reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 215 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 10 - Appellate Procedure

Section 10. The procedure upon an appeal from an order, decree or denial of a probate court shall be in accordance with the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 11 - Appeals; Report of Facts

Section 11. In cases not governed by the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure or comparable rules for domestic relations matters, the judge by whom an order, judgment, decree or denial was made shall report the material facts found by him, on request of any party entitled to appeal therefrom made within ten days after such party has notice of such order, judgment, decree or denial; otherwise such report shall be in the discretion of the judge.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 13 - Reservation and Report of Case to Appeals Court

Section 13. A judge of the probate court by whom a case or matter is heard for final determination may reserve and report the evidence and all questions of law therein for consideration of the appeals court, and thereupon like proceedings shall be had as upon appeal. And if, upon making an interlocutory judgment, decree or order, he is of opinion that it so affects the merits of the controversy that the matter ought, before further proceedings, to be determined by the appeals court, he may report the question for that purpose, and stay all further proceedings except such as are necessary to preserve the rights of the parties.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 14 - Interlocutory Judgments and Decrees; Revision on Appeal From Final Judgments or Decrees

Section 14. Interlocutory judgments and decrees not appealed from shall be open to revision upon appeals from final judgments and decrees so far only as it appears to the appeals court or supreme judicial court that such final judgments and decrees are erroneously affected thereby.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 17 - Appeals; Insolvent Estates

Section 17. In the case of an estate of a deceased person represented insolvent, if the court, instead of appointing commissioners to receive and examine the claims of creditors against the estate, receives and examines such claims itself, the provisions of this chapter, so far as applicable, shall govern the proceedings for proof of the same and appeals from the allowance or disallowance thereof, exclusive of the provisions of sections eleven and sixteen of chapter one hundred and ninety-eight.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 18 - Appeals; Stenographers; Appointment

Section 18. At the trial of any issue of fact in a probate court the presiding judge may appoint a stenographer, who shall be sworn and shall attend the trial, or such part thereof as the judge may direct, and perform like duties and receive the same compensation therefor as a stenographer appointed by the superior court who is not on salary; and the sums so payable for his attendance at court and for any transcript of his notes or part thereof furnished to the judge by his direction shall be paid by the commonwealth upon the certificate of the judge. The judges of probate of any county may appoint a stenographer for the probate court of such county. The compensation and expenses of such stenographer shall be paid by the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 19 - Consolidation of Appeals by Appellant

Section 19. An appellant from decrees of a probate court settling different accounts of an executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, trustee or receiver may unite his appeals in one notice of appeal, and they shall thereupon be entered as one appeal in the supreme judicial court; and an appeal taken by another appellant from any of the same decrees, or from another decree made at the same time or earlier, settling any other account of such fiduciary, may be entered in the supreme judicial court as part of the matter comprised in the appeal previously entered. The court may, upon appeal, deal with such different accounts as if they formed one continuous account, and may give effect to any alterations which it may make in any account by altering the balance of the last account without altering the balance of any previous account.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 20 - Consolidation of Appeals by Court

Section 20. The supreme judicial court may at any time, upon terms, consolidate any separate appeals from a probate court pending therein, and may thereafter deal with such consolidated appeals together or otherwise, as justice requires.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 22 - Effect of Appeal; Interlocutory Orders

Section 22. After an appeal has been claimed and filed in the registry of probate, all proceedings in pursuance of the act appealed from shall, except as otherwise expressly provided, be stayed until the determination thereof by the supreme judicial court or appeals court; but if, upon such appeal, such act is affirmed, it shall thereafter be of full force and validity. An appeal from an interlocutory order, judgment or decree, however, shall not suspend proceedings under the same pending the appeal, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 23 - Effect of Appeal; Equity Cases

Section 23. An appeal from a final or interlocutory order or decree in equity of a probate court made in the exercise of any jurisdiction in equity shall not suspend or stay proceedings under such order or decree pending the appeal. But the probate court or a justice of the supreme judicial court, in case of such appeal, may stay all proceedings under such order or decree and make necessary or proper orders to protect the rights of persons interested pending the appeal; and any such order of the probate court for a stay of proceedings or for protection of any such rights may be varied or discharged by a justice of the supreme judicial court upon motion, and shall not be otherwise subject to an appeal.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 24 - Effect of Appeal; Separate Support and Custody Cases

