[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Homestead Act” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Declaration of Homestead” url=”https:\/\/www.sec.state.ma.us\/divisions\/registry-of-deeds\/download\/declaration-of-homestead-form-natural-persons.pdf” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ image_icon_width=”65px” admin_label=”Homestead – Owned by Person” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ header_font_size=”18px” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16″ text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”12px||6px|” custom_css_main_element=”border-radius: 8px;||background-color:#B6BFD0;” border_width_all=”0px” border_color_all=”#d1d1d1″ border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#d1d1d1″ image_max_width=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Homes Owned by Natural Persons (PDF)<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Declaration of Homestead” url=”https:\/\/www.sec.state.ma.us\/divisions\/registry-of-deeds\/download\/declaration-of-homestead-form-trust.pdf” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ image_icon_width=”65px” admin_label=”Homestead – Owned by Trustee” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ header_font_size=”18px” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16″ text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”12px||6px|” custom_css_main_element=”border-radius: 8px;||background-color:#B6BFD0;” border_width_all=”0px” border_color_all=”#d1d1d1″ border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#d1d1d1″ image_max_width=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Homes Owned by Trustee(s) (PDF)<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Homestead Act” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
This information is not designed to provide any legal advice or address the practical effect of an estate of Homestead. As in all areas of the law, to fully understand your rights, you should consult an attorney of your choice.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n On August 6, 2024, Session Law 2024, c. 150, s. 51 (an Act relative to the Affordable Homes Act) increased the amount of the homestead exemption that is created by written declaration, from $500,000.00 to $1,000,000.00. This change amends section 1 (the definition section) of Mass. General Law chapter 188, the Homestead Statute. According to language in the Amendment, the increase takes effect immediately. See more here under Section 51<\/p>\n https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Laws\/SessionLaws\/Acts\/2024\/Chapter150<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is a Declaration of Homestead\/Homestead protection? While this automatic protection may be sufficient to protect a deposit made upon your estate, it\u2019s not likely enough coverage to protect the full value of your home. To protect the value of your property up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) per residence, per family, you must file a document called a \u201cDeclaration of Homestead<\/a>\u201d. You can file this form at the Registry of Deeds in the county or district where your property is located, referencing the title\/deed to the property.<\/p>\n Who can file a Homestead protection?<\/b><\/p>\n My home is held in trust, am I entitled to a Homestead protection? Where do I file my Homestead? How am I protected? Homestead declaration benefits each owner named on the homestead and any of the owner\u2019s family members who occupy or intend to occupy the home as their primary residence. Each family member can use, occupy, and enjoy the home.<\/p>\n How am I protected if I am 62 or older, or disabled? What does the Homestead law mean by a \u201cdisabled person\u201d? Are my spouse and children covered, should I pass away? If I am over 62 and my spouse is under 62, should we both file? Will my Homestead declaration protect my home from being taken if I go into a nursing home? However<\/b>, as long as the recipient or the spouse of the recipient is alive, the Commonwealth will not look to the residence for reimbursement of Medicaid benefits.<\/em><\/p>\n If the surviving spouse is also the recipient of Medicaid benefits, the Commonwealth will file a claim for reimbursement from the estate for the entire amount of Medicaid benefits paid, once the surviving recipient has died. You should consult an attorney to address your specific concerns regarding Medicaid.<\/p>\n Is there anything I will not be protected from? What happens to my Homestead if I refinance, re-mortgage, or take out a home equity loan? As a result, you don\u2019t need to immediately file a new homestead declaration after you refinance, take out a second mortgage or a home equity loan.<\/p>\n However, you may still want to refile in certain cases. Under the new law, you can file a new declaration without penalty because the subsequent declaration relates back to the previous declaration.<\/p>\n If there are multiple owners, any mortgage executed by fewer than all of the owners is still subject to homestead, and is considered superior only to the homestead estate of those owners who are parties to the new mortgage, their spouses and minor children, if any. The homestead protections of any owners who were not parties to the new mortgage would remain intact.<\/p>\n If I divide my time equally between my winter and summer residences, can I declare a Homestead on both? Does the Homestead protection take the place of home insurance? What if my home is sold or damaged? How does the Homestead declaration help protect a home against unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings? Where can I find more information about bankruptcy issues as they apply to Homestead protection? Is the Homestead form difficult to understand and fill out? Be careful when writing the book and page number or certificate of title number of your deed or title. If you need assistance locating your deed to determine this information, please contact the Registry of Deeds office.<\/p>\n Can my Homestead be terminated? What is the filing fee? How can I tell if my real property is recorded or registered land? If you are not sure whether your real property is recorded or registered, contact the Registry of Deeds office.<\/p>\n If I filed before the new law passed, do I need to refile? [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Homestead Pamphlets” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you you’d like to view and download the Secretary’s Homestead Q & A<\/strong> pamphlet then click below.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.sec.state.ma.us\/divisions\/registry-of-deeds\/download\/homestead-faq-en.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”English (PDF)” button_alignment=”left” admin_label=”English (PDF)” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” 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As in all areas of the law, to fully understand your rights, you should consult an attorney of your choice. 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An estate of homestead is a type of protection for a person\u2019s principal residence. Even if you don\u2019t declare a homestead exemption with the Registry of Deeds, you\u2019ll still benefit from an automatic homestead protection of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000).<\/p>\n
