Massachusetts · statute · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254 · 37 active provisions
Section 1. A person to whom a debt is due for personal labor performed in the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building or structure upon land or improvement or alteration to real property, by virtue of an agreement with, or by consent of, the owner of such building or structure, or of a person having autho…
Section 2. A person entering into a written contract with the owner of any interest in real property, or with any person acting for, on behalf of, or with the consent of such owner for the whole or part of the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building, structure, or other improvement to real property, or fo…
Section 2A. As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:— ''Design professional'', an architect, landscape architect, professional engineer, licensed site professional or land surveyor who is licensed or registered as such in the commonwea…
Section 2B. If, prior to the filing or recording in the registry of deeds and delivery of the copies of the notice of substantial completion described in section two A, any contract subject to the provisions of section two shall have been terminated, the owner shall execute and file or record in the appropriate registr…
Section 2C. A design professional entering into a written contract with the owner of any interest in real property or with any person acting for, on behalf of, or with the consent of such owner, for the provision of professional services relating to the proposed or actual erection, alteration, repair or removal of a bu…
Section 2D. Any person who furnishes professional services under a written subcontract with a design professional who is entitled to enforce a lien under section 2C and whose engagement has been approved in writing by or on behalf of the owner of the interest in land to which lien relates, may file or record in the reg…
Section 4. Whoever furnishes labor, including subcontractor construction management services, or who furnishes material, or both labor and material, or furnishes rental equipment, appliances or tools, or who performs professional services, under a written contract with a contractor, or with a subcontractor of such cont…
Section 5. A lien upon land for the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building or other structure or other improvement of real property or for professional services relating thereto or a lien established under section seventy-six of chapter sixty-three, or section 6 of chapter 183A shall be enforced by a civ…
Section 5A. When the amount of a lien under section six of chapter 183A or under section 29 of chapter 183B has been established by a court, the court shall enter an order authorizing the sale of the real estate to satisfy such lien. The lienor may do all acts authorized by such order, but no sale pursuant to such orde…
Section 6. No lien shall attach to any land, building or structure thereon owned by the commonwealth, or by a county, city, town, water or fire district.
Section 7. (a) No lien under section one shall avail against a mortgage duly registered or recorded unless the work or labor performed is in the erection, alteration, repair or removal of a building, structure, or other improvement to real property which erection, alteration, repair, removal, or improvement was actuall…
Section 8. Liens under sections two and four shall be dissolved unless the contractor, subcontractor, or some person claiming by, through or under them, shall, not later than the earliest of: (i) ninety days after the filing or recording of the notice of substantial completion under section two A; (ii) one hundred and…
Section 9. Any notice or any statement provided for in this chapter shall remain in the custody of the register and be open to public inspection. He shall record it in a book kept therefor, but the items of the account, except the total amount claimed due, may be omitted from the record.
Section 10. The lien of any person may, so far as his interest is concerned, be dissolved by a notice signed by him, stating that his lien is dissolved, filed in the registry of deeds where the notice of the contract is filed under which contract the lien is claimed.
Section 11. The lien shall be dissolved unless a civil action to enforce it is commenced within ninety days after the filing of the statement required by section eight. The validity of the lien shall not be affected by an inaccuracy in the description of the property to which it attaches, if the description is sufficie…
Section 12. Any person, including the owner, in interest in connection with a written contract covered by section two or section four may cause 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 a surety business in Massachusetts and in a pe…
Section 13. The rights of an attaching creditor shall not prevail as against a lien under section 1, nor against the claim of a lienor if notice or notices of contract have been filed or recorded in the registry of deeds under sections 2, 2C, 2D or 4 prior to the recording of the attachment. An attachment recorded prio…
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 d…
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 sha…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.
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…