Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 1 (2026)

Actions requiring commencement within twenty years

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. The following actions shall be commenced only within twenty years next after the cause of action accrues:

First, Actions upon contracts under seal.

Second, Actions upon bills, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued by a bank.

Third, Actions upon promissory notes signed in the presence of an attesting witness, if brought by the original payee or by his executor or administrator.

Fourth, Actions upon contracts not limited by the following section or by any other law.

Fifth, Actions under section thirty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-three to recover for the support of inmates in state institutions.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 52 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1926–2026 · leading case: Premier Capital, LLC v. KMZ, Inc., 984 N.E.2d 286 (Mass. 2013).

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Premier Capital, LLC v. KMZ, Inc., 984 N.E.2d 286 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 4× “106, § 3-118, was enacted, and the note upon which Premier filed suit was executed under seal, Premier timely commenced its action against KMZ under the twenty-year statute of limitations governing actions on contracts under seal, G. L. c. 260, § 1. Therefore, KMZ’s motion for…”

Solomon v. Birger, 477 N.E.2d 137 (Mass. App. Ct. 1985). · cites it 4× “G.L.c. 260, § 1. The first of those theories is that the Birgers committed fraud in the inducement of the contract when Mrs.”

Cameron Painting, Inc. v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 983 N.E.2d 1210 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 5× “260, § 3A, when the *346 twenty-year statute of limitations in G. L. c. 260, § 1, applied. Cameron also claims that even if the three-year period applied, the University should be estopped from asserting it.”

New Haven Sav. Bank v. Follins, 431 F. Supp. 2d 183 (D. Mass. 2006). · cites it 6× “Statute of Limitations One of the central issues in the present case is whether the action is governed by the twenty-year statute of limitations under Mass. Gen L. c. 260 § 1 12 or the six-year statute of limitations set forth in Mass.”

Cadle Co. v. Webb, 846 N.E.2d 1179 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 3× “260, § 2, 1 or whether such personal *270 guaranties are to be considered “other evidences of indebtedness issued by a bank,” and thereby rendered subject to the special twenty-year period of limitations set forth in G. L. c. 260, § 1. 2 We hold that consistent with well settled…”

Kingston Hous. Auth. v. Sandonato & Bogue, Inc., 577 N.E.2d 1 (Mass. App. Ct. 1991). · cites it 3× “See G. L. c. 260, § 1, First. After hearing the case on defense motions for summary judgment, supported by.”

Campana v. Pilavis (In Re Pilavis), 233 B.R. 1 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1999). · cites it 2× “The underlying claims of the three creditors were based upon either contract, such claims having a limitations period of six years, Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 260, § 2, or contract under seal, such claims having a limitations period of twenty years, Mass.”

Foster v. Evans, 429 N.E.2d 995 (Mass. 1981). “12 G. L. c. 260, § 1. 5. Election of remedies.”

Hallett v. Town of Wrentham, 499 N.E.2d 1189 (Mass. 1986). “In rejecting that contention we stated that “the law in this Commonwealth has also evolved to the point where it may now be held that the right to recovery for wrongful death is of common law origin .”

Newman v. Krintzman, 723 F.3d 308 (1st Cir. 2013). “But the trustees also débuted another argument: Stressing that the note governed by Massachusetts law is a “sealed instrument,” they insisted that a Massachusetts 20-year statute of limitations applied, see Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 1 , which, they added, meant that their suit…”

Century Fire & Marine Ins. v. Bank of New England-Bristol Cnty., N.A., 540 N.E.2d 1334 (Mass. 1989). “), which provides a six-year limitation period for actions of contract, the judge ruled that the statute of limitations expired prior to Century’s commencement of the suit in July, 1987. On appeal, Century argues that summary judgment for the bank was not proper because a letter…”

Knott v. Racicot, 442 Mass. 314 (Mass. 2004). “Today the Commonwealth is one of the minority of American jurisdictions that have carried over significant elements of the sealed contract doctrine to the Twenty-first Century.”

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