2022 Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XXII - Corporations
Chapter 156d - Business Corporations
Section 1.41 - Notice
Section 1.41. NOTICE
(a) Notice under this chapter shall be in writing unless oral notice is reasonable under the circumstances. Notice by electronic transmission is written notice.
(b) Notice may be communicated in person; by telephone, voice mail, telegraph, teletype, or other electronic means; by mail; by electronic transmission; or by messenger or delivery service. If these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published; or by radio, television, or other form of public broadcast communication.
(c) Written notice, other than notice by electronic transmission, by a domestic or foreign corporation to any of its shareholders, if in a comprehensible form, is effective upon deposit in the United States mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed to the shareholder's address shown in the corporation's current record of shareholders.
(d) Written notice by electronic transmission by a domestic or foreign corporation to any of its shareholders, if in comprehensible form, is effective:
(1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number furnished by the shareholder for the purpose;
(2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address furnished by the shareholder for the purpose;
(3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the shareholder of such specific posting, directed to an electronic mail address furnished by the shareholder for the purpose, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and
(4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the shareholder in such manner as the shareholder shall have specified to the corporation.
An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation, the transfer agent or other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(e) Written notice, including notice by electronic transmission, to a domestic or foreign corporation, authorized to transact business in the commonwealth, may be addressed to its registered agent at its registered office or to the corporation at its principal office shown in its most recent annual report or, in the case of a foreign corporation that has not yet delivered an annual report, in its application for a certificate of qualification.
(f) Except as provided in subsection (c), written notice, other than notice by electronic transmission, if in a comprehensible form, is effective at the earliest of the following:
(1) when received;
(2) five days after its deposit in the United States mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed;
(3) on the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested; or if sent by messenger or delivery service, on the date shown on the return receipt signed by or on behalf of the addressee; or
(4) on the date of publication if notice by publication is permitted.
(g) Oral notice is effective when communicated if communicated in a comprehensible manner.
(h) If this chapter or any other General Law prescribes notice requirements for particular circumstances, those requirements shall govern. If articles of organization or bylaws prescribe notice requirements, which are not inconsistent with this chapter, those requirements shall govern.