Section 24. The preceding section shall apply to orders or judgments of probate courts in proceedings under chapter two hundred and eight, and under sections thirty-two and thirty-seven of chapter two hundred and nine, except that, as provided in the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure, the filing of an appeal shall stay the running of the nisi period in a divorce case.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 25 - Removal of Fiduciary; Effect of Appeal

Section 25. A decree of a probate court removing an executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, trustee or receiver shall have effect, notwithstanding an appeal therefrom, until otherwise ordered by a justice of the supreme judicial court. The probate court may in such case appoint a successor to the person removed, and the latter shall forthwith deliver all the property of the estate held by him to his successor, who shall proceed in the performance of his duties in like manner as if no appeal had been taken; but if the decree of removal is reversed by a final decree of the supreme judicial court, the powers of such successor shall thereupon cease and he shall forthwith deliver to his predecessor in the trust, or to such person as the court may order, all property of the estate in his hands.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 26 - Appeals; Decree; Force and Effect

Section 26. A decree of a probate court made under the preceding section shall have effect, notwithstanding an appeal therefrom, until otherwise finally determined by the supreme judicial court.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 27 - Pending Appeals; Modification of Decrees

Section 27. After an appeal is claimed from an order or decree referred to in the two preceding sections, and before such appeal has been finally determined, a justice of the supreme judicial court may suspend or modify such order or decree during the pendency of such appeal.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 28 - Appeals; Reversal or Affirmance

Section 28. The supreme judicial court or appeals court may, upon appeal, reverse or affirm, in whole or in part, any judgment, decree or order of the probate court, and may enter such judgment or decree thereon as the probate court should have entered, may remand the case for further proceedings, or make any order therein as law and justice may require.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 30 - Rules and Forms; Power of Judges to Make

Section 30. The judges of the probate courts or a majority of them shall from time to time make rules for regulating the practice and for conducting the business in their courts in all cases not expressly provided for by law and shall prescribe forms, and, as soon as convenient after making or prescribing them, shall submit a copy of their rules, forms and course of proceedings to the supreme judicial court, which may alter and amend them, and from time to time make such other rules and forms for regulating the proceedings in the probate court as it considers necessary in order to secure regularity and uniformity.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 31 - Notice of Hearing; Rule Making Power of Courts

Section 31. The supreme judicial court and the probate courts shall make rules requiring notice of any hearing, motion or other proceeding before said courts to be given to parties interested or to the attorneys of record therefor.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 32 - Transaction of Business Out of Court

Section 32. Judges of the probate courts may transact business out of court at any time and place, if all parties entitled to notice assent thereto in writing or voluntarily appear; and in such cases their judgments and decrees shall be entered as of such sessions of the court as the convenience of the parties may require.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 33 - Notice; Ex Parte Matters

Section 33. Orders of notice and other official acts which are passed as of course and which do not require previous notice to an adverse party may be issued and performed at any time.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 34b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 34b - Review of Contempt Order Prior to Order of Confinement

Section 34B. A judge of the probate court who has found a party to be in civil or criminal contempt for failure to obey any order or judgment of the probate court relative to support of a spouse or children or relative to the custody of children shall, before ordering such person to be confined in a jail, review such order or judgment to determine that such order or judgment was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction and was not obtained by fraud.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 35 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 35 - Warrants and Commissions; Revocation

Section 35. A warrant or commission for the appraisal of an estate, for examining the claims against insolvent estates, for the partition of land or for the assignment of dower or curtesy or other interests in land, may be revoked by the court for sufficient cause, and a new commission may be issued or other appropriate proceedings taken.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 36 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 36 - Judgments, Decrees and Orders; Necessity of Writing; Notices; Recording

Section 36. Judgments, decrees and orders of probate courts shall be in writing, and in contested cases or in cases wherein the court has reserved judgment, notices thereof shall be given by the registers to the attorneys of record, and in the absence of an attorney of record, to any party who has appeared personally and given his address. The registers shall record in books kept therefor such judgments, decrees, orders and other proceedings in said courts and such instruments, as shall be determined by rules made from time to time under section thirty, by entering the same upon the pages thereof in fair and legible handwriting, printing, typewriting, or by photographic process, or by any combination of any two or more of such methods. They may also direct the recording of any judgments, decrees, orders, instruments and other proceedings in their offices, irrespective of the time when such judgments, decrees, orders, instruments or other proceedings were made, received or held, by means of microphotography or other similar photographic process, and, in such case need not maintain books for such records, but shall provide such filing equipment therefor as they deem proper, the cost of which shall be paid by the county. When such recording is by photographic process, registers shall keep an alphabetical index thereof, or other appropriate description of and reference to the film upon which such recording may be found.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 37 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 37 - Docket and Index; Manner of Keeping; Public Inspection

