Section 31. A married woman residing without this commonwealth, and owning in her own right real estate situated herein, whose husband abandoning and not sufficiently maintaining her has absented himself from the place where they last dwelt together, may petition the probate court in any county where the land lies, describing such real estate and praying for authority to sell and convey it in the same manner and with the same effect as if she were sole. The court, after such notice as it may order, if it finds that the petitioner has been abandoned by her husband and that he does not sufficiently maintain her, may authorize the petitioner to sell and convey within one year from the date of such decree such real estate as if she were sole.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Title III - Domestic Relations
Chapter 209 - Husband and Wife
Section 1a - Tenants by Entirety Under Older Deed; Electing Treatment of Tenancy
Section 2 - Married Woman; Power to Contract
Section 3 - Transfers Between Husband and Wife
Section 4 - Married Woman; Work and Labor; Presumption
Section 5 - Married Woman; Acting as Fiduciary
Section 6 - Married Woman; Power to Sue and Be Sued
Section 7 - Married Woman; Liabilities
Section 8 - Husband; Liability for Wife's Debts
Section 9 - Husband; Liability on Contracts Concerning Separate Property of Wife
Section 13 - Marriage Settlements
Section 14 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Release of Homestead by Wife of Ward
Section 16 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Disposition of Proceeds
Section 18 - Mentally Ill Persons; Conveyance or Mortgage of Real Estate; Release of Homestead
Section 21 - Mentally Ill Spouse; Reservation of Portion of Proceeds Upon Release of Homestead
Section 24 - Disability of Husband or Wife Provisions; Venue
Section 25 - Antenuptial Settlements; Force and Effect
Section 26 - Antenuptial Settlements; Record; Description of Property
Section 28 - Rights of Married Person Coming From Another State or Country
Section 29 - Property Rights Acquired in Other States; Effect of Residence in This Commonwealth
Section 31 - Non-Resident Married Woman Abandoned by Husband; Conveyance of Realty
Section 32e - Judgment or Order of Support; Enforcement
Section 32f - Married Persons Living Apart; Actions for Support
Section 33 - Separate Support or Maintenance; Attachment of Defendant's Property and Trustee Process
Section 34 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Venue
Section 36 - Married Person Abandoned by Spouse; Spouse Living Apart; Conveyance and Will