An Act relative to the elective share of surviving spouses

This bill (HD 3425) establishes a surviving spouse's right to claim 50% of the "marital-property portion" of their deceased spouse's estate in Massachusetts, based on the length of their marriage. The percentage of the estate the spouse receives increases incrementally with marriage duration, ranging from 3% for less than one year to 100% for 15+ years. If the calculated amount is below $75,000, the spouse receives a supplemental payment to reach that minimum. It directly affects surviving spouses of Massachusetts-domiciled decedents, ensuring a minimum financial share from the estate regardless of the marriage length.