I own a home in Massachusetts
Property taxes, exemptions, deeds, and quarterly tax bills.
MASSACHUSETTS GUIDE
Life in Massachusetts comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From Proposition 2½ and your city or town hall to the Probate and Family Court, nor'easters, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Massachusetts-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Massachusetts government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Massachusetts
Massachusetts property tax bills arrive quarterly, not annually - a genuine difference from most states, typically due August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1. Your city or town sets its own tax rate, and the total amount it can collect is capped by Proposition 2½: the annual levy can grow at most 2.5% over the prior year (plus revenue from new construction), and voters must approve any override to exceed that. Most Massachusetts communities don't offer a general owner-occupied exemption, but a handful, including Boston, do - Boston's Residential Exemption saved qualifying homeowners up to roughly $4,354 on their FY2026 tax bill, applied automatically to those who owned and occupied as of January 1 (or, under a recent expansion, purchased and moved in by June 30 of that fiscal year). Apply by April 1 through your Assessing Department if your city offers this exemption; most towns don't, so check locally rather than assuming. Deeds are recorded with your county's Registry of Deeds, and probate matters go through the Probate and Family Court.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services, City of Boston Assessing Department
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, excise stamps, and the Registry of Deeds.
I'm buying or selling property
Massachusetts closings typically go through a title company or attorney, with deeds recorded by your county's Registry of Deeds - note that several counties (including Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, and Plymouth) split into two separate registry districts, so confirm which specific district covers your property before recording or searching. Massachusetts charges a deed excise tax (recording stamp), calculated per $500 of the sale price. A title search through the Registry of Deeds confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy, check whether your specific city or town offers a residential exemption for owner-occupants - most Massachusetts communities don't, but some (Boston among them) do, and if yours does, apply through the local Assessing Department by the applicable deadline. Property tax bills come quarterly rather than annually, so budget for four payments a year rather than one.
Sources: county Registry of Deeds offices, Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue
I live on the coast or the Cape
Flood zones, seawalls, conservation rules, and shoreline property records.
I live on the coast or the Cape
Coastal Massachusetts property, especially on Cape Cod, the Islands, and the North Shore, comes with layered regulation beyond ordinary zoning. The state Wetlands Protection Act governs activity near coastal wetlands, dunes, and flood zones, enforced locally by each city or town's Conservation Commission - meaning even routine projects like a fence, a deck, or landscaping near the water can require review that wouldn't apply further inland. Check your specific FEMA flood zone designation, which affects insurance requirements and construction standards for anything near the water. Erosion and seawall permitting on the Cape and Islands is a genuinely active area, since erosion rates vary significantly by specific stretch of coastline, and any shoreline stabilization work typically needs both local Conservation Commission approval and, often, state-level review. Before any significant coastal project - a seawall, revetment, dock, or major addition close to the water - check with your town's Conservation Commission first, since this review happens before, not instead of, ordinary building permits. Waterfront property records are recorded the same as any other property, through your county's Registry of Deeds.
Sources: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, town Conservation Commissions
Someone passed away
Probate and Family Court, wills, estates, and filing steps.
Someone passed away
Massachusetts handles estates through the Probate and Family Court, one court per county, which - true to its name - also handles divorce, custody, and name changes, a broader combination than probate-only courts in many states. Massachusetts follows the Uniform Probate Code, offering informal probate for straightforward, uncontested estates (avoiding a full court hearing) alongside formal probate for anything contested. Massachusetts also offers a Voluntary Administration process for small estates under a statutory value threshold, letting an heir settle without opening full probate. If the deceased's home had a local residential exemption applied (available in Boston and some other communities, though most Massachusetts towns don't offer one), it doesn't transfer automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to file their own application with the local Assessing Department. Property records for any real estate in the estate are held by the county Registry of Deeds, a separate office from the Probate and Family Court handling the estate itself.
Sources: Massachusetts Trial Court, Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (M.G.L. c. 190B)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses from city or town clerks, divorce filing, and name changes.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in Massachusetts are issued by city and town Clerks - apply at any Massachusetts Clerk's Office regardless of where you live, both parties appearing together in person to file your "Notice of Intention to Marry." There's a mandatory three-day waiting period between filing and license issuance (waivable through a Probate or District Court for good reason), and once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Divorce is filed with the Probate and Family Court, one court per county - the same court that also handles the estate matters covered under "someone passed away." Massachusetts uses a distinctive two-step process: a "divorce nisi" is granted first, but the divorce doesn't become absolute (final) until 90 days later, regardless of the grounds - meaning neither party can remarry during that 90-day window even though a decree has technically been issued. Massachusetts allows both fault and no-fault grounds, with "irretrievable breakdown" as the standard no-fault ground, and courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard.
