How to Remove a Condo Trustee in Massachusetts

Updated October 8, 2026: Clarified document-specific voting, recording requirements and the distinction between administrative management and legal advice.

Check the authority and procedure first

Collect the master deed, declaration of trust, bylaws and recorded amendments. Identify who may request a meeting, the notice requirements, quorum, voting method, removal provisions and how a vacancy is filled. A dissatisfied owner, trustee or manager should not act as though they alone can change the board.

Ask the association or its manager for the master deed, declaration of trust, bylaws and amendments. If your copies are incomplete or disagree, check the recorded documents with the Registry of Deeds or the appropriate land registration office. Gather the full set before asking condominium counsel to review the removal, notice and voting provisions.

For context, Chapter 183A, section 10 addresses the organization of unit owners and its powers; section 11 identifies required bylaw subjects. Neither citation establishes a universal 51% removal vote.

Prepare a documented meeting and vote

1. Confirm the procedure. Ask condominium counsel to interpret unclear or disputed removal provisions.
2. Give the required notice. Use the authorized delivery method, lead time and agenda. Keep a copy and delivery record.
3. Check quorum and voting eligibility. Confirm whether interests, proxies or other document-specific rules apply.
4. Record the result. Keep the motion, vote tally, minutes and any required vacancy decision.
5. Arrange the public record. Have counsel prepare the appropriate signed and acknowledged certificate or vote for the registry of deeds or land registration office.

What does Massachusetts law require about recording?

M.G.L. c. 183A, section 8(i) requires subsequent trustee or managing-board changes to be stated in a signed and acknowledged certificate or unit-owner vote and recorded. It also permits good-faith reliance on the recorded trustee information. The recording requirement is separate from whether the underlying removal complied with the governing documents and law.

Contested or urgent cases

Ask a Massachusetts condominium attorney about available remedies, evidence and court jurisdiction if authority is disputed, records are withheld or owners allege misconduct. Avoid publishing accusations or using self-help measures. Legal review is particularly useful before a contested notice or vote.

A property manager can coordinate records, meeting logistics and ongoing operations within the management agreement. The board retains its governance decisions; the manager does not replace counsel. Learn about Boston condo and HOA association management.

Trustee removal and manager replacement are different

A trustee is part of the association’s governing body. A management company is a contracted service provider. If the actual issue is changing the manager, review the agreement and condo-management transition checklist rather than using a trustee-removal process.

Frequently asked questions

Can unit owners remove a condo trustee in Massachusetts?

Check the removal power and procedure in the recorded declaration of trust and bylaws. Follow the applicable notice, quorum, voting and vacancy rules; have condominium counsel review disputed authority or procedure.

What vote is needed to remove a trustee?

Use the threshold in your governing documents and applicable law. Count votes by the required method, which may use beneficial interests rather than one vote per unit. Do not assume a universal 51% rule.

Does recording alone make a removal vote valid?

No. Recording a trustee change documents the change for the public record; it does not repair an invalid meeting or vote. Chapter 183A, section 8(i) addresses the certificate or vote and reliance on recorded trustee information.

What if owners cannot resolve the dispute by a vote?

Consult a Massachusetts condominium attorney about the available remedies, court jurisdiction and evidence. A manager can help organize association records but cannot decide the legal dispute.

Request a management proposal for your association. This article provides general information and does not determine your association’s legal rights or the validity of a particular vote.