reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch II § 2-505 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-505 - Who May Witness

Section 2–505. [Who May Witness.]  (a) An individual generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a will.  (b) The signing of a will by an interested witness shall not invalidate the will or any provision of it except that a devise to a witness or a spouse of such witness shall be void unless there are 2 other subscribing witnesses to the will who are not similarly benefited thereunder or the interested witness establishes that the bequest was not inserted, and the will was not signed, as a result of fraud or undue influence by the witness.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-509 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-509 - Revival of Revoked Will

Section 2–509. [Revival of Revoked Will.]  (a) If a subsequent will that wholly revoked a previous will is thereafter revoked by a revocatory act under section 2–507(a)(2), the previous will remains revoked unless it is revived. The previous will is revived if it is evident from the circumstances of the revocation of the subsequent will or from the testator's contemporary or subsequent declarations that the testator intended the previous will to take effect as executed.  (b) If a subsequent will that partly revoked a previous will is thereafter revoked by a revocatory act under section 2–507(a)(2), a revoked part of the previous will is revived unless it is evident from the circumstances of the revocation of the subsequent will or from the testator's contemporary or subsequent declarations that the testator did not intend the revoked part to take effect as executed.  (c) If a subsequent will that revoked a previous will in whole or in part is thereafter revoked by another, later, will, the previous will remains revoked in whole or in part, unless it or its revoked part is revived. The previous will or its revoked part is revived to the extent it appears from the terms of the later will that the testator intended the previous will to take effect.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-502 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-502 - Execution of Wills

Section 2–502. [Execution of Wills.]  (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and in sections 2–506 and 2–513, a will shall be:  (1) in writing;  (2) signed by the testator or in the testator's name by some other individual in the testator's conscious presence and by the testator's direction; and  (3) signed by at least 2 individuals, each of whom witnessed either the signing of the will as described in paragraph (2) or the testator's acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will.  (b) Intent that the document constitute the testator's will can be established by extrinsic evidence.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-501 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-501 - Who May Make Will

Section 2–501. [Who May Make Will.]  An individual 18 or more years of age who is of sound mind may make a will.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-405 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-405 - Source, Determination, and Documentation

Section 2–405. [Source, Determination, and Documentation.]  If the estate is otherwise sufficient, property specifically devised may not be used to satisfy rights to exempt property. Subject to this restriction, the surviving spouse, guardians of minor children, or children who are adults may select property of the estate as exempt property. The personal representative may make those selections if the surviving spouse, the children, or the guardians of the minor children are unable or fail to do so within a reasonable time or there is no guardian of a minor child. The personal representative may execute an instrument or deed of distribution to establish the ownership of property taken as exempt property. The personal representative may determine the discretionary family allowance in a lump sum not exceeding $18,000 or periodic installments not exceeding $1,500 per month for 1 year, and may disburse funds of the estate in payment of the discretionary family allowance payable in cash. The personal representative or an interested person aggrieved by any selection, determination, payment, proposed payment, or failure to act under this section may petition the court for appropriate relief, which may include a discretionary family allowance other than that which the personal representative determined or could have determined.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-403 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-403 - Exempt Property

Section 2–403. [Exempt Property.]  (a) The decedent's surviving spouse is entitled from the estate to a value at date of death, not exceeding $10,000 in excess of any security interests therein, in household furniture, automobiles, furnishings, appliances, and personal effects. If there is no surviving spouse, the decedent's children are entitled jointly to the same value. If encumbered chattels are selected and the value in excess of security interests, plus that of other exempt property, is less than $10,000, or if there is not $10,000 worth of exempt property in the estate, the spouse or children are entitled to other assets of the estate, if any, to the extent necessary to make up the $10,000 value. Rights to exempt property and assets needed to make up a deficiency of exempt property have priority over all unsecured claims against the estate, but the right to any assets to make up a deficiency of exempt property abates as necessary to permit earlier payment of the discretionary family allowance. These rights are in addition to any benefit or share passing to the surviving spouse or children by the decedent's will, unless otherwise provided, by intestate succession, or by way of elective share.  (b) The decedent's surviving spouse may remain in the house of the decedent for not more than 6 months next succeeding the date of death without being chargeable for rent.
MA Gen L ch II § 2-404 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article II - Intestacy, Wills and Donative Transfers|Section 2-404 - Discretionary Family Allowance

