What is an estoppel?

Estoppel is a legal principle in Massachusetts that prevents a person from taking a certain action or making a claim if it is inconsistent with a previous action taken or statement made. Estoppel is also referred to as "legal estoppel" or "estoppel by record." An example of estoppel in property law may be when a tenant has been renting a property for a specific amount for a long period of time and has been paying that amount regularly. If the landlord suddenly tries to change the amount of rent they are requiring the tenant to pay, the tenant may be able to use estoppel to stop the landlord from changing the rent because the tenant has already relied on the original agreement. Estoppel can also be used to establish certain rights in other areas of property law, including contract disputes and boundary disputes. In summary, estoppel is a legal principle that prevents a person from making a claim or taking an action that contradicts what has been said or done previously.

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