Bill > H1689

This bill, the "real estate title protection act," aims to protect titles to real estate in Massachusetts. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It establishes requirements for the recording of real estate documents, including assignments of mortgages, affidavits of sale, and foreclosure deeds. These include time limits for recording, requirements for accompanying documentation, and restrictions on what the register of deeds can record. 2. It requires mortgage statements to provide specific information about the current mortgagee, note owner, and mortgage servicer, and imposes penalties for non-compliance. 3. It mandates the return of the original mortgage note to the mortgagor upon full payment of the loan and imposes penalties for non-compliance. 4. It repeals foreclosure by entry and possession and limits the foreclosure process to court actions. 5. It imposes new notification and fine requirements on mortgagees taking possession or conveying title of a property. 6. It removes conclusive evidentiary weight provisions related to certain foreclosure affidavits. 7. It establishes criminal penalties for the use of false or fraudulent documents related to real estate, including in foreclosure proceedings, and requires the Attorney General to report annually on such cases. The overall goal of the bill is to increase transparency and accountability in the real estate title and mortgage process in Massachusetts.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1689