2025 Land Court fee generating appointment types

Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:07 Report: List of all fee generating appointment types in the Land Court sorted by type of appointment.

Commissioner for Partition of Real Estate

G.L. c. 241, § 12

Method of appointment

By judge from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 10 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and cases involving the partition of real estate under G.L. c. 241; and
4. At least 10 years’ experience practicing in the real estate field of law, including at least 3 cases involving the partition of real estate - at least 1 of which has been completed, either through partition on the ground or a sale - and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Partition Commissioner in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]  

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Title Examiner in Tax Lien foreclosure case

G.L. c. 60, § 66

Method of appointment

By Recorder or Deputy Recorder from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 3 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and cases involving tax title foreclosure under G.L. c. 60; and
4. At least three years’ experience practicing in the real estate conveyancing field of law and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Tax Title Examiner in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A sample abstract of title
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Title Examiner in Registration and Confirmation case

G.L. c. 185, § 37

Method of appointment

By Chief Title Examiner from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 3 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and original land registration and confirmation cases under G.L. c. 185; and
4. At least three years’ experience practicing in the real estate conveyancing field of law and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Registered Land Title Examiner in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]  

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A sample abstract of title
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Title Examiner in case subsequent to Registration (S cases)

G.L. c. 185

Method of appointment

By Chief Title Examiner from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 3 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and real estate conveyancing law involving registered land under G.L. c. 185; and
4. At least three years’ experience practicing in the real estate conveyancing field of law and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Registered Land Title Examiner in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]  

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A sample abstract of title
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Guardian Ad Litem in Registration and Confirmation cases, Miscellaneous cases, Partition cases, and Tax Lien foreclosure cases

Registration and Confirmation cases (G.L. c. 185, § 40)

Miscellaneous cases (G.L. c. 240, § 8)

Partition cases (G.L. c. 241, § 9)

Tax Lien foreclosure cases (G.L. c. 60, § 80B)

Method of appointment

By Judge, Recorder, Deputy Recorder, or Chief Title Examiner from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 3 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and real estate law and Land Court cases involving G.L. c. 185, c. 240, c. 241, and c. 60; and
4. At least three years’ experience practicing in the real estate field of law and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Guardian ad Litem in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]  

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Military Attorney in civil cases

50 U.S.C. § 3931(b)(2)

Method of appointment

By Judge, Recorder, Deputy Recorder, or Chief Title Examiner from list

Qualifications

1. Member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing;
2. No felony conviction or bar discipline, unless bar discipline was imposed over 3 years ago and the applicant is granted an exception by the court after written request;
3. Familiarity with real estate law in Massachusetts; Land Court practice and procedures, rules, and standing orders; and the requirements of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 50 U.S.C. §§ 3901 et seq. and the Massachusetts procedures established thereunder (see Chapter 57 of the Acts of 1943, as amended); and
4. At least three years’ experience practicing in the real estate field of law and sufficient skill and expertise to serve as a Military Attorney in Land Court cases.

Method of application

To apply, email the following to: 

Land Court Recorder’s Office  
ATTN: Mary Armstrong, Assistant Clerk  
[e-mail]  

• A completed Land Court Application Form (available on website)
• A resume setting forth educational background, year of admission to the bar, and experience in the required fields
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from members of the Massachusetts bar familiar with the applicant’s work
• A Certificate of Good Standing as a member of the Massachusetts bar, issued within the last thirty (30) days every three (3) years by January 1 starting in 2025, as a condition of continued eligibility to accept fee generating appointments from the Land Court. 

More information about Fee Generating Appointments in the Land Court is available online.

Other ancillary appointment roles

Master (Mass. R. Civ. P. Rule 53 and G.L. c. 185, § 3), Receiver (Partition, G.L. c. 241, § 25), Trustee (Partition, G.L. c. 241, § 35), etc.

Method of appointment

By Judge, Recorder, Deputy Recorder, or Chief Title Examiner from above lists, depending on the case type and particular skills and expertise required in the case

Qualifications

See above lists for relevant qualifications.

Method of application

See above lists.