Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: January 2025

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for updating your library with the 2025 edition of Handling Residential Real Estate Transactions in Massachusetts . This latest version brings updated resources within your immediate reach—for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions.

  Highlights from the many issues addressed in this edition include

  • the effect of class action litigation brought against the National Association of REALTORS® on compensation payable to real estate professionals;

  • structuring email and other communications to avoid breach of the attorney-client privilege;

  • notice provisions used in mortgage financing;

  • closing attorneys taking a fee from the client's title insurance premium payment—discussing the position of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers that specific disclosures regarding such fees are required in order to comply with Rule 1.8(a) of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct;

  • guidance on use and occupancy agreements;

  • case law clarifying when offers or statements may give rise to a binding contract;

  • enactment of the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act, which established zoning rights for "accessory dwelling units";

  • a recent case under Chapter 93A addressing when a nondisclosure violates the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

  • consideration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in evaluating potential residential real estate transactions;

  • ongoing issues with the implementation of the MBTA Communities Act and the Massachusetts Opt-In Specialized Energy Code; and

  • guidance on the permissibility of cross-border remote legal practice in real estate transactions.

  We trust that you will find this latest version of Handling Residential Real Estate Transactions in Massachusetts an invaluable resource for your busy practice.

  Cordially,

  MCLE Press

Table of Contents

Chapter 01 expand

Guide to Environmental Law

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Gregor I. McGregor, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens, PC

Chapter 02 expand

State Administration and Enforcement

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Olympia (Libby) Bowker, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP
Colin G. Van Dyke, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP

Checklist 2.1

- Checklist of Suggestions for Dealing with MassDEP Staff Buy Form

Chapter 03 expand

Governmental Enforcement Litigation

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Seth Schofield, Esq., Environmental Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General

Exhibit 3A

- Typical State Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 3B

- Summary of Criminal and Civil Sanctions Authorized Under State Law Buy Form

Exhibit 3C

- Typical State Settlement Documents Buy Form

Chapter 04 expand

Public Interest Environmental and Energy Litigation

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Staci Rubin, Esq., MPH, MELP, Department of Public Utilities
Phelps Turner, Esq., Conservation Law Foundation

Checklist 4.1

- Checklist for Lawyers Pursuing Public Interest Environmental and Energy Litigation Buy Form

Exhibit 4A

- Sample Complaint: Deadline Suit Against Agency Buy Form

Exhibit 4B

- Sample Complaint: Injunctive Relief and Declaratory Judgment Suit Against Agency Buy Form

Exhibit 4C

- Sample Consent Decrees in Enforcement Suits Buy Form

Exhibit 4D

- Sample FOIA Request, Follow-up Letters, and FOIA Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 4E

- Massachusetts Public Records Request Template Buy Form

Chapter 05 expand

Common Law Environmental Protection in Massachusetts

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Prof. R. Lisle Baker, Esq., Suffolk University Law School

Chapter 06 expand

Historic Preservation Law

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Kathleen M. O'Donnell, Esq., Law Office of Kathleen M. O'Donnell

Checklist 6.1

- Checklist of Adverse Effects Considered in Evaluating Projects Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Buy Form

Chapter 07 expand

Taxation Law and Conservation Gifts

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Nancy E. Dempze, Esq., Hemenway & Barnes LLP

Exhibit 7A

- Model Conservation Restriction Form (with DCS Comments) Buy Form

Exhibit 7B

- Conservation Restriction Submission Form Buy Form

Exhibit 7C

- Conservation Restriction Review Process General Outline (DCS Website) Buy Form

Exhibit 7D

- Plans, Policies, and Programs Helpful in Demonstrating State and Local Public Benefit (DCS Website) Buy Form

Exhibit 7E

- Conservation Land Tax Credit Program General Selection Criteria Buy Form

Exhibit 7F

- Massachusetts Conservation Land Tax Credit Application Buy Form

Chapter 08 expand

Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Law

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Harlan M. Doliner, Esq., Mabbett & Associates Inc
Meghan L. Morgan, Esq.,

