Register of Deeds Reminds on Filing Mortgage Discharge

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reminded consumers today about the importance of filing a mortgage discharge in a timely manner after their mortgage has been paid off.

Register O’Donnell stated, "As consumers, we all need to borrow money. There are many reasons why consumers borrow money—to purchase a house, to make home improvements, or to help pay for the ever-increasing tuition payments of our children. When borrowing money involves real estate, a mortgage is recorded against the property’s title.”

In 2024, the Norfolk Registry of Deeds recorded over 103,000 documents. Of these, nearly 15,500 were mortgages—accounting for more than 15% of all recordings.

Once a mortgage is paid off, a mortgage discharge must be recorded to clear the property’s title. This document, typically titled “Discharge of Mortgage” or “Satisfaction of Mortgage,” is issued by the lender and is usually one or two pages long.

"As a consumer, you want to make sure a discharge has been recorded at the Registry of Deeds, which tells the world that the mortgage has been paid off," noted Register O'Donnell.

In some instances, mortgage discharges are filed directly by banks or settlement closing attorneys with the Registry as part of a property sale or as a result of a refinancing transaction. In other cases, the mortgage discharge is sent to the property owner, who then becomes responsible for making sure the document is recorded.

Register O'Donnell cautioned, "Whether or not the mortgage discharge is recorded by the lending institution or the individual property owner, it is imperative that the property owner ensures all necessary documents have been recorded at the Registry of Deeds."

Individuals with property recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds can check their title and make sure all their mortgages have been properly discharged using the Registry’s online records at www.norfolkdeeds.org. By going to the Online Research section of our website, property owners can verify that all mortgages associated with the property have been discharged.

Register O’Donnell cautioned residents, "Please remember that not having a mortgage discharged will result in a title issue and thereby impact the process of selling one’s home or the refinancing of one’s home"

The Register further noted that there have been cases where no discharge has been recorded against a long-paid-off mortgage. "Unfortunately, some of the lending institutions that provided funds for these mortgages are no longer in existence. In other cases, financial entities have merged with another lending institution."

If a property owner needs to retrieve the original discharge of a mortgage and it is unclear which lending institution is now responsible for providing the document, an option is to contact the Massachusetts Division of Banks at 1-800-495-2265 x-1 and then x-61501. Another option is to access the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation website, www.fdic.gov. Then, approximately halfway down the homepage, find and click the Consumer Resource Center link. Under the topic Protecting Consumers, click Bank Find. Enter the name of the lending institution in question, click on the lending institution link, and you will be able to determine who is responsible for the mortgage and then procure a mortgage discharge from that entity.

When recording a mortgage discharge, the original document is required. By law, the Registry of Deeds cannot accept photocopies or faxed copies of documents. The filing fee, set by state statute, is $106.00.

In conclusion, Register O’Donnell stated, "After paying off all the mortgages on their property, homeowners want peace of mind knowing they have a clear title, especially if they are contemplating selling. Taking the right steps to record your discharge ensures that peace of mind. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that homeowners make sure their mortgage discharge has been filed with the Registry of Deeds once their mortgage has been paid off."

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is staffed with a team of customer service representatives who can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, at 781-461-6101. These representatives have been trained in researching documents and are well-versed in the subject of mortgage discharges and what, if necessary, needs to be done to clear title to a property.

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives like us on Facebook at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds, or follow us on X at x.com/NorfolkDeeds and Instagram at instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.