# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 2: Property; presumption of abandonment

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S2

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 2
- **Heading:** Property; presumption of abandonment
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part II / Title II / Chapter 200A / Section 2

## Text

Section 2. (a) Property which has been bequeathed to any person, shall be presumed abandoned, if not claimed by that person or his heirs, legatees or distributees within three years after the death of the testator unless the will makes provision in case of a lapse, failure or rejection of the bequest for the disposition of the property. (b) When a person, owning property, is not known for three successive years to be living and neither he nor his heirs or distributees can be located or proved for three successive years to have been living, he shall be presumed to have died without heirs or distributees, and his property shall be presumed abandoned.

Section 2. (a) Property which has been bequeathed to any person, shall be presumed abandoned, if not claimed by that person or his heirs, legatees or distributees within three years after the death of the testator unless the will makes provision in case of a lapse, failure or rejection of the bequest for the disposition of the property.

(b) When a person, owning property, is not known for three successive years to be living and neither he nor his heirs or distributees can be located or proved for three successive years to have been living, he shall be presumed to have died without heirs or distributees, and his property shall be presumed abandoned.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 1 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 1A Intangible personal property; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S1A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 2 Property; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 3 Property on deposit; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 3A Automatically renewable abandonment periods](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S3A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 4 Property deposited as security; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 5 Dividends, stock, bonds, etc.; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 5A Insurance proceeds; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S5A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 5B Dividends, etc. of business associations; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S5B.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 5C Employee benefit trust distributions; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S5C.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 5D Gift certificates; validity; expiration; redemption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S5D.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 6 Money paid into court; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 6A Property distributable upon dissolution or liquidation; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S6A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, sec. 6B Traveler's checks and other written instruments; presumption of abandonment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S6B.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TII_C200A_S2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.