Mass. Gen. Laws » Part III Title IV Chapter 254
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, § 14 (2026)

Dissolution by bond recording; labor and materials; form of bond

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 14. Any person in interest may dissolve a lien under this chapter by recording or causing to be recorded in the registry of deeds in the county or district where the land lies, a bond of a surety company authorized to do business in Massachusetts and in a penal sum equal to the amount of the lien sought to be dissolved conditioned for the payment of any sum which the claimant may recover on his claim for labor or labor and materials. Upon the recording of the bond, the lien shall be dissolved. Notice of the recording shall be given to the claimant by serving on the claimant a copy of the notice of recording together with a copy of the bond by an officer qualified to serve civil process or by delivering same to the claimant. The claimant may enforce the bond by a civil action commenced within ninety days after the later of the filing of the statement required by section 8 or receipt of notice of recording of the bond, but such bond shall not create any rights which the claimant would not have had, or impair any defense which the obligors would have had, in an action to enforce a lien.

The bond shall be in the following form:

Know All Men By These Presents:

That we, ___ as principal and ___ duly organized to transact business as a surety within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as surety, are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto ___ in the penal sum of ___ Dollars ($___), to the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, successors and assigns, jointly and severally by these presents.

Whereas, under date of , the said obligee recorded a notice of contract in the registry of deeds, as Instrument #, in Book ___ at Page ___ upon premises more fully described in said notice, and

Whereas, the principal desires to dissolve said lien in accordance with the provisions of section fourteen of chapter two hundred and fifty-four of the General Laws.

Now, therefore, the condition of this obligation is such that if the said principal shall pay to the said obligee all sums which shall be adjudged in favor of the said obligee in an action brought under the provisions of said section fourteen, this obligation shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect.

In witness whereof, the aforesaid principal and surety have executed this instrument under seal this ___ day of ___ (insert year).

Principal

by___________________________________________________________________

Surety

by ___________________________________________________________________

___.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1923–2026 · leading case: City Elec. Supply Co. v. Arch Ins. Co., 119 N.E.3d 735 (Mass. 2019).
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City Elec. Supply Co. v. Arch Ins. Co., 119 N.E.3d 735 (Mass. 2019). · cites it 36× “**784 In this case, we consider whether a claimant seeking to enforce a target lien bond by commencing a civil action pursuant to the mechanic's lien statute, G. L. c. 254, § 14, must record an attested copy of the complaint in the registry of deeds.”
NES Rentals v. Maine Drilling & Blasting, Inc., 992 N.E.2d 291 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 9× “We address in this appeal whether a subcontractor’s amendment of its original complaint to enforce a mechanic’s lien constituted timely commencement of its action to enforce a bond pursuant to G. L. c. 254, § 14, as amended through St.”
Nat'l Lumber Co. v. United Cas. & Sur. Ins., 802 N.E.2d 82 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 4× “G. L. c. 254, § 14. Nowhere in this detailed statutory framework is there a reference to interest or attorney’s fees.”
Trs. of the Iron Workers Dist. Council of New England, Pension, Health, & Welfare, Annuity, Vacation, Educ. Funds v. Oxford Sutton Dev., LLC, 24 Mass. L. Rptr. 421 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2008). · cites it 18× “8 On August 3, 2007, Widewaters, with Liberty Mutual as surety, recorded a dissolution bond pursuant to G.L.c. 254, §14, in order to dissolve the Lien (Bond).”
Chestnut-Adams Ltd. P'ship v. Bricklayers & Masons Trust Funds, 612 N.E.2d 236 (Mass. 1993). “On July 3, 1990, Somrock, pursuant to G. L. c. 254, § 14, recorded a bond at the registry which effectively dissolved the Funds’ contested lien.”
Aggregate Indus. - Ne. Region, Inc. v. Hugo Key & Sons, Inc., 57 N.E.3d 1027 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “In sum, the phrase “petition in equity” made sense within the procedural landscape of the time, but, in the present day, is best understood simply to refer to the commencement of an action under G.”
LaCentra v. Jackson, 139 N.E. 429 (Mass. 1923). · cites it 2× “” Both corporations contend that the bond filed on February *18 11, 1921, was given under G. L. c. 254, § 14; that it was a valid bond and was effectual to dissolve the incumbrance of the lien upon the land and upon the surplus, and that the remedy of the plaintiff is by action…”
Superior Mech. Plumbing & Heating, Inc. v. Ins. of the West, 965 N.E.2d 890 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012). “Fitness recorded a bond, naming Insurance Company as surety, securing payment of Superior’s lien, as permitted under G. L. c. 254, § 14. 4 The project was eventually completed.”
LaPointe Lumber Co. v. Tanist Broad. Corp., 482 A.2d 1265 (Me. 1984). “1984); Mass.Gen.Laws Ann. ch. 254, § 14 (West Supp.”
Fid. & Deposit Co. of Md. v. Beyond Constr., Inc., 111 N.E.3d 305 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 6× “We agree with the judge that F&D's action in recording a bond, pursuant to G. L. c. 254, § 14, dissolved the lien and obviated the need for Beyond to perfect the lien by recording a statement of account.”
Dowling v. John P. Cruz Constr. Co., 21 Mass. L. Rptr. 637 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2006). · cites it 7× “In order to enforce the lien bond against Hartford, Dowling had to file its complaint seeking enforcement “within ninety days after the later of the filing of the [statement of account] or receipt of notice of recording of the bond.”
Soarmar, Inc. v. Pinnconn, LLC, 27 Mass. L. Rptr. 21 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “94, pursuant to G.L.c. 254, § 14, in order to dissolve the lien.”
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