reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 188 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 188 - Homesteads|Section 13 - Effect of Statement of Marital Status of Grantor Contained in Deed, Release or Mortgage; Affidavit of Grantor, Releaser or Mortgagor as to Existence of Spouse

Section 13. A deed, release or mortgage containing a statement of the marital status of a grantor may be relied upon by a good faith purchaser for value. As to acts undertaken in good faith reliance on such deed, release or mortgage, an affidavit executed and acknowledged by the grantor, releaser or mortgagor under penalty of perjury stating that, at the time of delivery of the deed, release or mortgage, the affiant had no spouse then entitled to claim the benefit of an existing estate of homestead, shall be conclusive proof of the nonexistence of such benefit at that time. The affidavit may be recorded in connection with the execution and delivery of a deed, release or mortgage and shall be accepted in the appropriate registry of deeds and registry district of the land court. The subsequent residency or renewal of residency in the home by a spouse of the grantor, releaser or mortgagor shall not defeat the priority of a mortgage, release or conveyance accepted in reliance on such affidavit.
MA Gen L ch 188 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 188 - Homesteads|Section 14 - Notice of Right to Declare Homestead Protection Required in All Mortgage Transactions

Section 14. In all mortgage transactions, the closing attorney or settlement agent shall provide the mortgagor with notice of the right to declare homestead protection pursuant to this chapter, receipt of which shall be acknowledged in writing by the mortgagor. The notice shall include, but not be limited to, a summary of the differences between the automatic homestead protection and the enhanced benefits acquired by making a declaration of homestead.
MA Gen L ch 191 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191 - Wills|Section 15 - Filing of Waiver; Rights Upon Waiver

Section 15. The surviving husband or wife of a deceased person, except as provided in section thirty-six of chapter two hundred and nine, within six months after the probate of the will of such deceased, may file in the registry of probate a writing signed by him or by her, waiving any provisions that may have been made in it for him or for her, or claiming such portion of the estate of the deceased as he or she is given the right to claim under this section, and if the deceased left issue, he or she shall thereupon take one third of the personal and one third of the real property; and if the deceased left kindred but no issue, he or she shall take twenty-five thousand dollars and one half of the remaining personal and one half of the remaining real property; except that in either case if he or she would thus take real and personal property to an amount exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars in value, he or she shall receive, in addition to that amount, only the income during his or her life of the excess of his or her share of such estate above that amount, the personal property to be held in trust and the real property vested in him or her for life, from the death of the deceased. If the deceased left no issue or kindred, the surviving husband or wife shall take twenty-five thousand dollars and one half of the remaining personal and one half of the remaining real property absolutely. If the real and personal property of the deceased which the surviving husband or wife takes under the foregoing provisions exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars in value, and the surviving husband or wife is to take only twenty-five thousand dollars absolutely, the twenty-five thousand dollars, above given absolutely shall be paid out of that part of the personal property in which the husband or wife is interested; and if such part is insufficient the deficiency shall, upon the petition of any person interested, be paid from the sale or mortgage in fee, in the manner provided for the payment of debts or legacies, of that part of the real property in which he or she is interested. Such sale or mortgage may be made either before or after such part is set off from the other real property of the deceased for the life of the husband or widow. If, after probate of such will, legal proceedings have been instituted wherein its validity or effect is drawn in question, the probate court may, within said six months, on petition and after such notice as it orders, extend the time for filing the aforesaid claim and waiver until the expiration of six months from the termination of such proceedings.
MA Gen L ch 191 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191 - Wills|Section 16 - Income From Personal Property; Trustees to Hold Property

Section 16. The probate court may upon application of a person interested appoint one or more trustees, who shall be subject to chapter two hundred and three so far as applicable, to hold during the life of a husband or widow any personal property to the income of which he or she may be entitled under the preceding section.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 2 - Making Statutory Will

Section 2. An individual having capacity to make a will under the laws of the commonwealth may make a statutory will under the provisions of this chapter. The will shall be executed in a manner recognized as valid under the laws of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 3 - Incorporation by Reference

Section 3. (a) A will may incorporate by reference the provisions of this chapter in whole or in part and with any modifications and additions the will provides. To the extent an express provision of a will conflicts with this chapter, the terms of the will shall govern.  (b) A provision that all or part of the testator's testamentary estate is to be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this chapter incorporates by reference provisions of this chapter in effect on the date the will is executed.  (c) An incorporation by reference of provisions of this chapter may be in the following or a substantially similar form:  ''Except as otherwise provided in this will, I direct that my testamentary estate be disposed of in accordance with the Massachusetts Uniform Statutory Will Act.''
MA Gen L ch 191b § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 4 - Shares Under Statutory Will