Sources: Massachusetts Trial Court, city and town Clerk offices, M.G.L. Chapter 207 and 208
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, tax deferrals, benefits, and estate planning information.
I'm caring for an aging parent
Massachusetts offers several state-level property tax breaks worth checking for a parent's home, administered through the local Assessing Department: Clause 41C provides local-option relief for elderly homeowners (typically $500 to $1,000, with the exact amount set by each city or town), Clause 37A offers relief for blind homeowners, and various Clause 22 provisions cover veterans. Many communities also offer a property tax deferral (Clause 41A) letting eligible seniors defer taxes rather than pay them currently, with the deferred amount becoming a lien repaid from the estate later - genuinely different from an exemption, since deferred tax still has to be paid eventually. If your parent's community is one of the minority offering a residential exemption for owner-occupants (Boston is the largest example), that's separate from the senior-specific credits and worth checking too. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself goes through the Probate and Family Court.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, local Assessing Departments
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, though the city or town clerk where the event occurred can also issue certified copies. Marriage records are held permanently by the city or town Clerk's Office where the intentions were originally filed. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through your county's Registry of Deeds; a few counties (Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, and Plymouth among them) split into two registry districts, so confirm which one covers your property. Court records for civil and criminal cases come from the applicable Trial Court division; probate, estate, divorce, and custody records are held separately by the Probate and Family Court, one per county. Business entity records are filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, searchable statewide. Property tax and assessment records are handled at the city or town level through the local Assessing Department, not by the county.
Sources: Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, city and town Clerk offices, county Registry of Deeds and Probate and Family Court offices, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Massachusetts starts with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. From there, most businesses register with the Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue for a sales tax certificate if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local licensing and permitting happens at the city or town level, not the county - since Massachusetts has 351 individual municipalities and many county governments were abolished, your specific city or town hall, not a county office, is where you'll handle zoning, building permits, and any local business license. If you'll own commercial vehicles, remember Massachusetts charges an annual motor vehicle excise tax collected locally by your city or town, separate from RMV registration itself. Business real estate is assessed by the local Assessing Department, and the total local levy is subject to the same Proposition 2½ growth cap that governs residential property tax.
Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue, IRS
How-To Guides for Massachusetts
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Massachusetts
Read guide →Massachusetts Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Massachusetts works differently. Here's what to know.
City & Town Halls Run Daily Life
All 351 cities and towns handle taxes, vital records, and permits; many county governments were abolished.
City & Town Halls Run Daily Life
Massachusetts's counties play a diminished role compared to most states - several county governments have been abolished outright over the decades, and even where a county nominally exists, day-to-day local government runs almost entirely through the state's 351 individual cities and towns. Property tax billing and assessment, vital records, business licensing, and most permitting happen at the municipal level, not the county. What still operates at the county level in Massachusetts is genuinely narrower than elsewhere: the Registry of Deeds and the Probate and Family Court are the two functions that remain organized by county, while nearly everything else routes through your specific city or town hall. If you're used to a county-centric state, redirect your instincts toward your municipality first - "the county" in Massachusetts usually isn't where you'll actually go for routine local government business.
Sources: Massachusetts Municipal Association, Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services
Proposition 2½ Caps Levies
A community's total property tax levy can grow only modestly each year without an override vote.
Proposition 2½ Caps Levies
Passed by voters in 1980, Proposition 2½ is the single most important constraint on Massachusetts property tax, and it works through two separate limits, not one. The levy ceiling caps a community's total possible property tax collection at 2.5% of the full assessed value of all its taxable property - a hard outer boundary. Within that, the levy limit governs annual growth: a city or town's allowed levy can rise at most 2.5% over the prior year, plus additional revenue attributable to new construction ("new growth"). Communities that want to exceed the 2.5% annual growth limit need voter approval through an override, which permanently raises the base for future years; a specific, narrower version can also fund a particular purpose like schools or public safety. Because Prop 2½ has held average effective property tax rates roughly in check since 1980 (from around 3.7% before the law to roughly 1% today, by some estimates), it fundamentally shapes municipal budgeting - and override votes are a real, recurring feature of local elections in communities facing budget pressure.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services, Massachusetts Municipal Association
Probate and Family Court
One court per county handles estates, wills, divorce, custody, and name changes.
