Section 56. If the secretary finds that a corporation has been dissolved subject to the provisions of this section by act of the general court or under the provisions of section fifty A and that such corporation ought to be revived for all purposes or for any specified purpose or purposes with or without limitation of time, he may, not later than five years after the effective date of said act or after the date of the court decree dissolving such corporation under authority of said section fifty A, as the case may be, upon application by an interested party, file in his office a certificate, in such form as he may prescribe, reviving such corporation as aforesaid; and provided, further, that if the sole purpose of the revival of such a dissolved corporation is to enable it to convey title to property or to sell and convey property and to distribute the proceeds among those entitled thereto, and if the revival is for a period not exceeding one year, the secretary may file such certificate of revival at any time after the date of dissolution. The secretary may subject the revival of such corporation to such terms and conditions, including the payment of reasonable fees, as in his judgment the public interest may require. Upon the filing of a certificate reviving a corporation for all purposes, said corporation shall stand revived with the same powers, duties and obligations as if it had not been dissolved, except as otherwise provided in said certificate; and all acts and proceedings of its officers, directors and stockholders or members, acting or purporting to act as such, which would have been legal and valid but for such dissolution, shall, except as aforesaid, stand ratified and confirmed. If such a corporation is revived as aforesaid for a limited time or for any specified purpose or purposes, it shall stand revived for such time or for the accomplishment of such purpose or purposes in accordance with the terms of the secretary's certificate. For cause shown to his satisfaction, the secretary may, by certificate filed as aforesaid, extend the time for which a corporation revived for a limited time shall stand revived.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 155 - General Provisions Relative to Corporations
Section 1 - Application of Chapter; Secretary Defined
Section 2 - Examination of Certificates and Reports by State Secretary; Records; Reports
Section 3 - Acts of Incorporation and Corporate Organizations Subject to Legislative Action
Section 3a - Public Service Corporations; Deposit of Funds
Section 4 - Public Service Corporations; Misleading Use of Names or Titles
Section 5 - Violations of Sec. 4; Investigation; Penalties; Injunction
Section 7 - Content of By-Laws
Section 8 - Conveyance of Land
Section 9 - Name of Corporation; Exception
Section 9a - Reservation of Corporate Name
Section 11 - Unauthorized Business; Restraint by Injunction
Section 12 - Free Hospital Beds for Employees of Corporation; Appropriation
Section 12a - Contributions to Communities
Section 12b - Reciprocal Insurance Contracts; Exchanges
Section 12c - Contributions for Charitable, Scientific or Educational Purposes
Section 13 - Chartered Corporations; Time for Organization; Commencement of Corporate Existence
Section 14 - First Meeting; Holders of Privileges Prior to Organization
Section 15 - Failure, Refusal or Neglect to Call Meeting; Alternative Method
Section 16 - Par Value of Common and Preferred Shares
Section 17 - Issue at Less Than Par
Section 18 - Preferred Stock; Amount; Preferences and Voting Powers; Exceptions
Section 19 - Preferred Stock; Content of Certificate
Section 20 - Increase of Capital Stock; Notice of Vote; Disposition of New Shares
Section 21 - Voting Rights, Etc. of Persons in Representative or Fiduciary Capacity
Section 23 - Shareholders List; Filing; Failure to File
Section 45 - Record Transfer of Stock Not Paid For
Section 46 - New Certificates Upon Transfer or Pledge
Section 47 - Publication of Unclaimed Dividend List
Section 48 - False Statements; Penalty
Section 49 - Statement Required by Foreign Law; Penalty for Falsifying
Section 50 - Voluntary Dissolution
Section 51 - Continuation to Close Affairs
Section 51a - Distribution of Assets on Petition; Notice; Liability of Directors
Section 52 - Appointment of Receivers; Powers; Term
Section 53 - Payment of Debts; Distribution of Surplus
Section 54 - Surrender of Certificate of Incorporation; Notice
Section 55 - Return to State Secretary of Decree of Dissolution
Section 56 - Revival of Corporations Dissolved Under Provisions of Sec. 50a