When it comes to raising children, parents have a constitutional right to raise their children as they see fit. However, because children also have a constitutional right to be raised in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment, how a parent may raise his or her child is not without limitations. Although parents do not have to be perfect, they do need to provide minimally adequate parenting competence. What defines minimally adequate parenting is fact specific and,

Happy Marathon Monday! As the runners are out braving the wind, rain, and cold, we figured we'd write a running related blog post. If you're running along a trail, trip on a root, and sprain your ankle, the municipality is liable, right? If you're running on a paved path, step in a pothole, and cut your knee so that you need stitches, the municipality is also liable, right? The short answer is no. Under the Massachusetts Recreational Use Statute, GL c. 21 §17C, landowners

Last week we covered the process for nonpayment of rent evictions. This week we'll cover the basics of what to expect in an eviction for reasons other than nonpayment of rent, also known as a "no fault eviction." Similar to in an eviction for nonpayment of rent, a notice to quit is required in an eviction for reasons other than nonpayment of rent. However, instead of the fourteen days for nonpayment, the notice period for evictions of tenants at will for reasons other than

This is the ninth post in our Know Your Rights in Housing series. Click here to view our previous posts. Do you have issues in your apartment or problems with you landlord? Are you accepting these issues because you are afraid your landlord will evict you if you bring the issues to her attention? In Massachusetts, a landlord may not evict a tenant within six months of engaging in certain protected activity, unless the landlord can show that she would have taken the same

Are you being evicted for nonpayment of rent? Did you receive a 14-day Notice to Quit from your landlord? If so, read below to learn about what this means and potential defenses that you may have. First of all, the date on your notice to quit is not the date you must move out by, it is that date your tenancy ends and your landlord can bring a summary process action. Second, whether you have a lease or not, your landlord must send you a 14-day notice to quit for nonpayment o

Did you pay your landlord a security deposit? Are you wondering what your landlord's duties are for your security deposit? Under the M

This is the fifth post in our series on Massachusetts housing law. Click the links to read our first, second, third, and fourth posts. A related topic to our blog post last week is the issue of reasonable accommodations. If you have a mental or physical disability that substantially limits a major life activity, you may require an accommodation to live in your apartment. A reasonable accommodation/modification can be anything from installing a bar on your bathtub or shower

This is the fourth post in our series on Massachusetts housing law. Read our first, second, and third posts. Next week we'll cover the related concept of reasonable accommodations in housing. You may be wondering if any of the following may amount to discrimination: I met with a real estate agent and she told me the apartment I was interested in doesn’t rent to Section 8. I met with a real estate agent and she showed me a handful of nice apartments, returned my calls, and w

Are you looking to rent an apartment with children under six years of age? Learn about your rights under the MA Lead Paint Law.

Rent an apartment and have noisy & disruptive neighbors? Read about how you can enforce your rights.