Section 2–404. [Discretionary Family Allowance.]  (a) In addition to the right to exempt property, the decedent's surviving spouse and minor children whom the decedent was obligated to support and children who were in fact being supported by the decedent are entitled to a reasonable allowance in money out of the estate for their maintenance during the period of administration, which allowance may not continue for longer than 1 year if the estate is inadequate to discharge allowed claims. This discretionary family allowance may be paid as a lump sum or in periodic installments. It is payable to the surviving spouse, if living, for the use of the surviving spouse and minor and dependent children; otherwise to the children, or persons having their care and custody. If a minor child or dependent child is not living with the surviving spouse, the discretionary family allowance may be made partially to the child or the child's guardian or other person having the child's care and custody, and partially to the spouse, as their needs may appear. The discretionary family allowance is exempt from and has priority over all unsecured claims.  (b) The discretionary family allowance is not chargeable against any benefit or share passing to the surviving spouse or children by the will of the decedent, unless otherwise provided, by intestate succession or by way of elective share. The death of any person entitled to a discretionary family allowance terminates the right to allowances not yet paid.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-709 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-709 - Duty of Personal Representative; Possession of Estate

Section 3–709. [Duty of Personal Representative; Possession of Estate.]  (a) Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, every personal representative has a right to, and shall take possession or control of, the decedent's property, except that any real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled thereto unless or until, in the judgment of the personal representative, possession of the property will be necessary for purposes of administration. The request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by an heir or devisee is conclusive evidence, in any action against the heir or devisee for possession thereof, that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for purposes of administration. The personal representative shall pay taxes on, and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection and preservation of, the estate in the personal representative's possession. The personal representative may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title thereto.  (b) Whoever injuriously intermeddles with any personal property of a deceased person, without being thereto authorized by law, shall be liable as a personal representative in his own wrong to the person aggrieved.  (c) A personal representative in his own wrong shall be liable to the rightful personal representative for the full value of the personal property of the deceased taken by him and for all damages caused to the estate by his acts; and he or she shall not be allowed to retain or deduct any part of such estate, except for funeral expenses or debts of the deceased or other charges actually paid by him and which the rightful personal representative might have been compelled to pay.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-710 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-710 - Power to Avoid Transfers

Section 3–710. [Power to Avoid Transfers.]  The property liable for the payment of unsecured debts of a decedent includes all property transferred by the decedent by any means which is in law void or voidable as against creditors, and subject to prior liens, the right to recover this property, so far as necessary for the payment of unsecured debts of the decedent, is exclusively in the personal representative.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-712 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-712 - Improper Exercise of Power; Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Section 3–712. [Improper Exercise of Power; Breach of Fiduciary Duty.]  If the exercise of power concerning the estate is improper, the personal representative is liable to interested persons for damage or loss resulting from breach of fiduciary duty to the same extent as a trustee of an express trust. The rights of purchasers and others dealing with a personal representative shall be determined as provided in sections 3–713 and 3–714.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-714 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-714 - Persons Dealing With Personal Representative; Protection

Section 3–714. [Persons Dealing with Personal Representative; Protection. ]  A person who in good faith either assists a personal representative or deals with a personal representative for value is protected as if the personal representative properly exercised power. The fact that a person knowingly deals with a personal representative shall not alone require the person to inquire into the existence of a power or the propriety of its exercise. Except for restrictions on powers of supervised personal representatives which are endorsed on letters as provided in section 3–504, no provision in any will or order of court purporting to limit the power of a personal representative is effective except as to persons with actual knowledge thereof. A person is not bound to see to the proper application of estate assets paid or delivered to a personal representative. The protection here expressed extends to instances in which some procedural irregularity or jurisdictional defect occurred in proceedings leading to the issuance of letters, including a case in which the alleged decedent is found to be alive. The protection here expressed is not by substitution for that provided by comparable provisions of the laws relating to commercial transactions and laws simplifying transfers of securities by fiduciaries.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-716 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-716 - Powers and Duties of Successor Personal Representative

