Section 3. Upon a petition by an executor or administrator to sell real estate of a deceased person, if it shall appear that a surviving husband is or may be entitled to an estate of curtesy, or a surviving wife to an estate of dower in the premises to be sold, the probate court may, if the petitioner so requests, and after notice, license him to sell the same free and clear of any such interest or claim on the part of the surviving husband or wife. One third of the proceeds of the sale shall thereupon be set apart for the period during which such curtesy or dower may be claimed; and if a claim is duly made therefor, the court shall appoint a trustee to administer the same in accordance with section thirty-five of chapter two hundred and forty-one, unless the parties in interest shall otherwise agree upon a division of the proceeds without the appointment of a trustee, and the probate court may approve any such agreement on the part of the executor or administrator.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Section 1 - Realty; Sale to Satisfy Debts
Section 2 - Realty Subject to Sale
Section 3 - Realty Subject to Curtesy or Dower; Sale; Proceeds
Section 4 - Undevised Realty; Priority of Disposition
Section 4a - Rents and Profits; Payment of Debts; Limitations
Section 5 - Realty of Ward; Sale
Section 7 - Petition; Contents
Section 8 - Realty; Detrimental Effect of Partial Sale; Disposition of Whole Estate
Section 9 - Marshaling Assets; Testamentary Provisions
Section 10 - Notice of Petition; Service
Section 11 - Notice of Petition; Interested Persons
Section 12 - License to Guardian of Spendthrift; Notice
Section 13 - Bond; Posting by Interested Party to Satisfy Debts; Effect
Section 14 - Public or Private Sale of Realty
Section 15 - Notice of Sale by Auction
Section 16 - Affidavits; Evidence of Notice
Section 17 - Adjournment of Sale
Section 18 - Fraudulent Conveyances; Recovery
Section 19 - Distribution; Sale of Realty; Procedure
Section 20 - Sale of Realty for Payment of Debts; Limitation of Time
Section 20a - Estate Expenses; Execution on Conveyed Property; Limitation of Time
Section 21 - Sales for Maintenance or Investment; Purpose and Nature of Sale
Section 22 - Petition and License to Sell Property for Maintenance or Investment; Form
Section 23 - Maintenance; Disposition of Proceeds of Sale
Section 24 - Investment; Disposition of Proceeds of Sale
Section 25 - Property of Minors Sold for Investment; Persons Authorized to Sell
Section 26 - Property of Minors Sold for Investment; Disposition of Proceeds of Sale
Section 27 - Sales by Guardian of Non-Resident Ward; Transfer of Proceeds to Foreign Executor
Section 28 - Executor or Administrator; Authority to Mortgage
Section 29 - Guardian or Conservator; Authority to Mortgage
Section 30 - Petition and Decree for Mortgage; Form
Section 31 - Leases; Realty of Ward
Section 32 - Foreign Executor; License to Sell Realty
Section 33 - Foreign Guardian or Conservator; License to Sell Realty of Ward
Section 34 - Foreign Fiduciary; Bond; Sufficiency; Filing
Section 35 - Foreign Fiduciary; Proceedings; Notice
Section 36 - Tenants by Entirety; Joinder in Sale, Mortgage or Lease of Realty
Section 37 - Decree Upon Petition for Leave to Sell Property; Scope