Section 4. The statutory will estate shall pass as provided in sections five to nine, inclusive.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 5 - Share of Spouse

Section 5. (a) The share of a surviving spouse shall be:  (1) If there is no surviving issue, the entire statutory will estate; or  (2) If there is a surviving issue,  (i) subject to any lien or encumbrance, the testator's residence and tangible personal property, except personal property held primarily for investment or for a commercial, agricultural, or other business purpose;  (ii) the greater of three hundred thousand dollars, or one-half of the balance of the statutory will estate; and  (iii) subject to the provisions of subsection (b), an interest in the remaining portion of the statutory will estate, including any property that would pass under the provisions of subclauses (i) or (ii) of this subsection but disclaimed by the surviving spouse, in a trust upon the terms set forth in section six.  (b) If the personal representative, other than the surviving spouse, determines that the trust under section six would be uneconomical, the entire statutory will estate shall pass to the surviving spouse.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 7 - Shares of Heirs When No Surviving Spouse

Section 7. (a) If there is no surviving spouse, the statutory will estate shall pass, subject to the provisions of sections eight and nine, as follows:  (1) If there is surviving issue, in equal shares to the children of the testator if all of them survive, otherwise to the surviving issue of the testator by representation; or  (2) If there is no surviving issue, to the individuals entitled to receive the estate as if the property were located in the commonwealth and the testator had died intestate domiciled in the commonwealth in the proportions so determined.  (b) Unless the personal representative determines that a trust would be uneconomical, property to which the provisions of section eight or nine applies shall be distributed to the trustee. If the personal representative determines that a trust would be uneconomical, the property shall pass under the provisions of subsection (a) free of trust. The discretion provided in this subsection to the personal representative shall not be exercised by any of the testator's issue serving as personal representative.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 9 - Effect of Disability at Distribution

Section 9. (a) If property becomes distributable by a personal representative or trustee to an individual under the age specified in the will or, if the will does not specify an age, under the age of twenty-three years, or to an individual who the personal representative or trustee determines cannot effectively manage or apply the property by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, or other cause: (i) the personal representative or trustee, as to principal or income, may distribute part or all of the property to the distributee directly, by deposit or investment in the distributee's name or for the distributee's account, or to a guardian or conservator for the distributee; (ii) the personal representative may distribute to the trustee in trust under clause (iii); or (iii) the trustee may retain all or any part of the property in trust for the distributee and thereafter at any time the trustee may distribute or apply part or all of the principal or income to or for the benefit or account of the distributee.  (b) Unless terminated earlier, a trust under clause (iii) subsection (a) shall terminate upon the attainment of the required age, removal of the disability, or death of the distributee. Upon such termination, the trustee shall distribute the remaining trust property to the distributee or personal representative of the distributee's estate.  (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to distributions to a surviving spouse of the testator.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 10 - Powers of Appointment

Section 10. (a) A will incorporating by reference the terms of this chapter shall not exercise a power of appointment unless (i) the will complies with any conditions imposed on the exercise of the power, (ii) the appointment is within the scope of the power, and (iii) the will expressly refers to the power or expresses an intent to exercise any power of appointment held by the testator.  (b) If a power of appointment is exercised as provided in subsection (a), the appointed property shall pass as part of the statutory will estate unless the will provides otherwise.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 11 - Survival

Section 11. An individual who does not survive the testator by thirty days or more shall be treated as if the individual predeceased the testator.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 12 - Appointment of Personal Representative or Trustee

Section 12. (a) The person named in the will as personal representative or trustee shall be entitled to serve, if qualified, as personal representative or trustee.  (b) If a qualified person is not named in the will as personal representative, or the named person is incapacitated, unwilling to serve, or dead, and a qualified alternate is not named in the will, priority for appointment as personal representative is determined by the law of the state of decedent's domicile at death.  (c) If a qualified person is not named in the will as trustee, or the named person is incapacitated, unwilling to serve, or is dead, and a qualified alternate is not named in the will, the personal representative may appoint, without court approval, a qualified person, including a person serving as personal representative, to serve as trustee.  (d) If a personal representative or trustee resigns, is removed, becomes incapacitated, or dies, the surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse is unable or unwilling to act, a majority of the adult children of the testator, may appoint a qualified successor personal representative or trustee.  (e) In all other cases, personal representatives and trustees shall be appointed by the court.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 14 - Bond or Surety

