reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 185 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 44 - Dismissal; Withdrawal

Section 44. If the court finds that the plaintiff has not title proper for registration, a judgment shall be entered dismissing the complaint, and such judgment may be ordered to be without prejudice, in whole or in part, but unless so ordered it shall bind the parties, their privies and the land in respect of any issue of fact which has been tried and determined. The plaintiff may withdraw his complaint at any time before final judgment, upon terms fixed by the court. The court may require a plaintiff who moves to withdraw his complaint or to substitute some other person as plaintiff, to stipulate that he shall be bound by the result of any issue of fact which has been tried and determined, and such stipulation shall bind the parties, their privies and the land itself.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 45 - Judgment of Confirmation and Registration; Opening of Judgment; Remedies of Aggrieved Persons

Section 45. If the court, after hearing, finds that the plaintiff has title proper for registration, a judgment of confirmation and registration shall be entered, which shall bind the land and quiet the title thereto, subject only to the exceptions stated in the following section. It shall be conclusive upon and against all persons, including the commonwealth, whether mentioned by name in the complaint, notice or citation, or included in the general description ''to all whom it may concern''. Such judgment shall not be opened by reason of the absence, infancy or other disability of any person affected thereby, nor by any proceeding at law or in equity for reversing judgments or decrees; subject, however, to the right of any person deprived of land, or of any estate or interest therein, by a judgment of registration obtained by fraud to file a complaint for review within one year after the entry of the judgment, provided no innocent purchaser for value has acquired an interest. If there is any such purchaser, the judgment of registration shall not be opened but shall remain in full force and effect forever, subject only to the right of appeal as provided by law from time to time. But any person aggrieved by such judgment in any case may pursue his remedy in tort against the plaintiff or against any other person for fraud in procuring the judgment.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 46 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 46 - Encumbrances Affecting Certificates of Title

Section 46. Every plaintiff receiving a certificate of title in pursuance of a judgment of registration, and every subsequent purchaser of registered land taking a certificate of title for value and in good faith, shall hold the same free from all encumbrances except those noted on the certificate, and any of the following encumbrances which may be existing:  First, Liens, claims or rights arising or existing under the laws or constitution of the United States or the statutes of this commonwealth which are not by law required to appear of record in the registry of deeds in order to be valid against subsequent purchasers or encumbrances of record.  Second, Taxes, within three years after they have been committed to the collector.  Third, Any highway, town way, or any private way laid out under section twenty-one of chapter eighty-two, if the certificate of title does not state that the boundary of such way has been determined.  Fourth, Any lease for a term not exceeding seven years.  Fifth, Any liability to assessment for betterments or other statutory liability, except for taxes payable to the commonwealth, which attaches to land in the commonwealth as a lien; but if there are easements or other rights appurtenant to a parcel of registered land which for any reason have failed to be registered, such easements or rights shall remain so appurtenant notwithstanding such failure, and shall be held to pass with the land until cut off or extinguished by the registration of the servient estate, or in any other manner.  Sixth, Liens in favor of the United States for unpaid taxes arising or existing under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended from time to time and any other federal lien which may be filed in the commonwealth.  Seventh, Liens in favor of the commonwealth for unpaid taxes arising or existing under the laws of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 47 - Contents of Judgment of Registration

Section 47. Every judgment of registration shall bear date of the year, month, day, hour and minute of its entry and shall be signed by the recorder. If the owner is under disability it shall relate the nature thereof, and if a minor, shall state his age. It shall contain a description of the land as finally determined by the court, shall set forth the estate of the owner and also, in such manner as to show their relative priority, all particular estates, mortgages, easements, liens, attachments and other encumbrances, including rights of husband or wife, if any, to which the land or the owner's estate is subject, and may contain any other matter properly to be determined in pursuance of this chapter. The judgment shall be stated in a form convenient for transcription upon the certificates of title hereinafter mentioned.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 48 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 48 - Transcription of Judgment in District Where Land Lies; Owner's Duplicate Certificate; Land Lying in More Than One District

Section 48. Immediately upon the entry of the judgement of registration, the recorder shall send a certified copy thereof, under the seal of the court, to the register of deeds for the district or districts where the land lies, and the register, as assistant recorder, shall transcribe the judgement in a book to be called the registration book, in which a leaf or leaves in consecutive order shall be devoted exclusively to each title, and note therein the day, hour and minute when said judgement is transcribed. The entry made by the assistant recorder in this book in each case shall be the original certificate of title, shall be signed by him and sealed with the seal of the court. All certificates of title shall be numbered consecutively, beginning with number one. A certified copy of the judgement of registration shall be filed and numbered by the assistant recorder, with a reference noted on it to the place of record of the original certificate of title. If, however, a complaint includes land lying in more than one district, the court shall cause the part lying in each district to be described separately by metes and bounds in the judgement or judgements of registration, the recorder shall send to the assistant recorder for each registry district a copy of the judgement containing a description of the land within that district, and the assistant recorder shall register the same; and thereafter, for all matters pertaining to registration, the portion in each district shall be treated as a separate parcel of land.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 49 - Original and Transfer Certificates

