2015 Massachusetts General Laws
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE XIII EMINENT DOMAIN AND BETTERMENTS
CHAPTER 79 EMINENT DOMAIN
Section 1 Order of taking; contents

Section 1. The taking of real estate or of any interest therein by right of eminent domain may be effected in the following manner. A board of officers upon whom authority to take real estate by eminent domain on behalf of any body politic or corporate has been conferred by law, having first complied with all the preliminary requirements prescribed by law, may adopt an order of taking, which shall contain a description of the land taken sufficiently accurate for identification, and shall state the interest therein taken and the purpose for which such property is taken, and in case such taking if for an improvement for which betterments may be assessed shall state whether betterments are to be assessed therefor. In case there are trees upon the land taken, or structures affixed thereto, the order of taking shall state whether the same are to be included in the taking, and, if they are not so included, shall allow the owner a reasonable time after the date of the order or after entry or possession to remove the same, to be specified in the order.