/health-care-proxy-and-poa) - [March 10, 2026 Do I Need a Will If I Don't Own Much? A common question with a clear answer. Even modest estates benefit from a will and a few basic documents in Massachusetts. Read](/blog/do-i-need-a-will)