Liens. A “lien” is a legal claim that gives a creditor the right to take your property if you do not repay a debt . A lien can be placed on your home before and after you file a declaration of homestead, but no one can collect on the lien(s) that were placed on your home after you filed a declaration of homestead.
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.
Clauses 41, 41B, 41C or 41C½ provide exemptions to seniors who meet specific ownership, residency, income and asset requirements. Seniors 70 or older may, alternatively, qualify for exemption under Clauses 17, 17C, 17C½ or 17D, which provide a reduced benefit, but have less strict eligibility requirements.
Homestead laws are designed to protect property owners by allowing them to register a portion of their property as "homestead," making it off-limits to most creditors. Types and amounts of property that can be set aside as homestead vary from state to state.
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 “Declaration of Homestead”. 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.
New Hampshire's homestead exemption allows you to protect up to $120,000 of equity in your home, and twice that amount if you are a married couple filing jointly. In bankruptcy, a homestead exemption protects equity in 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 “Declaration of Homestead”. 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.
Most states have homestead exemptions except New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some states have other homestead laws such as provisions that protect surviving spouses from creditors.
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.