Probate and Family Court
Massachusetts assigns estates and family matters to a single, dedicated court structure per county: the Probate and Family Court. As the name suggests, this one court handles two areas of law that many states split entirely apart - estate administration, wills, and guardianships on one side, and divorce, custody, and name changes on the other. This combination means the same courthouse and often overlapping judicial resources handle both a probate case and a divorce filing, which can be efficient but also means the court's caseload spans genuinely different kinds of legal matters. Massachusetts follows the Uniform Probate Code, offering a relatively streamlined informal probate process for uncontested estates. If you're dealing with any combination of these matters - settling an estate while also navigating a related custody or guardianship question, for instance - you're likely dealing with the same court and possibly related case numbers, since Massachusetts didn't split these functions the way many states do.
Sources: Massachusetts Trial Court, Massachusetts Probate and Family Court
The Registry of Deeds
Property records live at your county's Registry of Deeds, with some counties split into districts.
The Registry of Deeds
Even though most local government in Massachusetts runs through city and town halls, property records are a genuine exception, staying organized by county through each county's Registry of Deeds. A quirk worth knowing: several counties, including Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, and Plymouth, are split into two separate registry districts rather than one countywide registry - meaning a property's specific location within the county determines which district actually holds its records. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are all recorded here, and Massachusetts charges a deed excise tax (a recording stamp) calculated per $500 of the sale price whenever a deed is recorded. Because Massachusetts land records go back centuries in many areas, older deeds can reference now-vanished landmarks or use metes-and-bounds descriptions that make a professional title search worthwhile for anything beyond a routine lookup.
Sources: county Registry of Deeds offices, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
Excise Tax on Your Vehicle
You pay a yearly motor vehicle excise bill to your city or town, on top of RMV registration.
Excise Tax on Your Vehicle
Registering a vehicle with the Massachusetts RMV isn't the only cost - you'll also owe an annual motor vehicle excise tax, billed separately by whichever city or town the vehicle is principally garaged in, not the state. The statewide rate is fixed at $25 per $1,000 of the vehicle's value, with value based on a depreciation schedule off the manufacturer's suggested retail price rather than market value or purchase price: 90% of MSRP in the model year, stepping down to just 10% by the fifth year and beyond. Bills are typically mailed in February for the calendar year and are due within 30 days of issuance; unpaid bills accrue interest and, eventually, collection fees, and failing to receive a bill in the mail doesn't excuse you from owing it. Because the excise is levied and collected locally, it becomes part of your specific municipality's revenue rather than a pass-through to the state - genuinely local money, distinct from RMV registration fees themselves.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue, M.G.L. Chapter 60A, local Assessor and Collector offices
Residential Exemptions Vary
Boston and some other communities offer an owner-occupied exemption; most towns don't.
Residential Exemptions Vary
Unlike most states, Massachusetts doesn't give every city and town a standard owner-occupied homestead exemption - offering one is entirely optional, decided locally, and most Massachusetts communities simply don't. Where a residential exemption does exist, Boston is the largest and best-known example: it excludes a portion of a primary residence's value from taxation (worth roughly $4,354 in tax savings for FY2026), available to any owner-occupant with no income limit, applied automatically to the third-quarter tax bill for those on file by the deadline. A recent expansion also lets homeowners who purchase and move in partway through the fiscal year qualify, not just those who owned on the assessment date. If your community doesn't offer a residential exemption (most don't), your main property tax relief options are the state-authorized senior, veteran, and blind exemptions (Clauses 41C, 22, and 37A) rather than a general owner-occupied break - check with your specific city or town's Assessing Department to see what, if anything, your community has adopted.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue, City of Boston Assessing Department
The questions Massachusetts residents actually ask
The Massachusetts county records research approach starts at multiple levels because of the distinctive Massachusetts government structure. For real estate records, check the appropriate county Registry of Deeds (Massachusetts maintains Registries of Deeds even where county governments were abolished). For court records, use the Massachusetts Trial Court eCourts system. For property tax records, check the relevant municipal Assessor. For vital records, check the appropriate Massachusetts city or town clerk or the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
Massachusetts abolished 8 of 14 county governments between 1997 and 2000. The Commonwealth assumed most county functions including the courts, sheriffs, and various other operations. The decision reflected the strong New England municipal government tradition where towns and cities handle most local government, making county governments largely redundant. The 8 abolished counties (Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Suffolk, Worcester) continue to exist as geographic jurisdictions but lack the county government structure found in other states.
Yes. Massachusetts is one of fewer than 20 states with a state estate tax. The Massachusetts estate tax applies to estates above $2 million (the threshold was increased from $1 million effective 2023). Tax rates range up to 16 percent based on the taxable estate size. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue administers the estate tax.