Section 14. A personal representative or trustee under this chapter shall serve without giving bond or surety unless the testator by will, or the court upon the application of any person interested in the estate, provides otherwise.
MA Gen L ch 191b § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 191b - Uniform Statutory Will Act|Section 15 - Uniformity of Application and Construction

Section 15. This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 1 - Appointment; Number; Term

Section 1. There shall be in each county one or more public administrators, not exceeding six in Middlesex and in Suffolk or five in any other county, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council, who shall hold office for five years from the time of their appointment.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 2 - Bond; Form; Conditions

Section 2. A public administrator shall give bond for the faithful administration of each estate on which letters of administration may be granted to him as such public administrator, with sufficient sureties, in such form as the probate court may order, payable to the judge of said court and his successors, with condition substantially as follows:—  First, To make and return to the probate court, within three months from the time of granting to him, as public administrator, letters of administration on the estate of the deceased, a true inventory of all the real and personal property of the deceased which at the time of making thereof shall have come to his possession or knowledge;  Second, To administer according to law all personal property of the deceased which may come into his possession or into the possession of any person for him, and also the proceeds of any of the real property of the deceased which may be sold or mortgaged by him;  Third, To render on oath a true account of his administration at least once a year until his trust is fulfilled, unless he is excused therefrom in any year by the court, and also to render such account at such other times as the court orders;  Fourth, To pay the balance of such estate remaining in his hands upon the settlement of his accounts to such persons as the court may direct; and, when such estate has been fully administered, to deposit with the state treasurer the whole amount remaining in his hands to which said treasurer may be entitled under the provisions of chapter one hundred and ninety-four of the General Laws;  Fifth, Upon the appointment and qualification of an executor or administrator as his successor, to surrender into the probate court said letters of administration, with an account on oath of his doings therein; and, upon a just settlement of such account, to pay over and deliver to such successor all money remaining in his hands, and all property, effects and credits of the deceased not then administered.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 4 - Duties

Section 4. A public administrator shall, except as hereinafter provided, take out letters of administration and faithfully administer upon the estates of persons who die intestate within his county or elsewhere, leaving property in his county to be administered, if there is no known husband, widow or heir of such deceased living in the commonwealth at the time of filing the petition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a public administrator shall apply for letters of administration for an intestate estate or petition for administration with the will annexed of a testate estate when so designated by the division of medical assistance pursuant to subsection (e) of section thirty-two of chapter one hundred eighteen E. The state treasurer shall be made a party to a petition for administration by a public administrator, and shall be given due notice of all subsequent proceedings. He shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, administer estates and render accounts in the same manner as other administrators.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 5 - Instances When Public Administrator Should Not Act

Section 5. Administration shall not be granted to a public administrator when the husband, widow or an heir of the deceased, in writing, claims the right of administration or requests the appointment of some other suitable person to the trust, if such husband, widow, heir or other person accepts the trust and gives the bond required, nor when the sole known assets of the estate of the deceased consist of an amount of money standing to his credit in a savings bank or in a savings account in a trust company, in case such account has not been increased by a deposit, nor decreased by a withdrawal of any part of his deposits or of any part of the interest thereon, during a period of twenty years or more next preceding the petition for such administration.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 5a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 5a - Waiting Period Before Administration

Section 5A. Administration shall not be granted to a public administrator until after the expiration of ten days from the date of death.
MA Gen L ch 194 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title II - Descent and Distribution, Wills, Estates of Deceased Persons and Absentees, Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusts|Chapter 194 - Public Administrators|Section 6 - Compensation for Services of Person Taking Out Citation

Section 6. If after citation has been issued by the probate court to a public administrator upon the estate of a deceased person, administration shall not be granted to him for the reason set forth in the preceding section, or because of the finding of a will of the deceased, the judge, if satisfied that the person taking out said citation has acted in good faith and for the best interests of the estate, or by designation of the division of medical assistance pursuant to subsection (e) of section thirty-two of chapter one hundred eighteen E may allow him just and reasonable compensation for his services, and reimbursement for expenses actually incurred, out of the assets of said estate.