Robert Nislick, Attorney at Law
Massachusetts Real Estate & Litigation Attorney | (508) 405-1238
By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landowner, possibly a homeowner in a residential subdivision. When the developer planned your community, it may have for example, sought to impose a set of building restrictions or restrictive covenants, for the stated purpose of protecting the value, attractiveness and pleasant living quality of the lots within theContinue reading Land Use Restrictions in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick As part of a condominium board’s authority to manage and control the common areas of a condominium, the trustees often adopt by-laws and rules and regulations which govern how the unit owners can use the common areas and their units. Typical by-laws and rules and regulations cover topics such as parking, pets,Continue reading Condominium Restrictions, By-Laws, and Rules and Regulations in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts homeowner. Your property abuts a street that may never have been paved. It could be a dirt road that is hard to navigate in wet weather and dusty and bumpy when it is dry. Alternatively, your property abuts a street that exists only on paper. The way existsContinue reading The Rights of an Easement Holder to Improve a Right of Way or Paper Street in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord. A new tenant is about to lease your house or apartment from you. You would like to take a security deposit from this person. Allow me to talk you out of it. Read my companion article, “Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security DepositContinue reading But If You Do – Things to Remember When Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord. A new tenant is about to lease your house or apartment from you. You would like to take a security deposit from this person. In the event that the tenant damages the property or fails to pay rent, the idea of having a security deposit available toContinue reading Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick If a loved one who was living in Massachusetts dies, and his or her estate consists of only of a car and other personal property not exceeding $25,000.00, then you may be able to take advantage of an expedited procedure for probating your loved one’s estate, called voluntary administration. If thirty daysContinue reading Voluntary Administration of Estates in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick In order for one Massachusetts landowner to establish title by adverse possession to land owned of record by another, the claimant must prove “nonpermissive use which is actual, open, notorious, exclusive and adverse for twenty years.” Lawrence v. Concord, 439 Mass. 416, 421 (2003). Frequently, a person who is adversely possessing another’sContinue reading The Doctrine of Tacking in Massachusetts Adverse Possession Claims
By Robert Nislick “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18. In the world of real estate litigation, however, not everyone abides by this commandment. During this holiday season, as we celebrate miracles and pray for peace, I offer the following wish: Love your neighbor, landlord, tenant, easement holder, servient estate owner, licensee, trespasser,Continue reading Love Your Neighbor, Et Cetera – A Holiday Wish
By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts commercial tenant or landlord. The lease contains a provision that gives the tenant an option to purchase the leased premises from the landlord. An option to purchase real property is a “contract by which an owner of realty enters an agreement with another allowing the latter to buyContinue reading Options to Purchase Real Estate in Massachusetts
By Robert Nislick A person suffering from harassment may file a complaint in a Massachusetts court requesting protection from such harassment. See G. L. c. 258E, § 3 (a). To do this, the plaintiff would generally go to the district court that has venue of the plaintiff’s residence. See G. L. c. 258E, § 2.Continue reading Free Speech, Fighting Words, True Threats, and Massachusetts Harassment Prevention Orders