A Digital Revolution in Record-Keeping
Digitization has revolutionized access to land records, with all counties offering online databases.
These records, some dating back to the 17th century, are now easily accessible for free, showcasing Massachusetts' commitment to preserving and sharing its historical legacy.
How to Access Land and Deed Records Online
Identifying the Right County Registry
Suppose you need to find Massachusetts property records for a particular home at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds in Plymouth, MA.
Or you want to learn more about the digitized historical holdings at Norfolk County Registry of Deeds in Dedham, MA.
Or as another example, you want to look up your ancestors homestead in 19th century Boston.
In those kind of examples, this article offers a comprehensive guide to finding land records in Massachusetts, including the Suffolk Registry of Deeds in Boston, MA.
Online Platforms and Resources
To access specific property records, one must first identify the relevant county.
Massachusetts organizes its land records by county, each with its own Registry of Deeds office.
Most county registries provide online access to land records, including grantee* and grantor* indexes.
These digital archives are invaluable for historical research, genealogy, and property transactions.
For additional insight into land records and deed terminology, such as quitclaim and warranty deeds, and conveyances, go to our Massachusetts Land Records Research blog.
Another great resource is Family Search Massachusetts Land Records.
*Source: “Grantee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grantee. “Grantor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grantor. Accessed 16 Dec. 2023
Utilizing County Maps for Registry Location
Property owners file land matters in the county where the property is located.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers up-to-date maps to help identify county boundaries, crucial for pinpointing the correct Registry of Deeds.
Special Features and Unique Historical Collections
Some registries, like Essex County, offer specialized collections such as Native American deeds and historical city residential directories from 1882 - 1994 (with gaps) of Lynn.
One little known gem recently discovered online at the Worcester Registry Of Deeds, Northern District, is the digitized index of Worcester County Divorces 1922 - 1980.
These digitized images are not the actual divorce records, but do give a researcher access to a year, and a docket number. The actual record can then be ordered from the court's archives.
In addition to standard grantee and grantor indexes, and the unexpected divorce indexes, this registry has also provided free public access to a digitized index of ALL Worcester County Probate Record Indexes in PDF from 1731 - 1980.
These unique resources listed here as examples, provide a window into our region's past and are invaluable for researchers and historians. Let's hope for more of these to develop over the years.
The Importance of the Registry in Family History Discoveries
The Registry of Deeds is a treasure trove for genealogists, offering vital clues to trace family histories and uncover ancestral homesteads.
Its records provide concrete evidence of past generations' lives and movements.
A Gateway to Massachusetts' Property Records
The Massachusetts Registry of Deeds stands as a testament to the state's dedication to preserving its rich historical tapestry and ensuring transparent property transactions.
Whether for legal, genealogical, or historical purposes, this guide serves as a vital tool for navigating the vast resources of the Registry of Deeds, offering a pathway to explore Massachusetts' past and present.
Barnstable to Worcester: A County-by-County Breakdown
From Barnstable to Worcester, each county's Registry of Deeds varies in its history, geographical coverage, and the extent of its digitized records.
This section provides a thorough overview of each county's Registry of Deeds, ensuring you can directly navigate to the information pertinent to your needs.
Each county's Registry of Deeds provides detailed contact information, including addresses, phone numbers, and email contacts, facilitating direct communication for specific inquiries.
Barnstable County
On 2 June 1685, Massachusetts established Barnstable County from Plymouth County.
3195 Main Street
P. O. Box 368
Barnstable, MA 02630
1-508-362-7733
FAX: (508) 362-5065
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 4 PM
Barnstable Registry of Deeds includes all cities and towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, and Wellfleet.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Barnstable County Recorded and Digitized Land Records and Index from 1742 and up through today's date in 2024.
Berkshire County
On 21 April 1761, Massachusetts established Berkshire County from Hampshire County.
65 Park Street
Suite 1
Adams, MA 01220
1-413-743-0035
FAX: (413) 743-1003
nbrd@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The Northern District includes the towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesboro, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown, and Windsor.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Northern Berkshire Land Records from 1953 and up through today's date in 2024.
44 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
1-413-743-0035
FAX: (413) 743-1003
Patricia.Harris@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The Middle District includes the towns of Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham, and Washington.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Middle Berkshire Land Records from 1969 and up through today's date in 2024.
334 Main Street
Suite 2
Great Barrington, MA 01230
1-413-528-0146
FAX: (413) 528-6878
sbrd@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The Southern District includes the towns of Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Sheffield, and West Stockbridge.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Southern Berkshire Land Records from 1959 and up through today's date in 2024.
Bristol County
On 2 June 1685, Massachusetts established Bristol County from Plymouth County.
11 Court Street
Taunton, MA 02780
1-508-822-0502
FAX: (508) 880-4975
registry@tauntondeeds.com
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Northern District includes the towns of Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Northern Bristol County Digitized Land Records and Index from 1881 and up through today's date in 2024.
Northern Bristol County Digitized Land Record Index from 1686 to 1910.
25 North 6th Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
1-508-993-2603
FAX: (508) 997-4250
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Southern District includes the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Southern Bristol County Digitized Land Records from 1970 and up through today's date in 2024.
441 North Main Street
Fall River, MA 02720
1-508-673-2910
FAX: (508) 673-7633
admin@fallriverdeeds.org
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Fall River District includes the towns of Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, and Swansea.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Fall River District Digitized Land Records and Index from 1947 and up through today's date in 2024.
Dukes County
On 1 November 1683, the State of New York established the original Dukes County. The State of Massachusetts restablished the county on 22 June 1695.
