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Can a property deed for jointly owned property in Massachusetts contain language (if mutually agreed upon by the joint owners) within the deed that prevents any joint owner of that property from selling his share of that property without the consent of the other joint owners and if so is such... View More 
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answered on Jul 23, 2024
Such an executory estate might be drafted, but it would be difficult for the other tenants to enforce. It could also be deemed unenforceable as a restraint against alienation. No competent attorney would draft such a questionable conveyance. There are many other estates to consider which will... View More
My family is selling a house owned by 6 siblings. They sold it (or are trying to) to a man who wrote them 6 separate personal checks. They all signed some kind of paperwork (unclear what), but left with no paperwork of their own to prove they sold the house. The checks were for approx 80k each, 10k... View More
answered on Jul 12, 2024
You may have an optimistic view of how quickly state government employees work. It is perfectly possible that the buyer, or escrow agent from the title company, promptly tendered the deed with the necessary recording fee and it hasn't been processed yet.
But it is unwise that the... View More
Id like to know:
1) Does a commercial lease agreement & term truly expire to allow the landlord to take complete repossession of a leased space at the end of the lease term even though the tenant would like to stay as tenant for a longer period, the tenant does not have a option to... View More
answered on May 6, 2024
1) If the lease does not give the tenant some mechanism for extending the lease term such as an additional term, option to renew, etc., once the lease expires, the tenant no longer has a right to occupy the premises. The landlord is not permitted to perform a 'self help' eviction however... View More
Myself and a friend are looking for a rental apartment in Boston. On of these listing sites, a real estate agent reached out to me offering to help me, without stating there was a fee for service or making me sign anything agreeing to a fee. We finally find a place we like and the agent send us a... View More
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answered on May 2, 2024
This is a difficult case, and one that should be reviewed by a licensed attorney experienced in handling contracts. Here are some considerations for your discussion with an attorney:
- Contractual Obligations: Whether you're bound to the "sight unseen" document depends on its... View More
They attempting to get back from us. The property abuts our land and after about 19 years they are looking to take it back do we have any right here.
answered on Apr 16, 2024
Your argument would be that you used the land as if it were your own, you landscaped it, cut the grass, watered the plants, built on it, parked your car there, etc. (if all that is the case) and if the town assessed it to you, paid taxes on it, and that it should have been obvious to the... View More
Good afternoon: I just purchased a condo (apartment) and the trustee says washers and dryers are not allowed in the building. The trustee just says that the owners voted and except for 2 apartments, the rest of the owners voted against washer and dryer in the building. I am wondering if this... View More
answered on Apr 16, 2024
I have never heard of a condominium prohibiting washers and dryers. I would think you would have explored that in the process of buying the condo. I took a quick look a the statute and I found nothing stating one way or the other the permissibility of washers and dryers. Is it that they are... View More
I have 3 questions:
1) Can money be gifted to a irrevocable trust?
If so
2) Is their a maximum amount allowed to be gifted in a certain period e.g like yearly etc?
3) Can a trustee and beneficiary to the same trust also gift money to the same trust?
Thank you
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answered on Apr 12, 2024
Yes, money can be gifted to an irrevocable trust. However, there are some important considerations and limitations:
1. Gift tax exemption: As of 2024, an individual can gift up to $18,000 per recipient per year without triggering the need to file a gift tax return or pay gift taxes. This is... View More
My mother in law use to claim the massachsuetts "Senior Circuit Breaker" Credit on her taxes for years (She is 92). Last year after her stroke she revised her will and put myself and my husband on the deed to the house with here via quitclaim deed and retaining life estate (so technically... View More
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answered on Jan 22, 2024
In Massachusetts, the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit is designed for senior citizens who meet certain criteria, including property ownership and occupancy. Even though the deed to the house now includes you and your husband, the fact that your mother-in-law retains a life estate means she still... View More
prior to him signing i had already gained $160k of equity. If we were to sell is he only entitled to what was gained from Refinance till now?
answered on Jan 22, 2024
He was added to the Deed as a title holder either as a tenant in common or as a joint tenant most likely and would have the right to seek a Partition of his undivided interest and the portion of equity he contributed to would be either determined by agreement of the parties or through Court... View More
prior to him signing i had already gained $160k of equity. If we were to sell is he only entitled to what was gained from Refinance till now?
