Northern Berkshire District Recording Information, Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Recorder Office

Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.

Northern Berkshire District Registry of Deeds

65 Park Street, Adams, Massachusetts 01220

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, Except on State and National holidays

Recording cutoff: Recording hours are from 8:30 AM through 4:00 PM

(413) 743-0035

Verified September 2026 against the office's own page.

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About the Northern Berkshire District Registry of Deeds

Land records in Northern Berkshire District are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by Maria T. Ziemba.

Registry records date back to 1731 and are available on microfilm and online from 1731 to date; computer indices are online from 1966 to present.

This registry records land documents for property in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown, Windsor.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: FAQ's - Berkshire North Real Estate Records

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 (per mortgage)
Releases and satisfactions	$105.00 flat (mortgage discharge, release or partial release)
Other standard documents	$105.00 flat (all other documents)

Other charges

Copies, per page	$1.00

Fees include all applicable surcharges. 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. Recording fees are the same for Recorded Land and Registered Land.

Paying the office

Accepted	Cash, Check
Checks payable to	Berkshire North Registry of Deeds OR Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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. No personal checks shall exceed $200.00 and identification must be presented.

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 North · Recording Requirements - Berkshire North · Massachusetts registries of deeds recording fee schedule

Document Requirements

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

Paper size	no larger than 8.5 inches by 14 inches
Ink and paper	White paper of sufficient weight to reproduce in registry scanners; markings sufficiently dark to be legibly reproduced; do not highlight any document text.
Single sided pages required	Yes
Return address required	Yes
Grantee address required	Yes
Printed names under signatures required	Yes
Cover sheet	Optional

The 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. 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.

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.

Documents must bear an original signature and be notarized if required; the notary expiration date is required. No social security numbers or personal identification numbers. Exhibits go at the end of the document; reduced Registry of Deeds descriptions as attachments are not acceptable. Unit deed plans must be legible. Clip all multiple page documents. Documents must specify whether they are registered land to be recorded in Land Court. Re-recording an original document to correct an error or omission is prohibited.

Submitting documents

In person	Accepted
By mail	Accepted
Electronic recording	Accepted
Stamped, self-addressed return envelope	Required
How recorded documents come back	The original document is returned to the party that presented the document for recording.

No more than 10 documents shall be accepted for recording at one time. Registered Land (Land Court) documents cannot be filed electronically at the present time.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: FAQ's - Berkshire North Real Estate Records · Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Recording Requirements - Berkshire North · Requirement Checklist for Document Recording · eRecording - Berkshire North