"Authorized person", a person authorized to act on behalf of another person by a written document signed by the person on whose behalf the person authorized thereby is acting. A photocopy, facsimile or scanned image of such document accompanying a request, demand or notice pursuant to sections 54 to 55, inclusive, may be relied upon by any recipient thereof acting in good faith.
"Bank confirmation of wire transmission", for wired funds, a written confirmation of the same issued by the bank or other institution transmitting payment, including a written print-out by facsimile or other electronic transmission, that recites the beneficiary account number and other payee information prescribed in a payoff statement.
"Discharge", a duly executed and acknowledged deed of release of a mortgage or other written instrument that, by its terms, discharges or releases a mortgage or the lien thereof or acknowledges payment or satisfaction of a mortgage or the debt or obligation secured by a mortgage or the conditions therein contained, or, in the case of a partial release, a duly executed and acknowledged instrument that, by its terms, discharges or releases a mortgage or the lien thereof from less than all of the property encumbered by the mortgage.
"Mortgagee", the holder of record of a mortgage, or any successor in interest to the record holder, including as identified pursuant to subsection (i) of section 55 or by reference to other documents of record or to a database maintained by a governmental or quasi-governmental agency or entity; but, if the mortgage was properly assigned of record, mortgagee shall mean the last person to whom the mortgage was so assigned, or any such successor in interest thereto as so identified.
"Mortgage servicer", the last person servicing a mortgage loan who is required under section 54D to provide a payoff statement with respect to the mortgage loan, whether or not appearing of record as the mortgagee.
"Mortgagor", a grantor of a mortgage, the grantor's heirs, successors or assigns, or any other person who is an obligor of a note or other obligation secured by a mortgage.
"Note holder", the holder of a note evidencing a debt or any other obligation secured by a mortgage; but, if the note holder is not the holder of record of the mortgage, the note shall contain the appropriate endorsements evidencing the transfer of ownership thereof to said holder.
"Payoff statement", a statement in writing, including a written print-out by facsimile or other electronic transmission, issued at the request of the mortgagor or an authorized person on his behalf by a mortgagee, mortgage servicer or note holder indicating the amount of the unpaid balance of the mortgage loan, including principal, interest and other charges assessed pursuant to the mortgage loan, which may include the interest on a per diem basis with respect to the unpaid principal balance of the mortgage. A payoff statement shall include, where the context permits, a statement provided to the mortgagor or an authorized person on his behalf by a mortgagee, mortgage servicer or note holder, indicating the amount of the unpaid balance of the mortgage loan or other obligation that must be paid in order to issue a partial release of a mortgage.
"Person", an individual, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, testamentary trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency or other legal entity.
"Recordation", "recording" or "recorded", a recording with the registry of deeds in accordance with this chapter, or registration with the registry district of the land court in accordance with chapter 185.
"Recording information", the date of recording or filing of an instrument or document at a registry of deeds or registry district of the land court, and the applicable book number and page number, or the land court document number, as assigned by the register of deeds or assistant recorder of the land court.
"Servicing", the receipt by a mortgage servicer of scheduled periodic payments and payoff monies from a mortgagor on a mortgage loan, and the allocation of the payments to principal, interest, municipal real estate taxes and other appropriate assessments and charges, all pursuant to the terms of the loan.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 54