Section 3–716. [Powers and Duties of Successor Personal Representative.]  A successor personal representative has the same power and duty as the original personal representative to complete the administration and distribution of the estate, as expeditiously as possible, but shall not exercise any power expressly made personal to the executor named in the will.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-717 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-717 - Co-Representatives; When Joint Action Required

Section 3–717. [Co-representatives; When Joint Action Required.]  If 2 or more persons are appointed co-representatives and unless the will provides otherwise, the concurrence of all is required on all acts connected with the administration and distribution of the estate. This restriction shall not apply when any co-representative receives and receipts for property due the estate, when the concurrence of all cannot readily be obtained in the time reasonably available for emergency action necessary to preserve the estate, or when a co-representative has been delegated to act for the others. Persons dealing with a co-representative if actually unaware that another has been appointed to serve or if advised by the personal representative with whom they deal that the personal representative has authority to act alone for any of the reasons mentioned herein, are as fully protected as if the person with whom they dealt had been the sole personal representative.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-707 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-707 - Employment of Appraisers

Section 3–707. [Employment of Appraisers.]  The personal representative may employ 1 or more qualified and disinterested appraisers to assist in ascertaining the fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death of any asset the value of which may be subject to reasonable doubt. Different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets included in the estate.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-718 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-718 - Powers of Surviving Personal Representative

Section 3–718. [Powers of Surviving Personal Representative.]  Unless the terms of the will otherwise provide, every power exercisable by personal co-representatives may be exercised by the 1 or more remaining after the appointment of 1 or more is terminated, and if 1 of 2 or more nominated as co-representatives is not appointed, those appointed may exercise all the powers incident to the office.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-719 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-719 - Compensation of Personal Representative

Section 3–719. [Compensation of Personal Representative.]  A personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation for services. If a will provides for compensation of the personal representative and there is no contract with the decedent regarding compensation, the personal representative may renounce the provision before qualifying and be entitled to reasonable compensation. A personal representative also may renounce the right to all or any part of the compensation. A written renunciation of fee may be filed with the court.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-713 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-713 - Sale, Encumbrance or Transaction Involving Conflict of Interest; Voidable; Exceptions

Section 3–713. [Sale, Encumbrance or Transaction Involving Conflict of Interest; Voidable; Exceptions.]  Any sale or encumbrance to the personal representative, the personal representative's spouse, agent or attorney, or any corporation or trust in which the personal representative has a substantial beneficial interest, or any transaction which is affected by a substantial conflict of interest on the part of the personal representative, is voidable by any person interested in the estate except one who has consented after fair disclosure, unless  (1) the will or a contract entered into by the decedent expressly authorized the transaction or transactions in general; or  (2) the transaction is approved by the court after notice to interested persons.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-706 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-706 - Duty of Personal Representative; Inventory and Appraisement

Section 3–706. [Duty of personal representative; inventory and appraisement.]  (a) Within 3 months after appointment, a personal representative, who is not a successor to another representative, shall prepare an inventory of the property owned by the decedent at the time of death, listing it with reasonable detail and indicating the fair market value of each listed item as of the date of death, and the type and amount of any encumbrance that may exist with reference to any item.  (b) Within 3 months after appointment, a successor personal representative shall prepare an inventory of the property of the estate, listing it with reasonable detail and indicating the fair market value of each listed item as of the date of the successor personal representative's appointment, and the type and amount of any encumbrance that may exist with reference to any item.  (c) The personal representative shall file with the court, or mail to all interested persons whose addresses are reasonably available, a copy of the inventory. The personal representative may also file the original of the inventory with the court.
MA Gen L ch III § 3-704 (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 190b - Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code|Article III - Probate of Wills and Administration|Section 3-704 - Personal Representative to Proceed Without Court Order; Exception

Section 3–704. [Personal Representative to Proceed Without Court Order; Exception.]  A personal representative shall proceed expeditiously with the settlement and distribution of a decedent's estate and, except as otherwise specified or ordered in regard to a supervised personal representative, do so without adjudication, order, or direction of the court, but the personal representative may invoke the jurisdiction of the court, in proceedings authorized by this code, to resolve questions concerning the estate or its administration.