Massachusetts property tax due dates vary by municipality. Most Massachusetts cities and towns bill quarterly (August 1, November 1, February 1, May 1). Some smaller towns bill semi-annually. The Massachusetts county records on property tax payments are maintained by the municipal Tax Collector. After delinquency, taxes accrue interest at 14 percent annually. Many municipalities allow payment plans.
Apply at the City or Town Clerk's office in any Massachusetts municipality. Both applicants must appear together. Required documents include government-issued photo ID and proof of age. License fees range from approximately $25 to $50 depending on municipality. Massachusetts has a 3-day waiting period between application and license issuance. Licenses are valid for 60 days. The Massachusetts county records on marriage are maintained by the issuing City or Town Clerk.
Order through the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics or through the City or Town Clerk where the birth occurred. Massachusetts allows online, mail, and in-person orders. Required information includes the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and proof of your identity and relationship if you are not the person named. Massachusetts birth certificate fees are approximately $20 per certified copy at the state level.
Massachusetts divorce filing requires meeting the Massachusetts residency requirement (1 year, or a shorter period if the cause of divorce occurred in Massachusetts), completing the appropriate divorce petition, and filing with the Probate and Family Court in the county of residence. Filing fees are approximately $215. Massachusetts allows no-fault grounds (irretrievable breakdown) and various fault-based grounds. Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state. The Massachusetts county records on divorces are maintained by the Probate and Family Court Clerk.
Proposition 2 1/2 is a Massachusetts initiative (passed 1980) that limits municipal property tax. The total property tax levy in a municipality cannot exceed 2.5 percent of total assessed value (the levy ceiling), and annual property tax levy increases are limited to 2.5 percent (the levy limit). Override votes can increase the limit. Proposition 2 1/2 has shaped Massachusetts municipal finance for over 40 years and constrains property tax growth. The Massachusetts county records on property tax reflect this framework.
File a Certificate of Organization with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division. The filing fee is $500 (one of the higher LLC formation fees in the United States). Massachusetts LLC formation typically processes within 3-5 business days. Massachusetts LLCs must file annual reports with a $500 fee (also one of the higher fees nationally). After formation, obtain a federal EIN and any required local business permits.
Register through the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth or your local City or Town Clerk. Massachusetts allows online voter registration. Registration deadline is 10 days before each election. Massachusetts offers automatic voter registration through Registry of Motor Vehicles and MassHealth transactions. Massachusetts has no-excuse mail-in voting (permanent since 2022). Massachusetts requires no photo ID at the polls. The Massachusetts county records on voter registration are maintained by each local City or Town Clerk.
The Massachusetts county records maintained by each county Registry of Deeds include real property records (deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, releases, homesteads), Plans of Land, condominium documents, and other recorded instruments. Each Massachusetts county has at least one Registry of Deeds (some counties have multiple districts). Most offer online search through MassLandRecords.com or county-specific systems. The Massachusetts Registry of Deeds provides additional information.
Massachusetts allows sealing of Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) under M.G.L. c. 276 sections 100A and 100C. Eligibility depends on the offense, time since the case ended, and other factors. Massachusetts also allows expungement under more limited circumstances under section 100K. The 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act expanded sealing and expungement opportunities. The Massachusetts county records on sealed matters become inaccessible to most parties (but remain available for some employment purposes). The Massachusetts court records guide covers procedures.
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Important Deadlines in Massachusetts
Massachusetts property tax bills split into four quarterly installments each fiscal year (which runs July 1 to June 30): August 1 and November 1 (preliminary bills, quarters 1-2), then February 1 and May 1 (actual bills, quarters 3-4).
Important Deadlines in Massachusetts
Massachusetts property tax bills split into four quarterly installments each fiscal year (which runs July 1 to June 30): August 1 and November 1 (preliminary bills, quarters 1-2), then February 1 and May 1 (actual bills, quarters 3-4). Your abatement filing deadline is tied specifically to the third-quarter bill - once the actual tax bills mail, you have until that February 1 due date to file with your local Board of Assessors, and applications must be received (or postmarked) by that date or the Assessors legally cannot act on them. Motor vehicle excise tax works on a genuinely separate calendar: bills are issued throughout the year as the Registry of Motor Vehicles sends "commitments" to your city or town, with payment due 30 days from the issue date (not the mailing date) regardless of when you actually receive it. If you sell, total-loss, or move a vehicle out of Massachusetts, you must notify the RMV within 30 days to avoid being billed incorrectly the following year. Excise abatement applications must reach the Assessors within three years of when the excise was due, or one year after payment, whichever is later - a genuinely longer window than the property tax abatement deadline.
