Recent Legislation Enacted With MCA Support (Partial Listing)

St.1987, c.248 - extension of the validity of a municipal lien certificate to 150 days

St.1987, c.481 - ten-year statute of limitations relative to structural violations of zoning
ordinances and bylaws

St.1987, c.533 - authority for discharge of mortgage by recorded affidavit

St.1987, c.675 - clarification of uniform recording requirements for Federal liens

St.1989, c.205 - ten-year statute of limitations on inheritance tax liens

St.1989, c.239 - provision for alternate members of planning boards

St.1989, c.283 - simplified conversion of common law tenancy by the entirety to a
statutory tenancy by the entirety

St.1990, c.378 - clarification of fee interests regarding land abutting a way or similar
linear boundary

St.1990, c.496 - exclusion from Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of proceedings
against non-individual owners of record; and elimination of court
approval of foreclosure documents on unregistered land

St.1991, c.157 - elimination of 30-day limitation for recording mortgage foreclosure
papers; and provision for simplifying title from a foreclosure

St.1991, c.235 - clarification of scope of legislative moratorium on mortgage foreclosure

St.1991, c.320 - provision for consistent publication requirements for license to sell

St.1992, c.410 - simplified requirements for title following a discharge, release or
assignment of mortgage

St.1994, c.245 - includes requirement of "good funds" in all mortgage transactions (See
also St. 1995, c.118)

St.1994, c.341 - elimination of 90-day limitation for recording mortgage foreclosure
papers

St.1994, c.350 - includes requirement that lender's attorney render a certification of title
to the homebuyer in all purchase mortgage transactions

St.1995, c.281 - authorizes the creation of limited liability companies and registered
limited liability partnerships in the Commonwealth

St.1996, c.151, §567 - state superintendence of Registry of Deeds in Franklin County

St.1996, c.364 - modernizes and reforms state mechanics lien law (M.G.L. c.254)

St.1996, c.480 - permits reliance on discharges executed by certain non-record servicers
and noteholders

St.1996, c.481 - eliminates the use of Owners Duplicate Certificates for registered land

St.1997, c.48 - state superintendence of Registries of Deeds in Middlesex, Worcester
and Hampden Counties

St.1998, c.142 - conform mortgage foreclosure requirements for all business entities,
including LLC's and LLP's

St.1998, c.147 - permits release of estate tax lien by recording of executor's affidavit

St.1998, c.242 - omnibus amendments to c.183A, to permit revival of development
rights, to clarify limited common elements, etc

St.1998, c.300 - state superintendence of Registries of Deeds in Hampshire, Essex,
Suffolk and Berkshire Counties

St. 2000, c.413 - procedure for the voluntary withdrawal of land from the registration
system

St. 2001, c.26 - omnibus amendments to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code

St. 2002, c.393 - enlarges the concurrent jurisdiction of the Land Court to include
cases of specific performance of real estate agreements; partition cases;
general enforcement of M.G.L. cc.40A and 41, and certain local
ordinances and bylaws by certiorari and mandamus

St. 2002, c.496 - makes final and conclusive any order dissolving a lis pendens unless
notice of appeal recorded within 30 days; requires commencement of
action seeking a lis pendens to be by verified complaint, and permits
expedited dismissal of claims found to be frivolous, with possible
recovery of attorneys' fees and costs.

St. 2002, c.508 - authorizes recording of simplified trustees' certificate in lieu of the full
trust instrument, notwithstanding "indefinite reference" statute.