Section 15A. Upon the death of a married resident owner of a motor vehicle registered as a pleasure vehicle in the commonwealth, and unless otherwise provided in a will, said motor vehicle, if used for such purpose, shall be deemed to have been jointly held property with right of survivorship and the interest of said decedent shall pass to the surviving spouse, and a certificate of title shall issue as follows:—
(1) Where a certificate of title has been issued on said vehicle a new certificate of title shall be issued to said spouse upon written application made to the registrar accompanied by a copy of the death certificate, the certificate of title previously issued, and the title change fee for such spouse shall be waived.
(2) Where no certificate of title has been issued on said vehicle and where such transfer requires the issuance of a certificate of title a first certificate of title shall be issued to said spouse upon application to the registrar accompanied by a copy of the death certificate and any required fee.
(3) A sworn affidavit to the effect that said vehicle has not been disposed of otherwise by will, shall accompany the application for the issuance of a certificate of title. Said affidavit shall be in a form prepared by the registrar.
In the case of such transfer of a motor vehicle, notice of such transfer shall be sent to any lienholder of record.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 90d - Motor Vehicle Certificates of Title
Section 2 - Exemptions; Application of Sections
Section 3 - Application of Chapter
Section 4 - Registration Under Chapter 90; Application for Certificate of Title Required
Section 5 - Owner of Implement of Husbandry, etc.; Application of Chapter, Exception
Section 6 - Certificate of Origin
Section 7 - Application for First Certificate of Title; Contents
Section 8 - Check of Application Against Records
Section 9 - Issuance and Record of Certificates of Title
Section 10 - Contents of Certificate; Distinctive Certificates; Forms; Evidence; Nature
Section 11 - Mailing of Certificate
Section 11a - Electronic Recording of Security Interests
Section 12 - Withholding of Certificate; Bond
Section 13 - Refusal of Issuance; Grounds
Section 14 - Duplicate Certificate of Title
Section 16 - Dealers; Assignment and Warranty of Title; Record of Transactions
Section 17 - Involuntary Transfers of Interests
Section 19 - Issuance to Transferee; Surrendered Certificates
Section 20 - Total Loss Salvage Motor Vehicles; Surrender of Certificate of Title; Salvage Title
Section 20a - Application for Salvage Title; Procedure
Section 20b - Exceptions to Salvage Title Requirement
Section 20c - Transfer of Interest in Vehicle With Issued Salvage Title
Section 20d - Reconstruction or Restoration of Total Loss Salvage Motor Vehicle
Section 20e - Cancellation of Certificate Upon Junking or Scrapping of Vehicle
Section 21 - Perfecting of Security Interest in Vehicle
Section 21a - Motor Vehicles or Trailers; Limitation on Creation of Sale or Security Interest
Section 24 - Satisfaction of Security Interest in Vehicle
Section 25 - Disclosure of Information by Lienholder
Section 26 - Exclusiveness of Method of Perfecting Security Interests
Section 27 - Suspension or Revocation of Certificate of Title
Section 30 - Review of Ruling or Decision of Registrar
Section 31 - Liability of Registrar or Commonwealth
Section 34 - Previously Registered Vehicle, Defined
Section 35 - Application of Chapter to Previously Registered Vehicle
Section 36 - Previously Registered Vehicle; Undisclosed Security Interest; Distinctive Certificate
Section 38 - Validity of Certificate Issued Prior to Certain Dates