Section 44. If the agents of the United States and the persons owning or interested in any property which is required for any purposes for which the United States is authorized to take property by eminent domain cannot agree upon the price to be paid for the interest of such persons therein, the United States may file a petition in the superior court for the county in which such property lies, praying for the condemnation of such property. Such petition shall contain a description of the property to which it relates, sufficiently accurate for identification, and a statement of the purpose for which it is sought to be taken. If the court, after notice to all parties interested, finds that the United States has the right to take such property by eminent domain, it shall determine the value thereof in accordance with this chapter, so far as it is applicable. If such value with costs and reasonable expenses to be taxed by the court is, within thirty days after final determination thereof, paid or tendered to said owners or parties interested, or in case of their neglect or refusal to receive the same, if it is paid to the commonwealth for their use and subject to their order, a decree of condemnation shall be entered by the court, and, if the property taken consists of real estate, a copy of the decree shall be recorded in the registry of deeds of every county or district in which said property or any of it lies, and the fee of said property shall thereupon vest in the United States.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments
Section 1 - Order of Taking; Contents
Section 2 - Officials Authorized to Exercise Eminent Domain
Section 3 - Recordation of Taking Order; Procedure to Acquire Possession
Section 4 - Taking Registered Land
Section 5 - Taking of Land Already in Public Use
Section 5a - Historical or Archeological Landmarks; Ancient Landmarks; Taking
Section 5b - Agricultural Land
Section 5c - Notice of Intent Prior to Taking; Exceptions
Section 6 - Taking by Public; Award of Damages; Amendment of Award; Payment
Section 6a - Moving Expenses; Exemption From Attachment or Execution
Section 7 - Taking by Private Corporations; Award of Damages; Time of Payment
Section 7a - Appraisal as Pre-Requisite to Payment of Damages
Section 7b - Payment of Damages; Execution of Necessary Documents; Time of Issuance of Checks
Section 7c - Notice of Taking and Amount of Damages; Contents; Service
Section 7f - Copies of Notice or Notice of Deposit; Sending to Tax Collectors
Section 8a - Offer of Settlement; Payment Pro Tanto; Refund of Excess
Section 8b - Time for Vacation of Dwellings
Section 9 - Injuries to Realty Caused by Improvements Not Constituting a Taking
Section 10 - Damages for Injuries to Property Caused by Acts in Pais
Section 11 - Land Lying in More Than One Governmental Unit; Petition for Award of Damages
Section 12 - Measure of Damages; Federal Reimbursement
Section 13 - Buildings and Trees on Land Taken
Section 14 - Petition to Superior Court
Section 16 - Time for Filing Petition
Section 17 - Time for Filing Petition When Original Proceedings Quashed
Section 18 - Time for Filing Petition When Validity of Taking Is Contested
Section 19 - Time for Filing Petition if Improvement Delayed by Law
Section 20 - Petition by Guardian, Conservator or Trustee
Section 21 - Procedure on Death of Person Entitled to Damages
Section 22 - Pleading and Procedure; Entry of Judgment
Section 23 - Petition of Persons Holding Different Interests in Same Property
Section 24 - Damages Sustained by Tenant for Life or Years and Remaindermen; Trust
Section 25 - Amount of Damages Placed in Trust; Damages Special to Separate Estate
Section 26 - Trustees for Persons With Legal Disability; Appointment; Bond
Section 27 - Persons Holding Unusual Interests; Right to Petition
Section 28 - Notice to Other Holders of Interests
Section 29 - Award to Persons Holding Different Interests; Apportionment
Section 30 - Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem or Trustee
Section 31 - Petition by Tenant in Possession of Encumbered Property
Section 32 - Mortgaged Land; Procedure
Section 33 - Apportionment of Damages Between Mortgagors and Mortgagees
Section 34 - Request for Speedy Trial
Section 35 - Evidence of Assessed or Fair Market Value of Property; Admissibility
Section 35a - Apportionment of Taxes
Section 36 - Discontinuance of Petition
Section 36a - Payment of Damages After Exhaustion or Waiver of Right to Appeal
Section 37 - Interest on Award of Damages
Section 39 - Settlement and Tender; Interest
Section 40 - Taking by Private Corporations; Security for Damages
Section 41 - Finality of Award; Remedy for Collection
Section 42 - Remedies to Enforce Payment by Private Corporations
Section 43 - Right Less Than Fee; Effect of Abandonment on Award of Damages
Section 44 - Taking by United States