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By William P. O’Donnell
Norfolk County Register of Deeds
During my 2024 office hours tour I have had the pleasure of visiting various towns throughout Norfolk County while letting residents know what programs and services are available through the Norfolk Registry of Deeds. While holding these Registry office hours it is not uncommon for a homeowner to ask, "Do I need a copy of my deed?" To which I reply, "You don't have to have one, but it's good to keep one on hand in case you need it."
Your deed can tell you a lot about your property. Exactly who owns it. How it is owned for probate purposes. The price you paid for it. The description of your land. And for some people, all this information contained brings them peace of mind. After all, when you think of it, most people’s homes are their greatest financial asset.
To some people getting a copy of their deed presents a whole host of questions: “Do I need an attorney to access my deed for me? Is it expensive to get a copy? Do I have to drive all the way to the Registry of Deeds to get it? If I decide to come to the Registry for a copy, is it hard to research?”
Well, the good news is, and I think you’ll find all the answers to your liking, you do not need a lawyer to obtain your deed. All you have to do is go online at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Click on ‘Online Research’ at the top of the bar, and when the pop-up box appears, click on ‘Search for Your Deed,’ and you can print a non-certified copy for free. If you would like a certified copy, all you have to do is visit or call our well-regarded Customer Service Center, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 781-461-6101.
There is more good news. The cost of a certified homeowner’s deed is usually very inexpensive and can serve as a replacement for an original of it is ever lost or damaged. Certified deeds cost a dollar per page, and most deeds are two pages. Add a dollar for mailing, and an official copy of your deed will be sent to your home for $3.00!
By getting it at the Registry of Deeds, you won’t pay an outrageous price from a deed solicitation company, which could charge you nearly 30 times the cost ($86) of what you would pay for it at the Registry. These companies prey on the elderly or new homeowners by ‘suggesting’ the homeowner is required to pay the “document fee” in what appears to be a government correspondence that almost looks like a property tax bill you would receive from the community you live in.
If you cannot make it to our main office in Dedham and wish to obtain a certified copy of your deed, visit the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds website at https://www.norfolkdeeds.org/news-event/upcoming-events to see a complete list of office hours, dates, and locations to find a scheduled office hour near your community.
Finally, I do suggest to homeowners if they get a certified copy of their deed to store it in a memorable place, like a safety deposit box or a file cabinet with their other papers. You would be surprised at how many people come to the Registry and say to the Customer Service Center, “I thought I had it, but I can’t find it now.” To that, I say, “No problem. We can get you another certified copy for you right now.”
