How to Search Massachusetts Recorded Documents (Start Here)

Recorded documents in Massachusetts — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records — are filed with the Register of Deeds in each county.

What this page covers: Massachusetts recorded document searches — deeds, mortgages, assignments, liens, plats, and other instruments filed in the public land records. What it does not cover: Property valuations or tax data (those are on the Property Records page).

Where to start: Go to the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Many county register of deeds offer online document search by grantor/grantee name, book/page, or instrument number.

Common mistake: Recorded documents show what was filed — they do not confirm current ownership or lien status without a full title search. A deed in the index does not mean it is the most recent transfer.

Recorder of deeds
Massachusetts Deeds and Mortgages | Search Massachusetts County Clerk Records for Recorded Documents
UCC-1 filings
Unmasking Massachusetts UCC Liens: A Step-by-Step Search Guide
Statewide deed index?
Massachusetts Deed Records - Search Property Documents
Recording statute
Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44B section 8
Legal system
Part III COURTS, JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES Chapters
Number of counties
14 counties
Population
7,136,171
Households
2,735,000
Median Income
$99,858
Median Home Value
$537,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Massachusetts recorded documents URL verified against the official state publisher at www.sec.state.ma.us on the review date. 5 primary .gov sources cited below.

Massachusetts Recorded Documents — Key Facts (2026)

Deeds, mortgages, UCC filings, liens, military discharges in Massachusetts — what gets recorded and where in 2026.
County
Where deeds live
Permanent record
SoS
Where UCC live
Secretary of State
Article 9
UCC governs
Secured transactions
Public
Most recorded docs
With redaction
Federal
DD-214 / IRS liens
National-level
Common recorded document types — typical volume
Deeds
100
Mortgages
95
Liens (property)
70
UCC (business)
55
Powers of attorney
25
Military DD-214
10
Unit: relative volume (deeds=100).

What Changed in 2026 — Massachusetts Recorded Documents

2026
Massachusetts recorded documents portal active
The official Massachusetts portal at www.sec.state.ma.us continues to serve as the canonical entry point for recorded documents in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for recorded documents
The NASS UCC Filings overview at www.nass.org provides federal-level context that complements Massachusetts state records.
2026
Massachusetts access in 2026
For 2026, Massachusetts continues to publish recorded documents information through state-authorized portals; check www.sec.state.ma.us for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Massachusetts's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 5-Type Massachusetts Recorded Documents Map

1
Type 1 — Real property (Deeds, Mortgages)
Massachusetts County Recorder / Register of Deeds. Permanent record.
2
Type 2 — UCC (business collateral)
Most filed with Massachusetts Secretary of State. Some real-estate UCCs are county.
3
Type 3 — Liens (tax, mechanic's, judgment)
Property liens at the county. IRS federal tax liens may file at county OR state.
4
Type 4 — Personal documents (POA, military DD-214)
Often optional county recording in Massachusetts for safekeeping. Originals at federal NPRC.
5
Type 5 — Maps & subdivisions
Massachusetts county recorder; some at state mapping office.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Massachusetts Recorded Documents

❌ Myth: "All UCC filings are at the Massachusetts county."
✓ Truth: False. Most UCC filings (Article 9) are at the Massachusetts Secretary of State, not county.
❌ Myth: "All liens show up in a deed search."
✓ Truth: False. Federal tax liens may file at county OR state. Judgment liens vary. Always cross-check.
❌ Myth: "Recording a deed transfers title."
✓ Truth: False. The deed transfers title when delivered. Recording gives public notice — important but different.
❌ Myth: "DD-214 is only federal."
✓ Truth: Partially false. The original is federal (NPRC), but many veterans record a copy at their Massachusetts county for easy access.
❌ Myth: "Old Massachusetts recorded docs are fully digitized."
✓ Truth: False. Most Massachusetts counties only digitized records back to ~1990-2000. Older docs are paper at the courthouse.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Recorded Documents Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Recorded docs
Sample Massachusetts counties: Barnstable · Berkshire · Bristol · Dukes · Essex

Recorded Documents Databases

12 official Massachusetts recorded documents sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Recorded Documents

Public Access - Barnstable County
Official Free
Welcome to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds Public Access Website. All our online indexes and recorded instruments/documents are free to research and view. Our format is designed to be compatible with Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox Browsers, as well as tablets and smart phones.
🌐 capecod.gov
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
Official Free
to see the Register's Welcome video Welcome to Norfolk County Registry of Deeds ONLINE RESEARCH. At this site we give the public full access to the same records available to anyone using the computer search screens at the Registry of Deeds building in Dedham, Massachusetts. We have made available to you the following: All scanned documents and indexes are available online.
🌐 norfolkresearch.org
Plymouth County, Massachusetts Public Records Lookup | PlymouthRecords.us
Official Free
Public records in Plymouth County encompass a wide range of documents and information created, received, or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business. According to the Massachusetts Public Records Law § 7(26), public records are defined as "all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee" of the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions.
🌐 plymouthrecords.us
Find a Registry of Deeds Office
Official Free
If you would like to search by village name, visit our Community, District, Neighborhood Section and Village, Names in Massachusetts page · Click on the letter that your town name begins with to find your Registry of Deeds Office
🌐 sec.state.ma.us
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Official Free
Welcome to the Massachusetts Land Records website. You can use this site to quickly access land records from across the state. If you have questions about particular documents or Registry policies, contact your local Registry of Deeds. For technical questions about this site, contact the Secretary's office.
🌐 masslandrecords.com
About the Registry - New Bedford Registry of Deeds
Official Free
The Bristol County Registry of Deeds, Southern District was established April 17, 1837 by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature. Originally housed in the County Court House, the present Registry Office was built in 1908.
🌐 newbedforddeeds.com
Essex North Registry of Deeds - Northern Essex County MA Real Estate Records
Official Free
If you receive a notification that a document has been recorded in your name please contact the Northern Essex Registry immediately at 978-557-1900 and one of our customer service specialists will look up the record for you and provide you with.
🌐 massrods.com
Public Records Requests
Official Free
Public Records Requests · All of the records maintained by the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds are public record and all records - from the first in 1640 to the present day - are available to be viewed, downloaded, and printed on our website free of charge or in person at the Registry.
🌐 salemdeeds.com
Fall River District Registry of Deeds
Official Free
Access property records, Access real properties
🌐 i2o.uslandrecords.com
Hampden Registry of Deeds
Official Free
If you own property in Hampden County, we have made it easy for you to find and view your deed.
🌐 search.hampdendeeds.com
Attleboro Registry | Northern Bristol County MA Registry of Deeds
Official Free
Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds Barry J. Amaral Register · 11 Court Street Taunton, MA 02780 Contact UsContact Us · ATTLEBORO SATELLITE OFFICE 75 Park Street Attleboro, MA Tel: 508-455-6100 Fax: 508-455-6104 Email: AttleboroRegistry@tauntondeeds.com Recording Hours: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm Monday - Friday Building Hours: 9:00 am - 4 pm Monday - Friday · The Bristol Northern Registry District and its Attleboro Satellite Office, represent the following cities and towns:
🌐 tauntondeeds.com

Massachusetts Counties

All 14 Massachusetts counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Middlesex Worcester Essex Suffolk Norfolk Bristol Plymouth Hampden Barnstable Berkshire Dukes Franklin Hampshire Nantucket

Frequently Asked Questions

In Massachusetts, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real-property documents are recorded at the county level by the county Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder). The Official Massachusetts Recorded Documents at www.sec.state.ma.us handles statewide filings such as UCC-1 financing statements and corporate documents.

UCC-1 financing statements covering personal property and business collateral are filed centrally with the Official Massachusetts Recorded Documents at www.sec.state.ma.us. Fixture filings on real estate are an exception — those go to the county where the property is located.

Most Massachusetts countys publish a free online index of recorded documents (by name, document type, or date). Image access (the actual deed image) is often available either free or for a small per-page fee. Statewide UCC and corporate filings are searchable through the Official Massachusetts Recorded Documents at www.sec.state.ma.us.

Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents are issued by the county Recorder where the document was originally recorded. Fees and ID requirements vary; see your specific county page below. The Official Massachusetts Recorded Documents (www.sec.state.ma.us) handles certified copies of statewide filings such as UCCs and articles of incorporation.

A deed is the recorded instrument that conveys ownership; the title is the legal concept of ownership itself. Deeds in Massachusetts are recorded with the county Recorder; title insurance and title searches are private-sector services that examine the chain of recorded deeds. The Official Massachusetts Recorded Documents at www.sec.state.ma.us publishes the statewide rules.