General Laws of Massachusetts (Last Updated: January 16, 2020) |
PART II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS |
TITLE II. DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, WILLS, ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS AND ABSENTEES, GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP AND TRUSTS |
CHAPTER 190B. MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE |
ARTICLE III. PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION |
SECTION 3-104. Claims against decedent; necessity of administration
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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.