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COVID and Landlord Liability

Introduction In these unprecedented times, both residential and commercial landlords are facing numerous questions and challenges. Among these is the question of preventing COVID-19 infections on one’s own premises and the possibility of being held liable for a tenant, customer, or visitor being injured as a result of infection. While the particular concerns and mitigation […]

Is my home protected under Homestead law?

Each state sets terms where a homeowner is protected by what is called an estate of homestead. Homestead laws allow homeowners to declare a limited portion of their property as a “homestead,” thus sparing it from creditors in the event of a bankruptcy or other financial hardship. One primary purpose of homestead laws is to […]

What does a lawyer do at a home sale closing?

Believe it or not, lawyers are not only here for the difficult times in life, such as a divorce or a death. The right lawyer can make the joyful moments in life even sweeter by reducing stress and providing peace of mind that everything is ‘just right.’ Closing on a home is one such happy […]

As a landlord, what am I allowed to do with a renter’s security deposit before they need it back? Am I able to reinvest it into my property?

In a word—no. Massachusetts law tends to favor tenants. This is understandable, as tenants have their home to lose, but it can lead to frustrating situations when a tenant is uncooperative, remiss in paying rent, or blatantly disrespectful to the property and its furnishings. The law in Massachusetts allows landlords to collect a security deposit […]

Massachusetts Receivership

Pursuant to General Laws, Chapter 111§127I, the Attorney General’s Office or the Town/City Solicitor is empowered to bring a Petition for Receivership to appoint a Receiver to correct safety and sanitary code violations when the owner  has failed, after notice, to maintain the Property. Once sparingly utilized, this statute has become extremely helpful throughout Massachusetts, […]

Massachusetts Adverse Possession Real Estate Law

Under the Massachusetts Adverse Possession Real Estate Laws, a person may claim that land under title to another now belongs to him or her. If this sounds like something you might like to do; know that the path ahead is not easy. Cook v Babcock, 65 Mass. 206 (1853) determined that a person claiming adverse […]