property
Massachusetts Homestead (c.188)
The Massachusetts Homestead Act protects a principal residence from many unsecured creditors. Every owner occupying or intending to occupy a home as a principal residence has an automatic $125,000 exemption with no filing. Recording a written declaration at the Registry of Deeds raises protection to $1,000,000. Elderly owners (62 or older) and disabled owners may record a declaration giving each a separate exemption. A homestead does not stop collection of property taxes or foreclosure of a mortgage the owner signed.
- Exam tip
- Know $125,000 automatic versus $1,000,000 declared, and that mortgages and taxes beat a homestead. Older materials showing $500,000 are outdated.
- Example
- A 66-year-old owner with $1.4 million of equity records a declaration and protects up to $1,000,000 from unsecured creditors, but not from her mortgage lender.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
Source verification pending. Confirm current requirements with your state regulator.
Last verified: 2026-10-23