# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 5: Defendants, persons who may be; costs

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S5

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 5
- **Heading:** Defendants, persons who may be; costs
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part III / Title III / Chapter 245 / Section 5

## Text

Section 5. A person claiming an estate or interest in the land, although not named in the complaint nor served with process, may appear and answer thereto; but a defendant not named shall not recover costs against the commonwealth, unless it appears that he has an estate or interest in the land, although the commonwealth fails to establish its claim thereto. If there are several defendants, the court may award costs for or against any one, as if he were the sole defendant.

Section 5. A person claiming an estate or interest in the land, although not named in the complaint nor served with process, may appear and answer thereto; but a defendant not named shall not recover costs against the commonwealth, unless it appears that he has an estate or interest in the land, although the commonwealth fails to establish its claim thereto. If there are several defendants, the court may award costs for or against any one, as if he were the sole defendant.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 1 Unlawful entry; action for recovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 2 Order of governor and council; when necessary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 4 Notice by publication](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 5 Defendants, persons who may be; costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 6 Rents and profits; improvements; commonwealth prevailing party](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 7 Judgments for commonwealth; effect](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S7.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 8 Judgments; conclusiveness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 9 Persons not concluded; action for recovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S9.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 10 Against whom action brought](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S10.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 11 Rents and profits; improvements; plaintiff prevailing party](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S11.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 245, sec. 12 Costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S12.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TIII_C245_S5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.