Chapter 09 expand

Massachusetts Forest and Farmland Law

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Francis A. Di Luna, Esq., Smolak & Vaughan LLP

Exhibit 9A

- Slash Disposal Setbacks Buy Form

Exhibit 9B

- Amendment Article 97 Buy Form

Exhibit 9C

- Executive Order # 193 Buy Form

Exhibit 9D

- Probable Statutory Intent of G.L. c. 40A, § 3 Buy Form

Exhibit 9E

- Sales Ratio Tests Buy Form

Exhibit 9F

- Current Use Taxation Table Buy Form

Exhibit 9G

- MDAR Agri-tourism Memo Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Wetlands and Floodplain Law

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Gregor I. McGregor, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens, PC

Chapter 11 expand

Tidelands and Waterways Law

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Olympia (Libby) Bowker, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP
Jessica A. Wall, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP

Exhibit 11A

- Criteria for a Chapter 168 Public Benefit Determination Buy Form

Exhibit 11B

- Diagram of Developed Shoreline Buy Form

Exhibit 11C

- Pier 4 Mixed-Use Development Consolidated Written Determination and Project License Buy Form

Chapter 12 expand

Coastal Zone Law

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Marissa Grenon Gutierrez, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP
Jessica A. Wall, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP

Checklist 12.1

- Checklist of Requirements for Obtaining a New or Modified Discharge Permit Under 301 C.M.R. § 27.07 Buy Form

Exhibit 12A

- MCZM Program Policies Buy Form

Exhibit 12B

- The Oceans Act of 2008 Buy Form

Exhibit 12C

- 2021 Ocean Management Plan, Management Areas Buy Form

Exhibit 12D

- 2021 Ocean Management Plan, Renewable Energy Lease Areas in Adjacent Federal Waters Buy Form

Exhibit 12E

- Massachusetts Beaches Within the Coastal Barrier Resources System Buy Form

Chapter 13 expand

Public Land Law

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Nancy Kaplan, Esq., Eversource/Legal Department

Chapter 14 expand

Massachusetts Clean Air Act

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Kathleen M. Brill, Esq., Foley Hoag LLP
Adam P. Kahn, Esq., Foley Hoag LLP

Chapter 15 expand

Water Pollution Control

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Luke H. Legere, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens, PC

Checklist 15.1

- Checklist of Exemptions from the Sewer System Extension and Connection Permit Program (314 C.M.R. § 7.00) Buy Form

Chapter 16 expand

Public Health Law and Environmental Law

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Susan A. Bernstein, Esq., Susan A Bernstein

Exhibit 16A

- Summary of Exceptions to Liability Under Section 10 of the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act Buy Form

Chapter 17 expand

Drinking Water Supply

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Karen L. Crocker, Esq., Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Exhibit 17A

- Key Provisions: The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments Buy Form

Chapter 18 expand

Solid Waste Regulation in Massachusetts

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Peter F. Durning, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP
Thomas A. Mackie, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP

Checklist 18.1

- Checklist of General Site-Suitability Standards Under 310 C.M.R. § 16.40(4)–(5) Buy Form

Exhibit 18A

- Criteria for Siting Buy Form

Chapter 19 expand

Land Use Planning

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Barbara Carboni, Truro Town Hall
Jonathan D. Witten, Esq., Law Office of Jonathan Witten, LLC

Chapter 20 expand

Zoning, Subdivision, and Nonzoning Land Use Controls

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Nathaniel Stevens, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens PC

Checklist 20.1

- Checklist for Special Permit Procedure Buy Form

Checklist 20.2

- Checklist for Variance Procedure Buy Form

Checklist 20.3

- Checklist for Zoning Enforcement Procedure Buy Form

Chapter 21 expand

Hazardous Materials Law

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Aladdine D. Joroff, Esq., Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Exhibit 21A

- Summary of Reporting Requirements Under EPCRA and Implementing Regulations Buy Form

Chapter 22 expand

Hazardous Waste Cleanup

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Peter F. Durning, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP
Gail E. Magenau Hire, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP
John F. Shea, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP

