How to Register and Record Property in Massachusetts
- 1). Prepare the documents to be filed with the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds on white paper of sufficient weight to be reproduced in registry scanners and no larger than 8.5-by-14 inches. Prepare the documents on one side only with dark enough printing and large enough fonts so that they may be legibly reproduced. Be certain that all margins also allow for reproduction on standard registry scanners. Designate a "recording information area" area in the upper right hand corner three inches from the top and right edge of the document that is blank. Alternately, you may also attach the document to an official Document Cover Sheet.
- 2). Find the appropriate county from the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds website to learn about fees required for the type of document you wish to record or register. Some of the real estate documents recorded and registered include deeds, declarations of trust, mortgages, mortgage foreclosure deeds and affidavits, mortgage discharges, municipal lien certificates, plans and other related real property ownership instruments. Fees vary within the state and can range from five dollar for plans to several hundred dollars to record mortgage documents.
- 3). Gather the documents you wish to register or record and review them for accuracy. Ensure that they conform with the rules specified on the Registry of Deeds website for the appropriate county. Contact your local office for further information if necessary. Mail or take the documents to the appropriate office with the required fee in cash, money order or certified check form.
- 4). Prepare a Declaration of Homestead to protect a homeowner's primary residence for up to 500,000 dollars. File the Declaration of Homestead at the Registry of Deeds located within the district or county location of the property. To find information about how to locate the proper form or which district to file in, check the City/Town Registry Guide at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodidx.htm.
- 5). Consider enlisting the services of an attorney, paralegal or document preparation service to review or prepare legal real estate property instruments. Try using an attorney service to record or register your documents to ensure that all filing requirements are met and that appropriate fees are paid. Usually, an attorney service will advance monies if the amount required has changed and their client has not included sufficient funds for the filing. Using a professional who is familiar with how to prepare, register and record real estate documents could be critical, particularly for time sensitive matters.