Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 203d - Principal and Income
Section 10 - Character of Receipts

Section 10. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a trustee shall allocate to income money received from an entity.
(b) A trustee shall allocate the following receipts from an entity to principal:
(1) property other than money;
(2) money received in one distribution or a series of related distributions in exchange for part or all of a trust's interest in the entity;
(3) money received in total or partial liquidation of the entity; and
(4) money received from an entity that is a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust if the money distributed is a capital gain dividend for federal income tax purposes.
(c) A trustee may rely upon a statement made by an entity about the source or character of a distribution if the statement is made at or near the time of distribution by the entity's board of directors or other person or group of persons authorized to exercise powers to pay money or transfer property comparable to those of a corporation's board of directors.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

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 203d - Principal and Income

Section 1 - Short Title

Section 2 - Definitions

Section 3 - Fiduciary Duties; General Principles

Section 4 - Trustee's Power to Adjust

Section 5 - Judicial Control of Discretionary Powers

Section 6 - Determination and Distribution of Net Income

Section 7 - Distribution to Residuary and Remainder Beneficiaries

Section 8 - When Right to Income Begins and Ends

Section 8a - Apportionment of Receipts and Disbursements When Decedent Dies or Income Interest Begins

Section 9 - Apportionment When Income Interest Ends

Section 10 - Character of Receipts

Section 11 - Distribution From Trust or Estate

Section 12 - Business and Other Activities Conducted by Trustee

Section 13 - Principal Receipts

Section 14 - Rental Property

Section 15 - Obligation to Pay Money

Section 16 - Insurance Policies and Similar Contracts

Section 17 - Insubstantial Allocations Not Required

Section 18 - Deferred Compensation, Annuities and Similar Payments

Section 19 - Liquidating Asset

Section 20 - Minerals, Water, and Other Natural Resources

Section 21 - Timber

Section 22 - Property Not Productive of Income

Section 23 - Derivatives and Options

Section 24 - Asset-Backed Securities

Section 25 - Disbursements From Income

Section 26 - Disbursements From Principal

Section 27 - Transfers From Income to Principal for Depreciation

Section 28 - Transfers From Income to Reimburse Principal

Section 29 - Income Taxes