Real Estate Law and Construction Law

Massachusetts quietly amended its estate tax statute last summer. This amendment significantly changes how the tax is calculated for non-resident decedents owning Massachusetts real estate.

A revocable living trust (sometimes called a revocable inter vivos trust) is a legal arrangement you create during your lifetime to hold legal title to your assets.

Jennifer D'Amato explores the critical techniques and strategies available under Wisconsin law for post-death estate administration, examining how legal professionals can help families minimize costs, delays, and conflicts during the probate process. The article provides practical guidance on navigating the various administration options available in Wisconsin's aging population landscape.

California voters will decide on an $11.25 billion housing affordability bond this November, while Los Angeles advances an ordinance to phase out oil and gas drilling over 20 years. Meanwhile, President Trump's unexpected demand threatens the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which includes controversial provisions banning large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.

Hotel performance tests have come under renewed scrutiny as upper-upscale and luxury hotels face economic challenges from global geopolitical unrest. This article examines the core elements of hotel performance tests in management agreements and provides strategic guidance for hotel operators navigating potential test failures. Understanding the two-prong structure, cure rights, and applicable exceptions becomes critical when operating performance faces continued headwinds.

On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule (Docket No. USDA-2026-0001; RIN 0560-AI70) that would significantly reshape the regulatory framework under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The proposed rule would broaden what counts as “agricultural land,” narrow long-standing reporting exemptions, expand beneficial ownership disclosure, increase penalties, and move administration of the program to USDA’s Office of Homeland Security.

It’s an uncomfortable topic, but it also creates immediate legal and financial questions for surviving family members, sellers, lenders, and real estate professionals.

Recent amendments to Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.15 have significantly changed how Massachusetts law yers must handle unclaimed and unidentified funds held in IOLTA accounts.

The Texas Supreme Court has overturned the "gist" rule used by lower courts to dismiss cases involving out-of-state property, establishing that Texas courts can exercise jurisdiction over contractual disputes and deed reformation matters regardless of property location. This landmark decision clarifies the distinction between in personam and in rem suits, potentially opening Texas courts to a broader range of extraterritorial real estate disputes. The ruling in Braxton Minerals III, LLC v. Bauer provides cr

On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule (Docket No. USDA-2026-0001; RIN 0560-AI70) that would significantly reshape the regulatory framework under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The proposed rule would broaden what counts as “agricultural land,” narrow long-standing reporting exemptions, expand beneficial ownership disclosure, increase penalties, and move administration of the program to USDA’s Office of Homeland Security.

Japanese-owned companies operating in the United States are increasingly revisiting their commercial lease terms as market conditions evolve in 2025. Provisions such as operating expense pass-throughs, rent escalation clauses, and capital expenditure treatment require careful scrutiny, as they often differ significantly from Japanese leasing practices. Understanding flexibility provisions, compliance responsibilities, and risk allocation mechanisms has become essential for effective corporate governance and

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a proposed statewide rent control initiative cannot appear on the 2026 ballot, finding that the attorney general improperly certified the measure. The decision hinges on a technical interpretation of Article 48's "excluded matters" provision, specifically regarding the petition's exemption for religious properties.