Exempting Assets in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, exempt assets include, but are not limited to: pensions, IRA accounts, 401(k) accounts, life insurance, annuities, and, if declared, the homestead exemption amount for your primary residence ($500,000 in 2016).
Examples of what you can exempt under Massachusetts law include: Up to $500,000 equity in your home or $1 million for two who are disabled or elderly. $7,500 exemption for your vehicle or up to $15,000 for the handicapped or elderly. Your clothing and bedding.
Specifically, Rule 8.1 requires a plaintiff to file with the complaint detailed affidavits identifying the debt, documenting the debt, and verifying the defendant's address; the rule also requires the plaintiff to file a certification concerning the statute of limitation applicable to the claim.
Most often, a creditor will seek to collect the debt from the debtor's income, bank accounts, and personal property. States make certain assets exempt from collections efforts, however, even if the creditor has received a judgment.
The Massachusetts Homestead Act is a law under which a homeowner is protected by an Estate of Homestead. A homestead estate provides limited protection of the value of the home, up to $1,000,000, against unsecured creditor claims.
While credit card companies technically have the ability to pursue your home for unpaid debt, it's rare. A debt collector must go to court and get a judgment before it can place a lien on your home. There are limits and exemptions to how much of your home's equity a debt collector can claim.
In general, most debt will fall off your credit report after seven years, but some types of debt can stay for up to 10 years or even indefinitely.
Old (Time-Barred) Debts In California, there is generally a four-year limit for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt based on a written agreement.