Estate Cleanout Checklist for Massachusetts Families

This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to the estate's attorney or the personal representative before removing anything of value or anything a will names.

Step 1: Find out who is in charge

A cleanout feels like a practical job, but it starts with a legal question. Under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, a personal representative's duties and powers begin on appointment, according to the state's posted text of section 3-701. If you are not sure who holds that role, or whether anyone has been appointed yet, ask the estate's attorney before you give away, sell or discard anything of value.

Mass.gov also describes a simplified route called voluntary administration for small estates made up entirely of personal property. It cannot be used to transfer real estate. If the house itself is part of the estate, expect a fuller process, and ask the Probate and Family Court or an attorney which one applies.

Step 2: Secure what cannot be replaced

Before sorting anything, pull out the items that matter most and keep them somewhere safe. Check coat pockets, kitchen drawers and book pages as you go.

• Wills, deeds, account statements, tax returns, insurance papers and the latest mail.
• Jewelry, watches, cash, coins and checkbooks.
• Keys, spare keys, garage openers and passwords written on paper.
• Photograph albums, letters, film and memory cards.
• Firearms, if any, which need their own legal handling. Ask the attorney or local police.

Step 3: Sort in rounds

Going room by room in one pass is slow and hard on families. Working in rounds goes faster and leaves fewer regrets.

1. Round one: anything with a name on it, from the will or from conversation. Tag it, do not move it.
2. Round two: items family members want. Let each person look before anyone starts discarding.
3. Round three: usable goods to donate or sell. Many charities have pickup rules of their own, so ask each one what it takes.
4. Round four: what is left to discard. Check the disposal rules below before you load a truck.

Step 4: Handle medications and sharps separately

Do not put medications or needles in the trash or recycling. Barnstable County's disposal page says all 15 Cape towns have a free, anonymous drop-off kiosk for unused medications in the police department lobby. It also says every Cape town has a free sharps drop-off site, where you can pick up a new container. Call the site first to confirm hours and what it accepts, since some kiosks take pills only.

Step 5: Check what cannot go in the trash

An older house tends to hold things Massachusetts keeps out of the regular trash: mattresses, televisions, computers, old paint and yard chemicals. The state's waste ban list is covered in what Massachusetts bans from the trash. Paint, chemicals and propane have their own page: where to take paint, chemicals and propane on Cape Cod. Keep products in their original containers and do not mix them.

Step 6: When the house is empty

• Walk every room, closet, attic, basement and garage once more.
• Return rented equipment, such as cable boxes and modems, to the provider.
• Ask the attorney or personal representative when to cancel utilities, and keep the heat and insurance on until they say so.
• Take photos of the empty rooms for the family's records.
• Collect the keys and note who holds them.

When to bring in help

Some families do the whole job themselves over several weekends. Others want a crew once the sorting is done, especially for heavy furniture, a full garage or a house on the market. Mazheika Moving Services, an owner-run Hyannis company, offers estate cleanouts and junk removal on Cape Cod. To ask about a job, request a quote or call (508) 400-5788 any time, 24 hours a day. We list the Cape Cod towns we serve with a page for each.

Common questions