The Register of Probate is an elected county official who serves as the chief administrative officer of the Probate and Family Court. In Barnstable County, this office handles estate settlements, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, adoptions, and family court filings for all 15 Cape Cod towns.
What Does the Register of Probate Do?
The Register manages the administrative side of the Probate and Family Court — accepting and processing filings, maintaining court records, issuing certificates and letters of authority, and ensuring public access to court proceedings. While judges make legal decisions, the Register’s office is where residents interact with the court system: filing paperwork, getting information, and accessing services. The position is elected countywide for a six-year term.
Current Officeholder
Anastasia Welsh Perrino, Esq.
Serving as Barnstable County Register of Probate since 2009. A Cape Cod native and Dennis resident for over 30 years, Register Perrino brings 14 years of private legal practice in estate planning, elder law, guardianship, and mental health law, plus five years as Assistant Register before her first election in 2008.
She holds a law degree from Suffolk University Law School and an undergraduate degree from Boston College. She is a past President of the Barnstable County Bar Association.
Four-Generation Cape Cod Judicial Family
Register Perrino comes from a family that has served Cape Cod’s court system for over a century:
Key Accomplishments
Making the Court Work for Families
Created a dedicated unit to help grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives seeking custody of children whose parents are unavailable due to substance use, mental illness, or incarceration. Partners with the Department of Children and Families and the Kinship Navigator Program.
When the state closed the local Department of Revenue office that handled genetic marker testing, Register Perrino partnered with Barnstable County to provide testing space locally — saving residents from having to travel to Taunton.
Established weekly walk-in sessions where qualifying estate filers can get Letters of Authority the same day, instead of waiting weeks for a hearing.
Court Access & Technology
Created Zoom-based access to the Registry Monday through Friday (9am–noon, 2:15–4pm) for forms, information, and case questions — no trip to the courthouse required.
Built the first-ever website for the Barnstable Probate and Family Court with public case docket search, self-help forms, mobile access, and emergency filing capabilities.
Working with Barnstable County public libraries to provide computer terminals for residents who need device access for virtual court hearings.
Statewide Impact
Served on the statewide Implementation Committee that rewrote all Massachusetts probate law. Helped write all new forms and procedures for the March 2019 overhaul — the most significant change to MA probate law in decades.
Chairs this statewide committee, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in 2010. Sets ethical standards for court clerks across Massachusetts.
Appointed by the Probate and Family Court Chief Justice to help write internal best practices for the entire Massachusetts Probate and Family Court system.
Community Partnerships
Partnered with the Cape Cod Genealogical Society to scan and digitize probate records from 1918 to 1950 — preserving Cape Cod’s legal history for public access.
Created internship programs with Cape Cod Community College’s Project Forward and Riverview School, providing court experience to students including those on the autism spectrum.
How to Access Probate Court Services
📍 In Person
Barnstable Probate and Family Court
3195 Main Street
Barnstable, MA 02630
💻 Virtual Registry
Available via Zoom
Mon–Fri: 9am–12pm, 2:15–4pm
Forms, questions, and case info
🌐 Online
barnstablecountypfc.com
Public docket search, self-help forms, emergency filing info
📋 Walk-In Sessions
Magistrate walk-in available by appointment for same-day estate settlements and Letters of Authority
Common Services Handled by the Probate Court
Estate Settlement
Administering estates of deceased persons, appointing personal representatives, and overseeing asset distribution — whether there’s a will or not.
Guardianship
Appointing guardians for minors and incapacitated adults. Includes the dedicated kinship caregiver unit for family members raising children.
Conservatorship
Appointing conservators to manage the financial affairs of persons unable to do so themselves — protecting assets and ensuring proper stewardship.
Family Matters
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and other family law matters. The court handles contested and uncontested proceedings.
Name Changes
Legal name change petitions for adults and minors. Processed through the Probate and Family Court with a hearing before a judge.
Adoptions
All adoption proceedings in Barnstable County, including step-parent adoptions, agency adoptions, and international adoption finalizations.