answered on Jan 22, 2024
What was your agreement with your BF when he signed the loan documents in 2021? Did you convey title to him or did he merely sign the new mortgage? What, if anything, did he pay you for an interest in the property? Has he paid any mortgage payments, contributed to the upkeep and maintenance of the... View More
to hold the mortgage until interest rates come down. Is a mortgage deed the best way to do this?
answered on Jan 15, 2024
Your question is not clear. Generally, two persons cannot be forces to hold title to real property together. When one wants to sell, and the other does, not a Petition to Partition is filed and the court will then appoint a commissioner either divide the land, if possible to do so, or to sell the... View More
If the house is appraised at $450,000, does my brother pay me and my other sibling ⅓ each ($150,000) or ½ each ($225,000)? Since he will be owning the house and could turn around and sell it at any time, does he also get a portion (1/3) of its value? Is that getting two bites of the proverbial... View More
answered on Jan 15, 2024
If you and your siblings each now own a 1/3 interest in the property and one sibling wants to purchase your interest and the interest of the other sibling, then the sibling would pay 2/3 of the fair market value (give or take depending on how the other costs, savings are addressed). The sibling... View More
I own a home together with my EX partner in Massachusetts who I have a permanent restraining order against, we were never married. We have minor children together. I have been the only one making payments for our mortgage for over 6 years because my EX refused to pay any mortgage payments for 6... View More
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answered on Dec 19, 2023
In Massachusetts, removing an ex-partner's name from a property title, especially when there are disagreements, can be complex. Since both of you jointly own the home, both parties must agree to any changes in ownership or refinancing. If your ex is not cooperating, you might need to take... View More
Thank you in advance
answered on Nov 1, 2023
Generally mortgages have terms that a transfer of the property can calls the promissory note in or due to be paid, called a "due on sale " clause, but the owner can contact the mortgage holder and inquire about adding you as an owner and their preferred mechanism to do so with regard to... View More
How does he appeal the decision?
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answered on Sep 21, 2023
In Massachusetts, if your brother missed a court hearing and was subsequently placed in receivership, but never received the letter notifying him of the hearing, he should consider seeking legal advice as soon as possible for the specific steps to take in his situation. Generally, he might be able... View More
I am married, but the house and mortgage are in my name only. If I add my spouse to the title through a quitclaim deed but don't register it, would the spouse be a legal co-owner of the house? If I die, how would the unregistered quitclaim affect the spouse's ownership of the property?
answered on Aug 18, 2023
If you convey property to another, whether you record the deed or not, the grantee owns the property and in order to convey to a third party, both of you must sign the deed. How the property is disposed on your death depends on how you and the grantee take title. If you convey to the grantee as... View More
I have never been paid any interest & want to keep family property safe. I have already paid off one other foreclosure on the property to keep it safe. It is shared (TIC) with his niece. I do not want to force sale of the property when he dies to get my money, so would like to deal with this... View More
answered on Aug 1, 2023
So I understand correctly, your ex owns the house as tenants in common with his niece and you have a mortgage on his interest in the property only. You propose to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure of his interest in the house. Following such a transfer, you will be tenants in common with the... View More
In 1994 we had a detached garage built on our property. Our new neighbors told me they were going to have their property surveyed. They did, and according to their surveyors, a corner of our garage is encroaching their property by one foot. Nothing further has developed either by them or by me. My... View More
answered on Jul 13, 2023
To claim adverse possession you would need an adjudication of same from the Land Court and should involve real estate counsel in order for good title to your property to be passed, unless you want to adhere to the official meter and bounds as stated in the Deed and remove the garage or offending... View More
answered on Jun 21, 2023
There are a couple of factors to review. a) Was the home placed in a trust prior to or after the marriage? b) Is the trust revocable or irrevocable? c) Whose benefit was the trust intended for? Until recently, trusts were seen as assets when a court decided how assets were to be distributed upon... View More
answered on Jun 2, 2023
Assuming that your father is a Massachusetts resident for his thumbnail response: Your father may well have been infirm and not competent to enter into the sale agreement in which case an Equity case on his behalf should be commenced along with a Guardianship and Conservatorship petition... View More
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