Can my Homestead be terminated? | Northern Bristol County MA Registry of Deeds

Yes, the estate of homestead may be terminated by any of the following methods:

if the home is conveyed by deed to a non-family member and the deed is signed by the owner and if applicable, a non-owner spouse or former spouse residing in the home as a principal residence at the time the deed is drafted;
a recorded release of the homestead is signed and acknowledged by the owner and if applicable, a non-owner spouse or former spouse residing in the home at the time of the release;
abandonment of the home as a principal residence by the owner, owner’s spouse, former spouse or minor children, only as they apply to rights of the persons who abandoned the home. Military service shall not be considered abandonment;
if the deed is held in trust, either the trustee or a beneficial owner identified in the homestead declaration records a termination on the property held in trust.; or
if a subsequent homestead declaration is made on another home, such as a vacation home, it shall terminate a prior homestead on an actual principal residence.

Please note, there are a number of transfers that do not terminate an already declared homestead. Any transfer of the property between spouses, former spouses, co-owners, a trustee and a beneficiary or a life tenant and a remainderman will not terminate a previously declared homestead. Also, if a conveyance or release is made without the signature and acknowledgement of a non-owner spouse or former spouse who is residing in the home at the time the principal residence is conveyed or released by an owner, it shall not affect the homestead of the spouse who failed to sign.