reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 254 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 14 - Dissolution by Bond Recording; Labor and Materials; Form of Bond

Section 14. Any person in interest may dissolve a lien under this chapter by recording or causing to be recorded in the registry of deeds in the county or district where the land lies, a bond of a surety company authorized to do business in Massachusetts and in a penal sum equal to the amount of the lien sought to be dissolved conditioned for the payment of any sum which the claimant may recover on his claim for labor or labor and materials. Upon the recording of the bond, the lien shall be dissolved. Notice of the recording shall be given to the claimant by serving on the claimant a copy of the notice of recording together with a copy of the bond by an officer qualified to serve civil process or by delivering same to the claimant. The claimant may enforce the bond by a civil action commenced within ninety days after the later of the filing of the statement required by section 8 or receipt of notice of recording of the bond, but such bond shall not create any rights which the claimant would not have had, or impair any defense which the obligors would have had, in an action to enforce a lien.  The bond shall be in the following form:  Know All Men By These Presents:  That we, ___ as principal and ___ duly organized to transact business as a surety within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as surety, are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto ___ in the penal sum of ___ Dollars ($___), to the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, successors and assigns, jointly and severally by these presents.  Whereas, under date of , the said obligee recorded a notice of contract in the registry of deeds, as Instrument #, in Book ___ at Page ___ upon premises more fully described in said notice, and  Whereas, the principal desires to dissolve said lien in accordance with the provisions of section fourteen of chapter two hundred and fifty-four of the General Laws.  Now, therefore, the condition of this obligation is such that if the said principal shall pay to the said obligee all sums which shall be adjudged in favor of the said obligee in an action brought under the provisions of said section fourteen, this obligation shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect.  In witness whereof, the aforesaid principal and surety have executed this instrument under seal this ___ day of ___ (insert year).  Principal  by___________________________________________________________________ Surety  by ___________________________________________________________________ ___.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 15 - Dissolution by Judgment

Section 15. If it appears to the court that no person is entitled to a lien, or that every lien has been discharged by payment thereof, judgment shall be entered to the effect that the lien is dissolved, and a certificate to that effect shall be sent forthwith by the clerk to the register of deeds. Such certificate shall be filed and recorded in the manner provided in sections eight and nine.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 15a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 15a - Application to Court for Order Ruling on or Discharging Lien

Section 15A. If any person in interest, including but not limited to an owner, contractor, or mortgage holder, claims (a) that any person who has provided labor or materials or has agreed to provide funding, financing or payment for labor or materials, refuses to continue to provide such funding, financing or payments of labor or materials solely because of the filing or recording of a notice of contract pursuant to section two or a statement of claim referencing a lien under section one, or (b) it appears from the notice of contract or a statement of account that the claimant has no valid lien by reason of the character of, or the contract for, the labor or materials or professional services or rental equipment, appliances or tools furnished and for which a lien is claimed, or (c) that a notice or other instrument has not been filed or recorded in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter, or (d) that for any other reason a claimed lien is invalid by reason of failure to comply with any provision of this chapter, or (e) that any party's rights are foreclosed by a judgment or release, or (f) that any party wrongfully refuses to execute a notice of completion as required by section two A or improperly files or records a notice of termination under section two B, such person may apply to the superior court for the county where such land lies or in the district court in the judicial district where such land lies, for an order (i) ruling on the matter involved or (ii) summarily discharging of record the alleged lien or notice as the case may be. The holder of any recorded mortgage upon the affected property shall receive notice of and be entitled to appear and be heard in any proceeding brought under this section. An order of notice to appear and show cause why the relief demanded in the complaint should not be granted shall be served upon the necessary parties no later than seven days prior to the date of the scheduled hearing. If the necessary parties cannot be found, such service may be made as the court shall direct. The application shall be made upon a verified complaint accompanied by other written proof of the facts upon which the application is made. Upon granting or denying the application, the court shall enter a final judgment on the matter involved or expeditiously order such further proceedings as are just.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 17 - Claims; Allowance

Section 17. A claim due absolutely and without condition, although not payable at the time of determination, shall be allowed with a rebate of interest to the time when it would become payable. If the owner has failed to perform his part of the contract and by reason of such failure the other party is, without his own default, prevented from completely performing his part thereof, he shall be entitled to a reasonable compensation for as much as he has performed, in proportion to the price stipulated for the whole.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 18 - Sale of Property