Section 49. The certificate first registered in pursuance of a judgment of registration in regard to any parcel of land shall, in the registration book, be entitled ''Original certificate of title, entered pursuant to judgment of the land court, dated at'' (stating time and place of entry of judgment and the number of the case). The certificate shall take effect from the date of the transcription of the judgment. Subsequent certificates relating to the same land shall be in like form, but shall be entitled ''Transfer from No. ___'' (the number of the last previous certificate relating to the same land), and also the words ''Originally registered'' (date, volume and page of registration).
MA Gen L ch 185 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 51 - Subdivision; Application for New Certificates

Section 51. An owner who subdivides a tract of registered land into lots shall file with the recorder a plan thereof, when applying for a new certificate or certificates, and the court, before issuing the same, shall cause the plan to be verified, and require that all boundaries, streets and passageways shall be distinctly and accurately delineated thereon.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 53 - Prescription, Adverse Possession or Right of Way by Necessity

Section 53. No title to registered land, or easement or other right therein, in derogation of the title of the registered owner, shall be acquired by prescription or adverse possession. Nor shall a right of way by necessity be implied under a conveyance of registered land.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 54 - Evidentiary Effect of Original Certificate or Copies Thereof

Section 54. The original certificate in the registration book and any copy thereof duly certified under the signature of the recorder or an assistant recorder and the seal of the court shall be received as evidence in all courts of the commonwealth, and shall be conclusive as to all matters contained therein, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 55 - Contents of Certificate of Title

Section 55. Every certificate of title shall set forth the names of all the persons whose estates make up the estate in fee simple in the whole land.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 56 - Recorder's Duties Relating to Indexes and Records

Section 56. The recorder, under the direction of the court, shall make and keep indexes of all complaints and of all judgments of registration, and shall also index and classify all papers and instruments filed in his office relating to complaints and to registered titles. The recorder shall also, under the direction of the court, cause forms of indexes and registration and entry books to be prepared for the use of the assistant recorders. The court shall prepare and adopt convenient forms of certificates of title and shall also adopt general forms of memoranda to be used by the assistant recorders in registering the common forms of conveyance and other instruments to express briefly their effect.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 56a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 56a - Complaints for Confirmation of Title; Application of Chapter

Section 56A. Complaints for the confirmation of title without registration and all proceedings thereunder shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter applicable to complaints and proceedings for the confirmation and registration of title except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Upon the recording in the registry of deeds for the district where the land, or any portion thereof, lies, of a copy of the judgment issued pursuant to such complaint for confirmation of title without registration, the owner of such land, as determined by such judgment, shall hold the title thereto free from all encumbrances except those set forth or referred to in said judgment and those specified in section forty-six. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to prevent the registration of title to land or easements or rights under the provisions thereof on proceedings commenced either prior or subsequent to a judgment confirming title without registration. Section ninety-nine shall not apply to proceedings for confirmation of title without registration.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 57 - Dealings by Owner; Registration as Act of Conveyance

Section 57. An owner of registered land may convey, mortgage, lease, charge or otherwise deal with it as fully as if it had not been registered. He may use forms of deeds, mortgages, leases or other voluntary instruments, like those now in use, sufficient in law for the purpose intended. But no deed, mortgage or other voluntary instrument, except a will and a lease for a term not exceeding seven years, purporting to convey or affect registered land, shall take effect as a conveyance or bind the land, but shall operate only as a contract between the parties, and as evidence of authority to the recorder or assistant recorder to make registration. The act of registration only shall be the operative act to convey or affect the land, and in all cases the registration shall be made in the office of the assistant recorder for the district or districts where the land lies.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 58 - Notice of Registering, Filing or Entering

Section 58. Every conveyance, lien, attachment, order, decree, instrument or entry affecting registered land, which would under other provisions of law, if recorded, filed or entered in the registry of deeds, affect the land to which it relates, shall, if registered, filed or entered in the office of the assistant recorder of the district where the land to which such instrument relates lies, be notice to all persons from the time of such registering, filing or entering.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 59 - Interests Less Than Estate in Fee Simple; Registration

