Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

declaration of homestead

We purchased our home in 3/97 and filed a declaration of homestead in massachusetts. We refinanced in Jan 1998 and were not required to re-file the homestead. We just refinanced again this month with a different lender who required us to release (or waive ) the homestead. Now i have to re-file it........why would a lender require a release on the homestead?

Second part of my question is we have a judgement for a credit card which has not been executed yet......since we had to release the homestead to refinance does this leave our home vulnerable....or does refiling the homestead take care of that......the debt was from 1997 and thats when we filed the original homestead. (homestead was filed before the debt began)


Asked on 10/27/03, 8:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Baker Law Office of David Baker

Re: declaration of homestead

The new bank asked you to relese the homestead because it doesn't understand that mortgages are not affected by homesteads; homestead protect the equity in your home >above< any mortgages. The credit card part of your question is interesting; I would argue that the original homestead protected the home against the execution. Keep in mind, however, that a really nasty creditor could still force a sale of the home in certain circumstances, so don't think that the homestead is absolute protection! Best wishes.

Read more
Answered on 10/28/03, 9:01 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Real Estate and Real Property questions and answers in Massachusetts