Q: What is a Summary Process case? A: It’s the same thing as an eviction case in Massachusetts. It’s the only way to get a tenant out in Massachusetts. Self help evictions are illegal. Q; What is a Notice to Quit? A: A notice to quit is a carryover from English common law – which…
Read moreMA Anti-Retaliation Laws: Rights Under Massachusetts Law
Attorney Shivick discusses issues to consider when facing Retaliation by a Landlord against a Tenant in Massachusetts – as a defense to eviction and/or as a claim against the landlord. In order to obtain legal advice, you must consult a licensed attorney. Nothing in this video is a valid substitute for consulting with a licensed…
Read moreShivick’s Appellate Work Has Lasting Consequences: Massachusetts Debt Collection, Unauthorized Practice of Law, and Landlord Collection Abuse: A 2026 Update
Some businesses do not merely bend the rules. They build a business model around hoping consumers and tenants do not know the rules exist. That is especially true in the overlap between landlord-tenant law, debt collection, and Housing Court. A landlord obtains or claims a debt. A property manager tries to prosecute a case. A…
Read moreMA Tenant Moving Out After Tenancy: How to Protect Yourself Under Massachusetts Law
Moving out of a Massachusetts apartment should be simple: pack your things, clean the unit, return the keys, and get your security deposit back. But too often, the end of a tenancy becomes the beginning of a dispute. A landlord claims the tenant failed to give proper notice. A security deposit is withheld for vague…
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