Anyone who owns real estate and occupies it, or intends to occupy it, as a primary residence in Massachusetts needs to take advantage of the protections of the homestead law. The homestead statute, set forth in Chapter 188 of the Massachusetts General Laws, protects primary homes from being taken away by unsecured creditors. The current law, which took effect in 2011, provides an automatic estate of homestead of $125,000 for primary residences. This protection occurs automatically by operatio...
