2012 Massachusetts General Laws
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT(Chapters 1 through 182)
TITLE III LAWS RELATING TO STATE OFFICERS
CHAPTER 29 STATE FINANCE
Section 31D Payment of salaries upon death of officers or employees; discharge of liability

Section 31D. Whenever an officer or employee or former officer or employee of the commonwealth dies, and the commonwealth owes him any sum or sums, not exceeding, in the aggregate, five hundred dollars, by reason of services rendered or by reason of the terms of his employment, the state treasurer may, after the expiration of thirty days from the date of death of such decedent, provided no petition for letters testamentary or letters of administration has been filed with the probate court of the county in which the decedent resided and no attested copy of a statement duly filed under section sixteen of chapter one hundred and ninety-five has been issued by the register of said probate court, pay such sum or sums to the husband, widow, or next of kin of such officer or employee. Payments made as provided in this section shall discharge the liability of the commonwealth to all persons with respect to such sum or sums.