Berkshire Middle District Recording Information

Land records in Berkshire Middle District are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by Patricia Harris.

Recorded Land document indexes from 1959 to the present; document images from 1869 to the present; plan indexes 1847 to the present; Land Court documents 1908 to the present. Two public search stations are available at the Registry.

This registry records land documents for property in Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · FAQ's – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · About Us – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

Declaration of Homestead $35; Declaration of Trust $255; Mortgage Foreclosure Deed & Affidavit $155; Municipal Lien Certificate $80; UCC Documents (up to 2 debtors) $75; Federal Tax Liens (and related documents) $5; Plans (per sheet) $105. Fees include all applicable surcharges. Recording fees are the same for Recorded Land and Registered Land.

Paying the office

Telephone numbers and addresses must be on all checks. Document recording fees must be in the exact amount and total due should be paid with one check or cash.

Transfer tax

Deeds excise. $2.00 for each $500 or fractional part of consideration over $100, plus a 14% surtax ($2.28 per $500). The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, G.L. c. 64D §1)

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).

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 · Recording Fees – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · Recording Requirements – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · Massachusetts registries of deeds recording fee schedule

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

First page must contain a recording information area in the upper right-hand corner measuring three inches from the top edge and three inches from the right edge, free from all writing or printing. Margins on all sides must be of sufficient size to be legibly reproduced on standard registry scanners.

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.

No document containing a social security number will be accepted. Do not highlight any document text. Exhibits and addenda go at the end of the document; reduced Registry of Deeds descriptions as attachments are not acceptable. Clip multiple page documents. Notary expiration date is required. For mailed documents, property address must be put in the left margin for mortgages, deeds, mortgage discharges, and death certificates unless the address appears on the first page. No more than 10 documents accepted for recording at one time.

Submitting documents

Registered Land (Land Court) documents must be emailed to the Registry for review prior to bringing them in or submitting them electronically for registration.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Recording Requirements – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds · eRecording – Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds