Norfolk County Recorder Information

Land records in Norfolk County are recorded by the Registry of Deeds. The office is held by William P. O'Donnell.

Recorded (Registry) Land and Registered (Land Court) Land records are separately indexed; searches by address use a combined index. The Registry has included the property address for applicable documents since 2003.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Registry of Deeds · Filing Requirements and Document Checklists - Norfolk 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

Recorded land fees include a $1.00 postage and document return charge per document for documents sent by mail or recorded in person; as of July 1, 2025, the postage charge does not apply to documents filed electronically. Land Court (registered land) fees: Deed $155.00, Mortgage $205.00, Declaration of Homestead $35.00, Declaration of Trust $255.00. Recorded land: Foreclosure Deed and Affidavit $156.00; Declaration of Homestead $36.00; Declaration of Trust $256.00; Municipal Lien Certificate $81.00; UCC Filings $76.00; Federal Tax Liens and Releases $5.00; Sewer Assessment $106.00; Recording of Plans $105.00 per sheet; Plan Copies $2.00.

Paying the office

A separate check, which must be an attorney's check or a bank check, is required for the excise tax, along with a check for the recording fees. If a document needs to be recorded in the Land Court and in the Registry, a separate check is required for each side. Document recording fees must be in exact amount; no change will be given.

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 · Fee Schedule - Excise Tax - Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

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

Top: 2 inches, Bottom: .75 inches, Sides: 1 inch each.

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.

All documents must have the property address stated on the first page. Deeds and mortgages must reference the Book and page of the deed associated with the property. For deeds, the amount of consideration must be stated in the document. Releases and Discharges: include the book and page number of the affected mortgage or lien document. Avoid presenting faxed pages for recording.

Submitting documents

All documents that may be recorded in the Registry or in the Land Court are accepted for e-file, except documents required to be filed under both recorded land and registered land. A document required to be filed for both recorded and registered land should be filed in the Land Court first. An E-File Submitter Agreement is required before e-filing.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Massachusetts Deed Indexing Standards, January 1, 2025 · Document Formatting Standards - Norfolk County Registry of Deeds · Recorded Land Document Checklist - Norfolk County Registry of Deeds · FAQs - Norfolk County Registry of Deeds · E-Filing Information - Norfolk County Registry of Deeds