Exhibit 22A

- Emerging Contaminants Buy Form

Exhibit 22B

- Vapor Intrusion Conceptual Site Model and Charts Illustrating Evaluation Process and Critical Exposure Pathway Buy Form

Exhibit 22C

- Similar Soils Provision Guidance Buy Form

Exhibit 22D

- Evolution of the MCP Buy Form

Exhibit 22E

- Audit Fact Sheet Buy Form

Exhibit 22F

- Evolution of Chapter 21E Buy Form

Exhibit 22G

- MCP Timelines and Fees Buy Form

Exhibit 22H

- Downgradient Property Status Fact Sheet Buy Form

Exhibit 22I

- Model Notice of Demand Pursuant to G.L. c. 21E, § 4A Buy Form

Exhibit 22J

- Model Response to Section 4A Demand Notice Buy Form

Exhibit 22K

- MCP Cleanup Timeline Buy Form

Exhibit 22L

- MassDEP Fact Sheet on Brownfields and Waste Site Cleanup Programs Buy Form

Exhibit 22M

- Fact Sheet: The Massachusetts Waste Site Cleanup Program—The Basics Buy Form

Chapter 23 expand

Private Party Cost Recovery

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Michael J. O'Neill, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens PC

Checklist 23.1

- Checklist Regarding Claim Notice Under G.L. c. 21E, § 4A Buy Form

Checklist 23.2

- Checklist Regarding Claim Response Under G.L. c. 21E, § 4A Buy Form

Checklist 23.3

- Checklist of Key Witnesses Likely to Be Deposed in a Chapter 21E Case Buy Form

Exhibit 23A

- Sample Notification Letter Buy Form

Exhibit 23B

- Sample Complaint Buy Form

Exhibit 23C

- Sample Standstill and Tolling Agreement Buy Form

Chapter 24 expand

MEPA Review

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R.J. Lyman, Esq., Dain, Torpy, Le Ray, Wiest & Garner, PC

Chapter 25 expand

Environmental Engineering for Lawyers

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Ronald E. Myrick, Jr., Tetra Tech
Sean Reardon, Tetra Tech, Inc.

Checklist 25.1

- Hazardous Waste Site Assessment Initial Data Source Checklist Buy Form

Chapter 26 expand

Environmental Science for Lawyers

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David Biancavilla, BSC Group, Inc
Ingeborg E. Hegemann, BSC Group, Inc
Melissa Kaplan, BSC Group, Inc
Dominic Rinaldi, BSC Group, Inc

Exhibit 26A

- Bibliography Buy Form

Exhibit 26B

- List of Useful Websites Buy Form

Chapter 27 expand

Insurance Issues in Environmental Practice

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Harvey Nosowitz, Esq., Anderson Kreiger LLP
Steven L. Schreckinger, Esq.,

Chapter 28 expand

Environmental Issues in Real Estate Practice

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Robert D. Cox, Jr., Esq., Bowditch & Dewey LLP

Exhibit 28A

- Basic Conditions for Offer Buy Form

Exhibit 28B

- Intermediate Conditions for Offer to Purchase Premises with Known Contamination Buy Form

Exhibit 28C

- Basic Indemnification Clause for Purchase and Sale Agreement Buy Form

Exhibit 28D

- Intermediate Indemnification Agreement for Execution as a Separate Contract Buy Form

Exhibit 28E

- Advanced Indemnification Agreement Buy Form

Exhibit 28F

- Warranties and Representations for Leaking Underground Tank Cleanup Buy Form

Exhibit 28G

- Lease Provisions on Hazardous Materials Buy Form

Exhibit 28H

- Typical Financing Indemnity Provision Buy Form

Chapter 29 expand

The Police Power and Regulatory Takings

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Gregor I. McGregor, Esq., McGregor Legere & Stevens, PC

Chapter 30 expand

Environmental Justice

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Thomas A. Mackie, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP

Glossary expand

Glossary of Environmental Law Abbreviations

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Editor(s)

Author(s)