Dukes County Recorder Information

Land records in Dukes County are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by Paulo C. DeOliveira.

Book Vault: access to Recorded Land Books not on the Mass Land Records site. A Plan Index Card Search is also available online.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Dukes County Registry of Deeds

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

Other charges

Paying the office

Checks for recording fees and excise must be in the exact amount. Excise checks should be separate from the recording fees.

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).

Martha's Vineyard Land Bank fee: all land transfers and any transfers of interest, including leases of 30 years or more (including extensions), must be processed through the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission before recording. For a transaction that is not exempt, the Land Bank requires a bank check or attorney's client escrow account check in the amount of two percent of the purchase price.

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 · Massachusetts registries of deeds recording fee schedule · Recording Checklist · Processing a Transaction - Martha's Vineyard Land Bank

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

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.

Property address must be put in the left margin for all deeds and mortgages, unless the address appears on the first page of the document. The notary's expiration date must be noted and legible. Exhibits a document refers to must be attached and legible. The re-recording of an original document to correct an error or omission is prohibited.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• LB1 Form Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission
  All cases (completed and signed, plus two photocopies)
• LB2 Form Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission
  If the transaction is exempt: claiming exemption from the fee
• LB5 Form Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission
  If the transaction involves a corporation, partnership or trust

Submitting documents

All land transfers and any transfers of interest must be processed through the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank before being recorded at the Registry of Deeds. For electronic filing, deeds are currently accepted through one submission channel only, and only certain entities or people are permitted to record electronically.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Recording Checklist · Processing a Transaction - Martha's Vineyard Land Bank · Contact The Dukes County Registry of Deeds · E-Filing