Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
About the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
Land records in Barnstable County are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by John F. Meade.
Property records begin in 1742 and Land Court records begin in 1898. The address based search option is not an official index of the Registry.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $155.00 flat (Includes the $50 community preservation surcharge (G.L. c. 44B §8)) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $205.00 flat (Total fee, regardless of number of pages) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $105.00 flat (Mortgage discharge) |
| Other standard documents | $105.00 flat (All other instruments) |
Other charges
| Additional references or marginal notations | $105.00 each (each additional reference) |
|---|---|
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification | $10.00 |
Fee schedule effective December 31, 2019.
Fees are for the entire document regardless of the number of pages. Easement (Recorded Land) $155.00; Easement (Land Court) $105.00; Foreclosure Deed & Aff. $155.00; Municipal Lien Cert. $80.00; Declaration of Trust $255.00; Dec. of Homestead $35.00; filing a plan, any size, per sheet $105.00; UCC instruments $75.00 each.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Check, Money order |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Barnstable Registry of Deeds |
The Registry does not issue change; recordings should be submitted with the exact amount of recording fees. A check or money order that exceeds the fee by more than $10.00 per instrument is rejected; overpayments of $10.00 or less may be retained as a handling charge. Separate checks are not required for fees and excise taxes.
Transfer tax
Deeds excise. $6.48 per $1,000 of stated value in Barnstable County: the state rate of $3.42 per $1,000 plus the county rate of $3.06 per $1,000. Consideration is rounded up to the next $500. The tax is collected when the document is recorded.
StatewideThe deeds excise is levied on deeds conveying realty sold when the consideration, exclusive of liens or encumbrances remaining, exceeds $100. Per G.L. c. 64D §1, the chapter does not apply to instruments given to secure a debt, or to instruments to which the Commonwealth, a city or town, or the United States or their agencies are a party. Stamps are prepared by the Department of Revenue and sold through the registries of deeds (G.L. c. 64D §3).
In Barnstable County the deeds excise is assessed at a combined rate of $6.48 per $1,000.00 of stated value: the current State Rate in Barnstable County is $3.42 per $1,000.00 and the current County Rate is $3.06 per $1,000.00. Consideration that does not end in an even $500.00 or $1,000 is rounded up to the next $500.00.
Checked September 2026 against the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. Sources: G.L. c. 262 §38 · G.L. c. 64D §1 · Recorded Land & Land Court Fee Schedule effective 12/31/2019 · Registry Copies · Fee Schedule & Recording Procedures · Massachusetts registries of deeds recording fee schedule
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Grantee address required | Yes (statewide, Mass. Deed Indexing Standards §3-1) |
|---|
StatewideA deed shall not be accepted for recording unless it contains the address of the property being conveyed, clearly labeled "property address." All printing and writing must be of sufficient size to be legibly reproduced on standard registry scanners. A register of deeds may refuse an instrument that cannot be properly duplicated.
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| Stamped, self-addressed return envelope | Required |
| How recorded documents come back | Originals sent by mail or express service are returned in the submitter's self-addressed stamped envelope; an original recorded instrument without an appropriate SASE is discarded within one month of recording. eRecorded documents receive an electronic receipt and an electronic copy of the recorded instrument. |
USPS mail goes to PO Box 368, Barnstable, MA 02630; overnight carriers use 3195 Main St. Barnstable, MA 02630. In-person recordings share a queue with e-file submissions. Land Court filings need to be in the queue by 3:30 pm. Closings are not permitted in the facility.
Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Fee Schedule & Recording Procedures · Registry re-opening notice · Electronic Filing
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Not available through Deeds.com
Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Barnstable County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Office
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
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