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Homestead Exemption Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts automatically protects $125,000 of home equity, and a recorded declaration of homestead raises the protection to $1,000,000.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Exemption amount
$125,000 ($1,000,000 if declared)
The $1,000,000 declared homestead exemption requires a written declaration recorded under G.L. c. 188, s. 5.
Unlimited in value
No
Acreage limit
No acreage limit
The exemption is defined by dollar amount, not land area.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

How much home equity does the homestead exemption protect in Massachusetts?

Exemption amount in Massachusetts: $125,000 ($1,000,000 if declared). The $1,000,000 declared homestead exemption requires a written declaration recorded under G.L. c. 188, s. 5.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in Massachusetts?

No. Unlimited in value in Massachusetts: no.

Is there an acreage limit on the homestead exemption in Massachusetts?

Acreage limit in Massachusetts: No acreage limit. The exemption is defined by dollar amount, not land area.

Where do the Massachusetts homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 188, s. 1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Joint tenants and tenants by the entirety share one exemption that is not divided between them.

What this means in practice

The exemption applies to equity, not to the full value of the home. Equity is the market value minus the mortgages and other liens on the property. A lender that holds a mortgage on the home, and certain other claims such as taxes on the property, can usually still be enforced against it regardless of the exemption.

Check whether you need to take a step to claim the protection. Some states protect a home automatically once it is your residence, while others require you to record a homestead declaration with the county or to claim the exemption in court when a creditor tries to collect.

In bankruptcy, federal law can limit a state homestead exemption for a home bought within a set period before the filing, and residency rules decide which state's exemptions apply if you moved recently. Some states also let filers choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of the state list. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm which rules apply to your situation.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.