§ 1 Application of chapter; secretary defined
§ 2 Formation
§ 3 Corporations formed to furnish steam, hot water, or hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure
§ 4 Number of incorporators; capital
§ 5 Contents of agreement of association
§ 6 First meeting
§ 7 Subscribers to hold franchise; distribution of shares
§ 8 Organization
§ 9 Submission of details of organization to secretary; approval; certificate
§ 10 Business powers of corporation
§ 11 Alteration, addition to or change of business
§ 12 Digging up or opening streets or highways; qualified corporations
§ 13 Highway defects caused by corporation; liability
§ 14 Pipes or conductors in street; regulation by municipality
§ 15 Corporations for introduction and propagation of herrings and alewives; local permit
§ 16 Water, gas, power and wire communication corporations; interest upon advance payments by customers
§ 17 Safe deposit boxes; definitions; insurance notice; overdue rentals; affidavit
§ 18 Management by officers; selection of president
§ 19 Selection of directors, clerk, treasurer and other agents and officers; term
§ 20 Clerk’s duties; treasurer’s bond
§ 21 Entitlement to stock certificates
§ 22 Lost certificates
§ 23 Special charter corporations; fixing and limiting of capital stock
§ 24 Increase or reduction of capital stock
§ 25 Special stock
§ 26 Employees’ stock; issuance
§ 27 Employees’ stock; dividends
§ 28 Employees’ stock; transfer; redemption; limitation upon number of shares
§ 29 Assessment upon shares
§ 30 Failure to pay assessment; sale of shares
§ 31 Notice of sale; transfer of shares sold
§ 32 Commencement of business; payment of capital stock
§ 33 Payment for capital stock
§ 34 Proxies
§ 35 Quorum
§ 36 Correction of defective proceedings; procedure
§ 37 Annual certificate of condition
§ 38 Failure to file annual certificate; dissolution
§ 39 Certificate of increase of capital stock; filing
§ 40 Certificate of reduction of capital stock; filing
§ 41 Submission of certificate to secretary; approval; filing; fee
§ 42 Penalties for omitting to file certificates
§ 43 Filing fees
§ 44 Officers; liability for debts and contracts
§ 45 Members or stockholders; liability for debts and contracts
§ 46 Conditions to liability
§ 47 Right of judgment creditor to officer and shareholder list
§ 48 Refusal to give list; false list; penalty
§ 49 Bill in equity against officers and stockholders
§ 50 Proportionate assessment of shareholders
§ 51 Death of a defendant
§ 52 Dismissal; notice
§ 53 Non-joinder of parties; abatement
§ 54 Defense by officer or stockholder of action against corporation

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • state secretary: means the secretary of the commonwealth. See Massachusetts General Laws ch. 158 sec. 1
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.