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Yes, if you hold a beneficial interest in the trust. You are considered an \u201cowner\u201d and eligible for an estate of homestead in that case. When a home is owned in trust, only the trustee can declare a homestead on behalf of the trust\u2019s beneficiaries. The trust declaration and or trustee certificates may also need to be recorded at the Registry of Deeds.<\/p>\n\n
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You can file your homestead declaration in the county or district Registry of Deeds where your residence is located.<\/p>\n\n
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The Homestead Act protects the property or manufactured home serving as your principal residence, which is considered the primary dwelling where you, and your family if applicable, reside or intend to reside. Homestead declaration protects against attachment, seizure, execution on judgment, levy or sale for the payment of debts up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) per residence, per family.<\/p>\n\n
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If you\u2019re sixty-two (62) years of age or older, or disabled regardless of age, the Homestead Act protects your real property or manufactured home against attachment, seizure, execution on judgment, levy or sale for the payment of debts. The real property or manufactured home must serve as your principal residence, and each individual filing as either elderly or disabled grants protection up to a maximum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000)\u2014regardless of whether the declaration is filed individually or jointly with one another. Elderly persons, regardless of marital status, are personally exempt up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) each. If two owners qualify for the elderly or disabled homestead protection, the aggregate protection on the home increases to two million dollars ($2,000,000).<\/p>\n\n
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The law defines a disabled person as an individual who has any medically determinable permanent physical or mental impairment that meets the disability requirement of supplemental social security income. You can learn more about these requirements from the\u00a0Massachusetts State Supplement Program\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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Yes. If the parent who declares the homestead dies, the law protects the family\u2019s right to use, occupy and enjoy the home.<\/p>\n\n
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Yes. The law states that an elderly homestead protection for any individual over the age of 62 is limited to that qualifying individual. Protection would end upon the transfer of their ownership interest, subsequent declaration of homestead on another property, abandonment, or death. To avoid an unexpected loss of homestead protection for any spouse under the age of 62, you should file one homestead per owner.<\/p>\n\n
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It depends. Any liens imposed by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance as a result of Medicaid benefit payments are exempt from the homestead protection.<\/p>\n
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The homestead law does not protect against the following:<\/p>\n\n
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Any homestead declaration is automatically subordinate to a mortgage on the home that is executed by all of the home\u2019s owners. If you previously executed a mortgage that included a waiver of the homestead protection, the new law applies to your existing homestead. This \u201cwaiver\u201d is treated as a subordination, and the previously recorded homestead remains in full force.<\/p>\n
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No. You can only declare a homestead on your principal residence. You can have more than one residence, but the law only allows protection on your primary dwelling. There are currently no legislative plans to allow the exemption to apply to a vacation home that is not a principal residence.<\/p>\n\n
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Absolutely not! Homestead protections do not replace home insurance or any other type of liability insurance. These are separate and distinct types of protection. Homestead protection applies after any insurance is used to pay for liability incurred under that particular insurance policy (e.g. home, automobile, etc.).<\/p>\n
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If you sell the home, the law protects your sale proceeds for one year after the date of the sale, or on the date when you purchase a new home with the proceeds, whichever is earlier. If your home is damaged, the insurance proceeds are protected for two years after the date of the loss, or on the date when the home is reconstructed or you purchase a new home, whichever is earlier.<\/p>\n\n
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Homestead declaration protects you from unsecured creditors and certain other debts or attachments, but it does not shield you from first or second mortgage lenders and\/or equity lenders who possess a security interest in your home. If payments are not current on these types of secured credit, you risk losing the home to foreclosure proceedings.<\/p>\n\n
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You can speak with qualified counselors from\u00a0Money Management International<\/a>, a private non-profit agency with chapters nationwide.<\/p>\n\n
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No. It simply asks for basic information. Just make sure you use the right form based on ownership.<\/p>\n\n
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Yes, homestead protections would end for any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n\n
NOTE:<\/b>\u00a0Military service is not considered abandonment under the law.<\/li>\n
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Filing a Declaration of Homestead costs thirty-five dollars ($36.00). Personal checks should be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n
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In most cases, your real property is recorded land. Your evidence of title will be a quitclaim deed with a book and page number assigned by the Registry of Deeds. If your property is registered land, you may receive a copy of your certificate of title, in addition to a land registration office book and page number, instead of a quitclaim deed.<\/p>\n\n
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If you filed a homestead declaration prior to August 6, 2024, you don\u2019t need to re-file your homestead declaration to qualify for the increased protections. The new law creates an automatic $125,000 protection on homes that do not have a homestead declaration filed at the Registry of Deeds in order to safeguard deposits and situations where a declaration may be incorrectly filed. Homestead protections now extend to pre-existing debts and the proceeds of a sale or insurance coverage.<\/p>\nHomestead Pamphlets<\/h2>\n