Section 37. Each register shall keep a docket of all cases and matters in his court, and shall enter therein every case or matter by its appropriate title and number, brief memoranda of all proceedings had and papers filed therein, the dates of such proceedings or filing of such papers, and references to the places in which the proceedings or papers are recorded, if there is a record thereof. He shall also keep a separate alphabetical index of all such cases and matters which shall refer both to said docket and to the files of the court, and a separate alphabetical index of all public administrators seeking appointment or appointed to administer any estates, with the names of such estates. Such docket and indexes shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 38 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 38 - Oaths

Section 38. Oaths required in proceedings in the probate courts may be administered by the judge, register, first assistant register, assistant register, judicial case manager, assistant judicial case manager or session clerk in or out of court or by a justice of the peace or notary public and, when administered out of court, a certificate thereof shall be returned and filed or recorded with the proceedings, but the judge may require any such oath to be taken before him in open court.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 39 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 39 - Administration of Estates; Compensation for Services; Power to Determine and Enforce

Section 39. Probate courts may ascertain and determine the amount due any person for services as appraiser, for premiums of surety companies for acting as surety upon the official bonds of administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, conservators or receivers, or for services rendered by any person in connection with the administration of the estate of a deceased person, or with the administration of any trust, guardianship, conservatorship or receivership; and payment of said amount when ascertained and determined to be due may be enforced summarily by said court upon motion of the person to whom the amount is due in the same manner as a like payment under a decree in equity may be enforced, and execution may also be issued therefor against the executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, conservator or receiver personally as upon a judgment at law.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 39a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 39a - Attorneys' Fees; Power of Court to Determine

Section 39A. At any time during the administration of an estate, and irrespective of the pendency of a particular proceeding, the probate court shall have power to hear an application for, and fix and determine, the compensation and expenses of an attorney for services rendered to the estate or to its representative or to a devisee, legatee, distributee or any other person interested therein.  Such application shall be instituted by a petition, upon a form provided by the court. Notice of the application shall be given in such manner as the court shall direct. In the event that the court shall determine that any sum or sums is or are due to the petitioner or to any other party interested in the application, the compensation shall be awarded on an equitable basis in accordance with the size, importance, complexity and difficulty of the matters involved and the time spent thereon. The court may direct payment thereof from the estate generally or from funds in the hands of the representative of the estate and belonging to any legatee, devisee, distributee or other person interested therein.  In the event that the court shall determine that any such attorney has already received or been paid a sum in excess of the fair value of his services on such equitable basis, as thus determined, the court shall have power to direct him to refund such excess.  For the purposes of this section, the term ''estate'' shall be deemed to include trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and all other relationships involving the administration of property by fiduciaries.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 39b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 39b - Attorneys' Fees; Allowance

Section 39B. When a judgment or decree is entered in a contested proceeding seeking equitable relief or on an account or to determine the construction of a will or of any trust instrument or to determine any question as to the powers, rights or duties of any fiduciary under any written instrument or to determine any question with respect to services rendered by any such fiduciary or the compensation of such fiduciary for such services, the probate court may, in its discretion as justice and equity may require, provide that such sums as said court may deem reasonable be paid out of the estate in the hands of such fiduciary to any party to the proceeding on account of counsel fees and other expenses incurred by him in connection therewith. The sums awarded shall be specified in the judgment or decree which may in such case direct that any sum so awarded to any party be paid in whole or in part to his counsel. The probate court, subject to appeal, shall have like powers when entering a judgment or decree after the receipt of a rescript from the supreme judicial or appeals court unless the rescript shall specifically direct otherwise. The counsel of any party to whom an award might be made under this section on account of counsel fees or expenses may file and prosecute in his own name a petition under section thirty-nine A for the payment directly to him of any sum or sums which the court would have power to award the party. A person interested, whose counsel would have standing hereunder or under section thirty-nine A, shall have standing to institute and prosecute a petition for the determination of any sum or sums which the court would have power to award against such person.
MA Gen L ch 215 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 215 - Probate Courts|Section 40 - Resignation or Removal of Fiduciary; Power to Compel Surrender of Property

Section 40. If an executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, trustee or receiver resigns or is removed, and neglects or refuses to deliver to his successor all property held by him under the trust, the probate court may, upon application of such successor or any person beneficially interested, order such delivery made, and shall have like powers for enforcing such order as are given to it by section thirty-four.