§ 1 Application of chapter; secretary defined
§ 2 Examination of certificates and reports by state secretary; records; reports
§ 2B Clinics, hospitals, rest homes, etc., approval of articles of organization and amendments
§ 3 Acts of incorporation and corporate organizations subject to legislative action
§ 3A Public service corporations; deposit of funds
§ 4 Public service corporations; misleading use of names or titles
§ 5 Violations of Sec. 4; investigation; penalties; injunction
§ 5A Allowances for depreciation ordered set aside by department of utilities or department of telecommunications and cable
§ 6 General powers
§ 7 Content of by-laws
§ 8 Conveyance of land
§ 9 Name of corporation; exception
§ 9A Reservation of corporate name
§ 10 Change of name
§ 11 Unauthorized business; restraint by injunction
§ 12 Free hospital beds for employees of corporation; appropriation
§ 12A Contributions to communities
§ 12B Reciprocal insurance contracts; exchanges
§ 12C Contributions for charitable, scientific or educational purposes
§ 13 Chartered corporations; time for organization; commencement of corporate existence
§ 14 First meeting; holders of privileges prior to organization
§ 15 Failure, refusal or neglect to call meeting; alternative method
§ 16 Par value of common and preferred shares
§ 17 Issue at less than par
§ 18 Preferred stock; amount; preferences and voting powers; exceptions
§ 19 Preferred stock; content of certificate
§ 20 Increase of capital stock; notice of vote; disposition of new shares
§ 21 Voting rights, etc. of persons in representative or fiduciary capacity
§ 22 Records available for inspection by shareholders; record date of right to vote or to other rights
§ 23 Shareholders list; filing; failure to file
§ 45 Record transfer of stock not paid for
§ 46 New certificates upon transfer or pledge
§ 47 Publication of unclaimed dividend list
§ 48 False statements; penalty
§ 49 Statement required by foreign law; penalty for falsifying
§ 50 Voluntary dissolution
§ 50A Failure to file reports or returns; application of secretary or commissioner to dissolve
§ 51 Continuation to close affairs
§ 51A Distribution of assets on petition; notice; liability of directors
§ 52 Appointment of receivers; powers; term
§ 53 Payment of debts; distribution of surplus
§ 54 Surrender of certificate of incorporation; notice
§ 55 Return to state secretary of decree of dissolution
§ 56 Revival of corporations dissolved under provisions of Sec. 50A
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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 155 - General Provisions Relative to Corporations

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Interests: includes any form of membership in a domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation. See Massachusetts General Laws ch. 156D sec. 11.01
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.