Section 59. No new certificate shall be entered or issued upon any transfer of registered land which does not divest the title in fee simple from the owner or some one of the registered owners. All interests in registered land less than an estate in fee simple shall be registered by filing with an assistant recorder the instrument which creates or transfers or claims such interest and, except as hereinafter provided, by a brief memorandum thereof made by an assistant recorder upon the certificate of title, signed by him. The cancellation or extinguishment of such interests shall be registered in the same manner.  Registration of a mortgage or trust indenture given by a public utility company which includes among the mortgaged premises one or more easements or other interests in registered land less than an estate in fee simple shall be effective for all purposes including notice to all persons from the time of such registration. Registration of such a mortgage or trust indenture, insofar as the mortgaged premises include estates in fee simple in registered land, shall be effected by the filing and memorandum hereinbefore provided for in this section. Registration of such a mortgage or trust indenture, insofar as the mortgaged premises include one or more easements or other interests in registered land less than an estate in fee simple, shall be effected by filing the instrument with an assistant recorder, who shall make a notation thereof in a special index to be kept for the purpose. Such index shall be arranged alphabetically by name of the public utility company, and such notation shall include the year, month, day, hour and minute of reception of the instrument and the number of the instrument. Any discharge, partial release or other instrument affecting such mortgage or trust indenture shall also be noted on such index.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 60 - Form of Memorandum; Presentation of Doubtful Questions to Court

Section 60. If the assistant recorder is in doubt upon any question, or if any party in interest does not agree as to the proper memorandum to be made in pursuance of any deed, mortgage or other voluntary instrument presented for registration, the question shall be referred to the court for decision, either on the certificate of the assistant recorder stating the question in doubt, or upon the suggestion in writing of any party in interest; and the court, after notice to all parties and a hearing, shall enter an order prescribing the form of memorandum to the assistant recorder, who shall make registration in accordance therewith.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 61 - Information Concerning Grantee and Others Appearing on Instrument; Endorsement of Changes

Section 61. Every deed or other voluntary instrument presented for registration shall contain or have endorsed upon it the full name, residence and post office address of the grantee or other person acquiring or claiming an interest under such instrument. Any change in the residence or post office address of such person shall be endorsed by an assistant recorder on the original instrument, upon receiving a sworn statement of such change. All names and addresses shall also be entered on all certificates. Notices and processes issued in relation to registered land may be served upon any person in interest by mailing them to the address so given, and shall be binding, whether he resides within or without the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 61a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 61a - Address of Property Affected

Section 61A. All documents to be recorded in the land court or registry of deeds shall, where applicable, set forth in the margin the street address of the property which is affected by such document; provided, however, that failure to include such address shall not affect the validity of the document or the recording thereof.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 62 - Fraudulent Registration

Section 62. In all cases of registration procured by fraud, the owner may pursue all his legal and equitable remedies against the parties to such fraud, without prejudice however to the rights of any innocent holder for value of a certificate of title. After the transcription of the judgement of registration on the original complaint, any subsequent registration procured by the presentation of a forged deed or other instrument or by the presentation of a deed or other instrument executed on behalf of a corporation by persons falsely purporting to be the president, vice president, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the corporation shall be null and void.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 63 - Assistant Recorder's Entry Book; Processing of Instruments; Public Inspection of Records; Duplicates and Copies

Section 63. Each assistant recorder shall keep a legible entry book, in book or electronic form, in which the assistant recorder shall enter all deeds and voluntary instruments, in the order they are received, and copies of writs or other processes filed with the assistant recorder relating to registered land. He shall note in such book the year, month, day, hour and minute of reception of all instruments, in the order in which they are received. They shall be regarded as registered from the time so noted, and the memorandum of each instrument, when made on the certificate of title to which it refers, shall bear the same date.  Every deed or other instrument, voluntary or involuntary, filed with the recorder or assistant recorder, shall be numbered and indexed and endorsed with a reference to the proper certificate of title. All records and papers relative to registered land in the office of the recorder shall be open to the public in the same manner as probate records, subject to such reasonable regulations as the recorder, under the direction of the court, may make. All records and papers relative to registered land in the office of an assistant recorder shall be open to the public by having copies or electronic images of such records and papers available for public inspection.  Duplicates of all deeds and voluntary instruments filed and registered may be presented with the originals, shall be attested and sealed by the recorder or an assistant recorder, endorsed with the file number and other memoranda on the originals and may be taken away by the person presenting them.  Certified copies of all instruments filed and registered may also be obtained at any time upon payment of the assistant recorder's fees.
MA Gen L ch 185 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land|Section 64 - Procedure to Convey Fee

Section 64. An owner desiring to convey his registered land or any portion thereof in fee shall execute a deed of conveyance, which the grantor or grantee may present to the assistant recorder in the district where the land lies. The assistant recorder shall thereupon, in accordance with the rules and instructions of the court, make out in the registration book a new certificate of title to the grantee. The assistant recorder shall note upon the new certificate the date of transfer, the volume and page of the registration book in which the new certificate is registered and a reference by number to the last preceding certificate. The last preceding certificate and any owner's duplicate certificate which is surrendered by the grantor, shall be stamped ''canceled''. The deed of conveyance shall be filed and endorsed with the number and place of registration of the new certificate of title of the land conveyed.