Section 18. If a lien is established the court shall order a sale of the property to be made by an officer qualified to serve civil process. The court may order a sale of a part of the property sufficient to satisfy the claims allowed, if such part can be set off from the residue and sold without damage to the whole.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 19 - Notice of Sale

Section 19. The officer shall give notice of the time and place of sale as provided for sales of land on execution or as ordered by the court.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 20 - Redemption; Limitation

Section 20. An interest in land sold under this chapter may be redeemed within ninety days after such sale in the manner provided for sales of land on execution.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 21 - Distribution of Assets

Section 21. If all the claims against the property covered by the lien were ascertained at the time of ordering the sale and if the proceeds of the sale are sufficient therefor, the court may order the officer to distribute them, after deducting all lawful charges and expenses of such officer, to and among the several creditors to the amount of their respective debts, with interest, or, if insufficient, to distribute the same among the lien creditors pursuant to this chapter in proportion to the amount due to each, regardless of the date upon which each such lien creditor filed a notice of contract, except that claims of lien creditors under sections 2C and 2D shall be paid only after payment in full of the claims of other lien creditors pursuant to this chapter. If all the claims were not ascertained at the time of ordering the sale or other sufficient cause is shown, the court may order the officer to bring the proceeds of the sale into court to be disposed of according to its decree. If the whole cannot be conveniently distributed at one time, the court may make successive orders of distribution. If there is a surplus of the proceeds of the sale after making all payments before mentioned, it shall be paid over to the owner of the property; but, before it is so paid over, it may be attached or taken on execution in like manner as proceeds from a sale on execution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, proceeds of the sale shall be distributed to mortgagees entitled to priority pursuant to this chapter in the amounts given priority thereunder, before proceeds are distributed to creditors whose liens arise under this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 22 - Costs

Section 22. Costs shall be in the discretion of the court and shall be paid from the proceeds of the sale or by any of the parties, as it may order.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 23 - Original Owner; Death or Conveyance of Interest; Action to Enforce Lien

Section 23. If the person for whom the labor or material has been furnished or professional services have been performed dies or conveys away his estate or interest before the commencement of a civil action to enforce a lien, it may be commenced and prosecuted against his heirs or against the persons holding the estate or interest which he had in the land at the time the labor or material was furnished or professional services were performed. If the action was commenced in the lifetime of such person, it may be prosecuted against his executor, administrator, heirs or assigns as if the estate or interest has been mortgaged to secure the debt.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 24 - Death of Creditor; Effect

Section 24. If the creditor dies without having commenced such action, it may be commenced and prosecuted by his executor or administrator, or if he dies after having commenced it, it may be so prosecuted.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 25 - Estate Less Than Fee Simple; Effect of Sale

Section 25. If the person for whom the labor has been performed or with whom the original contract has been entered into for the whole or any part of the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building or structure upon land, or for furnishing material or performing professional services therefor, has an estate less than a fee simple in the land or if the property is subject to a mortgage or other encumbrance, the lien shall bind such person's whole estate and interest in the property, and such estate or interest may be sold and the proceeds applied according to this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 26 - Remedies

Section 26. This chapter shall not prevent a person entitled to a lien under it from maintaining a civil action as if he had no lien.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 27 - Written Contract; Form of Notice

Section 27. A person entering into a written contract with the owner of land or flats for reclaiming or raising the level thereof by suction, hydraulic or any other form of dredging, or for furnishing material therefor, or the trustee or trustees of any fund or funds, described in section one, providing coverage or benefits for persons, shall have a lien upon the interest of the owner in said land or flats as appears of record at the date when notice of said contract is filed or recorded in the registry of deeds for the county or district where such land or flats lie, to secure the payment of all labor and material which shall thereafter be furnished by virtue of said contract. Said notice shall be in substantially the following form:  Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a written contract dated , between , owner, and , contractor, said contractor is to furnish labor and material for reclaiming or raising the level of land or flats described as follows:
MA Gen L ch 254 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 28 - Subcontractor; Written Contract; Notice; Filing; Form