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services, city/town Assessor and Collector offices, M.G.L. c. 59 and c. 60A
Assessment Abatements in Massachusetts
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Massachusetts genuinely ties your appeal window to your quarterly tax bill cycle: once your actual tax bills (the third-quarter installment) are mailed, you have until that installment's due date - February 1 - to file an abatement application with your local Board of Assessors.
Assessment Abatements in Massachusetts
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Massachusetts genuinely ties your appeal window to your quarterly tax bill cycle: once your actual tax bills (the third-quarter installment) are mailed, you have until that installment's due date - February 1 - to file an abatement application with your local Board of Assessors. This deadline is firm: your application must be received by the Assessors office, or postmarked by that date, or they legally cannot act on it regardless of the merits of your case. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Filing an abatement application does not pause your obligation to pay the tax as billed - pay by each quarterly due date regardless of a pending abatement, or you'll face interest and possible collection action even if your abatement is later granted. If your local Board of Assessors denies your abatement, further appeal to the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board remains available. Motor vehicle excise tax follows a separate, genuinely more generous abatement window - applications must reach the Assessors within three years of when the excise was due, or one year after payment, whichever is later.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services, city/town Board of Assessors offices, M.G.L. c. 59 §59-65 and c. 60A
Public Records Access in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Public Records Law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Public Records Law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 10 business days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Because Massachusetts abolished county government in most of the state decades ago, real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are held at the county's Registry of Deeds, one of the genuine remaining county-level functions, with some larger counties (like Middlesex and Bristol) split into separate northern and southern districts. Court records for probate, estates, divorce, and custody matters come from the Probate and Family Court, one per county, a genuinely combined court handling both estate and family law matters under one roof. Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) and property tax records are held by your specific city or town, since Massachusetts's 351 municipalities run nearly all daily local government functions. Business entity records are filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, searchable statewide. If a records request is denied, disputes can be appealed to the Massachusetts Public Records Division.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division, M.G.L. c. 66 §10, county Registry of Deeds and Probate and Family Court
Storm & Winter Help in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's winter and coastal storm season genuinely runs November through April, bringing real risk from nor'easters, heavy snow, ice storms, and coastal flooding along the state's extensive Atlantic shoreline, Cape Cod, and the Islands.
Storm & Winter Help in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's winter and coastal storm season genuinely runs November through April, bringing real risk from nor'easters, heavy snow, ice storms, and coastal flooding along the state's extensive Atlantic shoreline, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Know your city or town's snow emergency rules before winter arrives - many Massachusetts municipalities declare parking bans during significant snowfall, and towing is a real, immediate consequence for vehicles left on banned streets. Coastal communities - the North Shore, South Shore, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket - face genuine nor'easter and storm surge risk, so if you're along the shore, understand your specific flood zone before storm season. Heating assistance is a genuinely practical concern for many Massachusetts households given the state's cold winters - the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households with heating costs, administered locally. After a storm causes damage, your city or town Assessor can adjust your property's valuation, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for individuals and municipalities. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory). Building permits for storm repairs go through your specific municipal building department, since Massachusetts has no county-level permitting to fall back on in most of the state.
Sources: Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, LIHEAP, FEMA, city and town offices
New to Massachusetts?
As a new Massachusetts resident, check with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember that once registered, your vehicle will generate a separate annual motor vehicle excise bill from your specific city or town, due 30 days from the issue date, distinct from your RMV registration fee.
New to Massachusetts?
As a new Massachusetts resident, check with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember that once registered, your vehicle will generate a separate annual motor vehicle excise bill from your specific city or town, due 30 days from the issue date, distinct from your RMV registration fee. Keep your address current with the RMV, since excise bills are based on their records and you're liable for the tax whether or not you actually receive the bill. If you've purchased a home, check whether your specific city or town offers a residential (owner-occupied) exemption - Boston and some other communities do, but most towns don't, so this genuinely varies by where you land. Register to vote through your city or town Clerk's office. Remember Massachusetts's 351 cities and towns run nearly all daily local government - taxes, vital records, permits - while counties handle a genuinely narrower set of functions: the Registry of Deeds for property records, and the Probate and Family Court for estates, divorce, and custody matters. Property tax bills arrive quarterly (August 1, November 1, February 1, May 1), and Proposition 2½ caps how fast your community's total tax levy can grow each year without a voter override.
Sources: Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue, city and town offices, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Sources and References
- Mass.gov
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division
- Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
- Massachusetts Trial Court
- Massachusetts Public Records Division
- Massachusetts Municipal Association
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections
- Massachusetts Registry of Deeds
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