Condo Lawyer Quincy

Experienced condominium counsel for Quincy and the South Shore.

Quincy has one of the densest concentrations of condominium living on the South Shore, from waterfront communities like Marina Bay to the many conversion-era associations across the city. Marcus Condo Law works with the boards, managers, and developers behind them, and we are based right next door in Braintree.

SERVICES

Where expert condo counsel matters most in Quincy.

Waterfront and near-water associations in Quincy face a particular set of pressures: master insurance programs that have to account for coastal exposure, capital projects on buildings that take a beating from the elements, and lender eligibility that depends on both. Inland, the city's large conversion communities deal with aging documents and deferred maintenance. We handle the full range, from insurance and reserve strategy to document amendments, collections, and disputes.

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Document Review & Amendments

Reviewing master deeds, declarations of trust, bylaws, and rules and regulations. Drafting amendments to bring documents into line with current law, current building needs, or current case law. Updating documents that haven't been touched in decades, and explaining what changes will actually pass at a unit owner meeting.

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Board Governance & Operations

Counseling boards through difficult decisions, including when to call a special meeting, how to handle conflicts of interest, what kinds of decisions require unit owner votes, and how to document board actions in a way that withstands future challenges.

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Rule Enforcement

Enforcing parking restrictions, pet policies, short-term rental prohibitions, leasing limits, and architectural controls. Advising on when rules can be enforced as written and when they need to be amended first. Handling disputes that escalate to litigation.

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Special Assessments & Capital Projects

Structuring and authorizing special assessments for major repairs, deferred maintenance, and capital improvements. Counseling boards through reserve fund use, financing decisions, and the procedural steps required for assessments to be enforceable.

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Collections

Pursuing unpaid common area fees and assessments. Massachusetts condominiums have one of the strongest priority lien protections in the country, much of which was secured by legislation Stephen helped lead in the early 1990s. We use those protections strategically.

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Developer Turnover

Representing associations in the transition from developer control to unit owner control. Reviewing turnover documents, identifying outstanding warranty claims, and ensuring that the developer's representations match the building's actual condition.

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Litigation & Dispute Resolution

When matters cannot be resolved through negotiation, representing associations in court and in arbitration. Defending against unit owner challenges, prosecuting against vendors and contractors, and pursuing developers for breach of warranty or defect claims.

WHO WE WORK WITH

A narrow client base, by design.

Marcus Condo Law represents Quincy condominium associations of 30 units or more, the property management companies that serve South Shore portfolios, and developers. The practice focuses on the matters where experienced judgment matters most, which means we refer people with other problems to a trusted colleague with the relevant experience.

Condominium Associations of 30+ Units

We work directly with boards of trustees and management committees on the matters that shape how a building runs. Most of our association clients have a long-term relationship with the firm — we are the expert counsel they turn to for harder questions, while routine matters are handled by their property manager or in-house staff.

Property Management Companies

Many of our association engagements come through property managers who refer us in when something requires expert legal input. We also work directly with management companies on policy questions, training, and matters affecting their portfolio of properties.

Developers

We advise developers on document drafting for new condominium projects, conversion of rental buildings to condominium ownership, turnover negotiations, and defense of warranty and defect claims after delivery.

WHY STEPHEN MARCUS

Experience that has been written into the law itself.

Stephen has practiced condominium law since 1979 and helped secure the priority lien protections that Massachusetts associations rely on to collect unpaid fees, much of it through legislation he helped lead in the early 1990s. He served as President of the College of Community Association Lawyers and as tri-chair of the national task force convened after the Champlain Towers collapse. For Quincy's waterfront and larger associations, that combination of collections strength and structural-safety judgment is exactly the kind of counsel the harder matters call for.


FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do waterfront associations in Quincy need a different insurance approach?

Very strong. Massachusetts gives associations a super-priority lien for up to six months of unpaid common expenses ahead of a first mortgage, provided the statutory notices are served correctly. We use those protections strategically for Quincy associations dealing with delinquencies.

How strong is the lien for unpaid condo fees in Massachusetts?

Very strong. Massachusetts gives associations a super-priority lien for up to six months of unpaid common expenses ahead of a first mortgage, provided the statutory notices are served correctly. We use those protections strategically for Quincy associations dealing with delinquencies.

You are in Braintree. Does that help our Quincy association?

It does. Being next door means easier in-person board meetings and site visits when a matter calls for it, on top of decades of South Shore condominium experience.

Do you represent individual unit owners?

Generally no. The practice is built around association-level matters: board governance, document amendments, capital projects, insurance and lender compliance, and disputes that affect the building as a whole. Individual unit owner disputes and landlord-tenant matters are usually better served by other counsel, and we are glad to refer.

Does Massachusetts require our association to have a reserve study?

Not yet. Massachusetts requires condominiums to maintain an adequate, segregated reserve fund under Chapter 183A, but it does not currently mandate a formal reserve study the way some states do. Lenders and insurers increasingly expect one anyway, so most well-run associations commission them. We help boards understand what they actually need.

IS THIS THE RIGHT FIT?

Marcus Condo Law works primarily with Quincy condominium associations of 30 units or more, property management companies, and developers. We do not typically represent individual unit owners, associations smaller than 30 units, or landlord-tenant matters. If your situation falls outside that scope, send a brief note and we'll point you toward a colleague who can help.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Tell us about the matter. We respond within one business day.

We'd be glad to hear about your Quincy association, your portfolio, or your project.

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25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA 02184

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Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eastern). By appointment outside business hours.

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