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April 26, 2024 Clear | 35°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  3. Title II DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, WILLS, ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS AND ABSENTEES, GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP AND TRUSTS
  4. Chapter 190B MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE
  5. Article III PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION
  6. Section 3-104 Claims against decedent; necessity of administration

Section 3-104

Section 3-104: Claims against decedent; necessity of administration

Section 3–104. [Claims Against Decedent; Necessity of Administration.]

No proceeding to enforce a claim against the estate of a decedent or a decedent's successors may be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative. After the appointment and until distribution, all proceedings and actions to enforce a claim against the estate are governed by the procedure prescribed by this article. After distribution a creditor whose claim has not been barred may recover from the distributees as provided in section 3–1004 or from a former personal representative individually liable as provided in section 3–1005. This section has no application to a proceeding by a secured creditor of the decedent to enforce a right to the security except as to any deficiency judgment which might be sought therein.