81 Main Street
P. O. Box 5231
Edgartown, MA 02539
1-508-627-4025
FAX: (508) 627-7821
registry@dukescounty.org
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Dukes Registry of Deeds includes the towns of Aquinnah, Edgartown, Chilmark, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Dukes County Recorded Land Name Search from 1974 and up through today's date in 2024.
Essex County
On 10 May 1643, Massachusetts established the original Essex County.
Shetland Park
45 Congress Street
Suite 4100
Salem, MA 01970
1-978-542-1704
FAX: (978) 744-7679
southernessexcustomerservice@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Essex South includes the towns of Amesbury, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Merrimac, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, Peabody, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Essex County Land Document Indexes from 1951 and Land Document Images from 1640 and up through today's date in 2024.
17th Century Native American Deeds
Fully Digitized
Lynn City Directories from 1882 - 1994 (with some gaps).
1 Union Street
Suite 402
Lawrence, MA 01840
1-978-557-1900
FAX: (978) 688-4679
northernessexcustomerservice@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Essex North includes the towns of Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, and North Andover.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Essex County Land Document Indexes from 1965 and Land Document Images from 1869 and up through today's date in 2024.
Franklin County
On 24 June 1811, Massachusetts established Franklin County from Hampshire County.
Franklin County Justice Center
43 Hope Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
1-413-772-0239
FAX: (413) 774-7150
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Franklin Registry of Deeds includes the cities and towns of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell, and Whately.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Franklin County Recorded and Digitized Land Records and Index from 1650 and up through today's date in 2024.
Hampden County
On 25 February 1812, Massachusetts established Hampden County from Hampshire County.
50 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
1-413-755-1722
hcrodsd@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Hampden Registry of Deeds includes the cities and towns of Agawam, Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Springfield, Tolland, Wales, West Springfield, and Wilbraham.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Hampden County Recorded and Digitized Land Records and Index from 1948 and up through today's date in 2024.
Hampshire County
On 1 May 1662, Massachusetts established Hampshire County from Middlesex County.
60 Railroad Avenue
Northampton, MA 01060
1-413-584-3637
FAX: (413) 584-4136
hampshirereg@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Hampshire Registry includes the cities and towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton, Pelham, Plainfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Hampshire County Recorded and Digitized Land Records and Index from 1914 and up through today's date in 2024.
Middlesex County
On 10 May 1643, Massachusetts established the original Middlesex County.
208 Cambridge Street
East Cambridge, MA 02141
1-617-679-6300
FAX: (617) 577-1289
middlesexsouth@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Middlesex South includes the towns of Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Everett, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Malden, Marlboro, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Newton, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Townsend, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester, and Woburn.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Middlesex County Recorded and Digitized Land Record Name Search from 1900 and up through today's date in 2024.
370 Jackson Street
Lowell, MA 01852
1-978-322-9000
FAX: (978) 322-9001
lowelldeeds@comcast.net
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Middlesex North includes the towns of Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Westford, and Wilmington.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Middlesex County - North - Recorded Land Document Images from 1629 and up through today's date in 2024.
Nantucket County
On 22 June 1695, Massachusetts established Nantucket County from Dukes County.
Town and County Building
16 Broad Street
Nantucket, MA 02554
1-508-228-7250
FAX: (508) 325-5331
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
ONLINE RECORDS:
Recorded Land Name Search (Dates Available: 01/02/1967-Current).
Norfolk County
The Commonwealth established the original county of Norfolk on 10 May 1643, but disbanded it on 4 February 1680. The Commonwealth established the current county on 26 March 1793, from Suffolk County.
649 High Street
P. O. Box 69
Dedham, MA 02026-0069
1-781-461-6101
registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Norfolk Registry of Deeds includes the cities and towns of Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth, and Wrentham.
ONLINE RECORDS:
"Search Registry Records" 1793 and up to the Present. Registry's Database is not SSL Encrypted. Proceed with Caution.
Plymouth County
On 2 June 1685, Massachusetts established the original Plymouth County.
50 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
1-508-830-9200
FAX: (508) 830-9280
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
Plymouth Registry of Deeds includes the cities and towns of Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, and Whitman.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Plymouth County has a Confusing Description of Their Online Records. The Registry's
Database is not SSL Encrypted. Moreover, this is old Technology and one Should Proceed with Caution. I'm surprised a County the Size of Plymouth, has such antiquated technology. You can Search Land Records for "Free," but to Print Anything, you need a
"$30 a Month Paid Subscription, plus Copy Fees."
Suffolk County
On 10 May 1643, Massachusetts established the original Suffolk County.
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114-9660
1-617-788-8575
1-617-788-6221
Suffolk.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM
Suffolk Registry of Deeds includes the cities of Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Revere, Roslindale, South Boston, and Winthrop.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Recorded Land Name Search (Dates Available: 01/01/1973-Current).
Worcester County
On 2 April 1731, Massachusetts established Worcester County from Middlesex, Suffolk and Hampshire counties.
90 Front Street
Suite C201
Worcester, MA 01608
1-508-368-7000
FAX: (508) 798-7746
Worcester.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
The Worcester District includes the towns of Athol, Auburn, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Gardner, Grafton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northboro, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipstown, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, Westboro, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Winchedon, and Worcester.
ONLINE RECORDS:
Recorded Land Name Search (Dates Available: 01/01/1961-Current).
166 Boulder Drive
Suite 202
Fitchburg, MA 01420
1-978-342-2132
Recording Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Worcester North includes the towns of Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, and Westminster.
ONLINE RECORDS:
"Search Registry Records" (Dates Available: 1949-Current).
Downloadable Declaration of Homestead Forms
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