H 1898 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act to further clear titles to real property affected by technical irregularities in recorded instruments

HD 852 automatically validates real property deeds and titles with minor technical errors (like missing seals, incorrect wording, or improper execution) after 10 years of recording, directly affecting property owners with unclear titles from older documents. The key provision states that such instruments become legally effective as if error-free after 10 years, unless a legal challenge is filed within that period. This applies to all recorded property documents from before, during, or after the law's effective date (January 1, 2026), except for cases already under court review. The bill simplifies title clearance for property owners without requiring them to prove or correct minor administrative flaws.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Frank Moran
Frank Moran
DDemocratic
MA
17th Essex