Southern Berkshire District Recording Information

Land records in Southern Berkshire District are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by Michelle Laramee-Jenny.

Records date back to 1761. Colonial Records Proprietary Plans are available. The Consumer Notification Service allows registration of up to 3 properties; homeowners who previously enrolled must create a new account. Certified copies may be requested in person, by mail or email; documents requested by email must be picked up at the Registry.

This registry records land documents for property in Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Berkshire South Registry of Deeds

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

Other charges

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. Certified copies of registered land certificates of title are $5.00 per certificate. Copies of plans are $2.00 to $3.00 depending on the plan size. Copies of documents are available at no charge on masslandrecords.com.

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. No personal checks shall exceed $200.00 and identification must be presented. "Both-Ways" recordings (Registered and Recorded Land) require separate checks for each department. Separate checks are required for the plans department and the document recordings.

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 · Recording Requirements · Massachusetts registries of deeds recording fee schedule

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

The first page must contain a recording information area in the upper right-hand corner, three inches from the top edge and three inches from the right edge, free from all writing or printing. For mailed documents, the 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.

No more than 10 documents are accepted for recording at one time in person. Documents should be included in the plans tube.

Submitting documents

Registered Land documents must be emailed to the Register for approval before mailing or coming to the Registry to record; upon approval, an appointment is made for in-Registry recording. The Registry accepts only packages addressed to the Registry, and FedEx packages specifying adult signature required will be returned to sender.

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