Section 28. Whoever, subsequent to the date of the original contract, furnishes labor or material, or both labor and material, under a written contract with a contractor contracting as provided in section twenty-seven, or with a sub-contractor of such contractor, may file in the registry of deeds for the county or district where such land or flats lie a notice of his contract substantially in the following form:  Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a written contract dated , between , contractor (or sub-contractor), and , said is to furnish labor or material, or both labor and material, in the reclaiming or raising the level, by , contractor, for , owner, of land or flats described as follows:  Upon filing a notice, as hereinbefore provided, and giving actual notice to the owner of such filing, the sub-contractor shall have a lien to secure the payment of all labor and material, which he shall thereafter furnish, upon the interest of the owner, as appears of record at the time of such filing, in the lot of land or flats reclaimed or improved in the manner described in section twenty-seven.  Such notice may also be filed by a person, or his assignee, agent, authorized representative or third party beneficiary to whom amounts are due or for whose benefit amounts are computed and due for or on the basis of that person performing labor under a written contract with a contractor, or with a subcontractor of such contractor.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 29 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 29 - Laws Applicable to Sec. 27 or 28

Section 29. All the provisions of this chapter relative to liens for the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building or structure or for furnishing material therefor, attaching under the provisions of section two or four, shall apply, so far as apt, to liens attaching under section twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 30 - Recording; Duty of Register of Deeds

Section 30. All liens for labor and notices of contract, and instruments pertaining thereto, filed as provided for in this chapter, shall be recorded by the register of deeds, who shall enter the names of the parties affected thereby in the grantor and grantee indexes.  Any notice or other instrument required or permitted to be filed or recorded by this chapter in the registry of deeds or in the land registration district of the land court that is in the form required by this chapter and executed before a notary public, justice of the peace or other officer entitled by law to take acknowledgements with respect to instruments, whether executed within or without the commonwealth, by a person purporting to hold the position of president, vice president, treasurer, clerk, secretary, or any assistant to the foregoing, principal, partner, proprietor, trustee, attorney or other similar position, of the entity entitled to record or file such instruments on behalf of such entity acting in its own capacity or as a general partner or co-venturer, or as assignee, agent or authorized representative, shall be binding upon such entity and shall be entitled to be recorded or filed, and no vote of the entity affirming such authority shall be required to permit recording or filing. A certificate of the acknowledgement or other proof of due execution shall be endorsed upon or annexed to such instrument, and filed or recorded with it.  Such notices, and all other instruments required or permitted by this chapter to be filed or recorded in the registry of deeds, affecting registered land shall be filed and registered in the manner prescribed by section seventy-eight of chapter one hundred and eighty-five. Such notices, and all other instruments required or permitted by this chapter to be filed or recorded in the registry of deeds, affecting unregistered land shall be indexed in a separate book to be kept for that purpose.  If registered land is included with unregistered land in any such notice or other instrument, an attested copy thereof shall be filed with the assistant recorder and registered.
MA Gen L ch 254 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 254 - Liens on Buildings and Land|Section 31 - Apportionment; Priority; Proceedings; Public Contracts

Section 31. In the event that a general contractor or a subcontractor on any construction work is adjudged a bankrupt, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a receiver is appointed on account of the insolvency of the general contractor or of a subcontractor, at a time when there are sums due or which later become due from the person contracting for the work on account of the work of such general contractor or when there are sums due or which later become due from the general contractor on account of the work of such subcontractor, each person furnishing labor or labor and materials to such general contractor or such subcontractor shall have a lien each in proportion to the amount of his respective claim on all such sums due or which later become due in connection with the particular construction work, provided, that a lien on any such sums arising out of the recording or filing of a document or notice in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or in accordance with any other applicable provisions of the general laws shall have priority over any lien secured pursuant to this section, and provided further, that such lien shall not take effect unless written notice thereof is given to the person owing such sums. Proceedings to enforce a lien secured under this section shall be by a civil action in the superior court within one year after the adjudication of bankruptcy, or the assignment for the benefit of creditors or the appointment of a receiver, and the plaintiff shall bring his action in his own behalf and in behalf of all other persons in interest who shall become parties. All other parties in interest may appear and have their rights determined in such action, and, at any time before entry of final judgment, upon the suggestion of any party in interest that any other person is or may be interested in the action, or of its own motion, the court may summon such person to appear in said cause on or before a day certain or be forever barred from any rights thereunder. The court may in its discretion provide for notice to absent parties in interest. The other provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any such civil action. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any contract with the commonwealth or with any political subdivision thereof or any other public instrumentality.