In a previous article I discussed how Chapter 13 can be useful to reinstate a driver’s license that has been suspended by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for unpaid taxes.  Sometimes a license is not suspended, but is prevented from being renewed due to unpaid parking tickets, vehicle excise taxes, or EZ Pass fines.  Parking tickets and excise taxes are collected by cities and towns in Massachusetts.  If the registered owner of the...

Liens on real estate can hold up closings and prevent refinancing. A lien secures a debt, much like a mortgage secures a loan. Liens can be created for unpaid taxes, services (e.g. a mechanic’s lien or water and sewer charges), or from a judgment in a lawsuit. In Massachusetts, a lien from a judgment in a lawsuit is called an execution. The execution secures the amount that was awarded to the plaintiff. Credit card companies (Citibank,...