Municipal Law

Kathleen Colleary, Bureau Chief
E-mail: for DLSLAW

The Bureau of Municipal Finance Law serves as the legal bureau for the Division of Local Services. It provides legal advice on municipal tax and finance issues to Division and Department of Revenue staff, state and local officials and others. This includes issuing written legal opinions and promulgating guidelines and other written materials advising local officials about new legislation and the implementation of municipal tax and finance laws generally.

Statutory responsibilities it carries out include promulgating tax administration forms; processing applications from assessors or other local officials for authority to abate local taxes and charges under G.L. c. 58, §8 ;processing applications from assessors to assess to owner unknown under G.L. c. 59, §11; and processing applications for authority from treasurers to use the land of low value procedure to foreclose a tax title under G.L. c. 60, §79.

Local officials and others may obtain informal legal advice through the Bureau's "Attorneys of the Day" phone and e-mail service. The Bureau also issues formal written opinions upon request.

containing late-breaking news, announcements, updates and training opportunities

A selection of opinions issued by the Division of Local Services.