Taunton Deed Records Search
Taunton deed records are kept at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds Northern District, which is located right here in Taunton at 11 Court Street. If you need to search property ownership, find recorded mortgages, check for liens, or pull documents tied to a Taunton address, you can look up records online through the state land records portal or walk into the registry office a few blocks from City Hall.
Taunton Overview
Where to Find Taunton Deed Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County, and that matters when you need deed records. The Bristol County Registry of Deeds Northern District is located at 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. That puts it right in the city, which is a real advantage compared to residents of other communities in the district who have to drive in from out of town. If you live or own property in Taunton and need to visit the registry in person, you do not have far to go.
Register Barry J. Amaral heads the Northern District office. The registry handles all property recordings for Taunton and a wide group of surrounding communities, including Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Fall River. That is a large service area, so the office handles a high volume of recordings. In person visits during busy periods can take some time, and the staff suggest calling ahead or using the online tools when that is an option. Phone is (508) 822-0500.
The registry also maintains a dedicated website at tauntondeeds.com. That site is run by the registry and is geared toward Taunton and nearby communities. It has search access, news about the registry, and links to recording tools and forms.
| Registry | Bristol County Registry of Deeds, Northern District |
|---|---|
| Address | 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Phone | (508) 822-0500 |
| Register | Barry J. Amaral |
| Registry Website | massrods.com/bristolnorth |
| Taunton Portal | tauntondeeds.com |
| Online Search | masslandrecords.com/bristolnorth |
Search Taunton Deed Records Online
The Bristol County Northern District maintains a dedicated web presence through tauntondeeds.com, shown below. This site focuses on Taunton and the surrounding communities in the Northern District. It is a helpful first stop if you want registry news, guidance for filers, or a direct link to the online search portal. The site is run by the registry itself, not a third party.
For the actual document search, the primary tool is Massachusetts Land Records. You can reach the Bristol County Northern District search directly at masslandrecords.com/bristolnorth. This free portal lets you search by grantor name, grantee name, property address, or document type. Scanned images of recorded documents are available to view right in your browser. Most images can be saved or printed at no cost. The database covers many decades of Taunton property records, so it is useful for both current research and historical title work.
For certified copies of any document, you need to go through the registry office directly. The online portal provides access to images, but those are not certified. If you need a certified copy for a closing, legal matter, or estate case, reach out to the registry by phone or in person at 11 Court Street.
Document Types Recorded at the Registry
The Bristol County Registry of Deeds Northern District records all documents that affect title to real property in Taunton. Deeds are the most common filing. They come in several forms, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee deeds, and foreclosure deeds. Each one transfers some or all ownership rights from one party to another. Beyond deeds, the registry also records mortgages, mortgage discharges, homestead declarations, liens, easements, attachments, and subdivision plans. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 183, a document must be recorded at the registry to be effective against third parties. That is why a full search of the land records is important before any property purchase.
When you search Taunton records, you may also come across lis pendens filings. A lis pendens is a notice that the property is tied up in active litigation. It shows up in the land records and can affect a sale or refinance until it is resolved. Discharges of mortgage are another document worth checking if you are confirming that a prior loan has been paid off. An old mortgage with no discharge on record is a red flag in any title search.
Some documents do not go to the deed registry. Probate records, for instance, go to the Bristol County Probate and Family Court. If a probate case resulted in a deed transfer, that deed should be recorded at the registry, but the underlying probate file lives elsewhere. Court judgments that create liens may show up at both the court and the registry. It pays to check more than one source when doing thorough title work.
Recording Fees and Excise Tax
Recording fees at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds Northern District are set by the state and apply across all Massachusetts registries. Recording a deed costs $155. A mortgage costs $205 to record. A discharge of mortgage is $105. A homestead declaration is $35. These are the base fees for standard documents. Always confirm current amounts with the registry before submitting, as fees can be adjusted by the legislature.
When a Taunton property changes hands, the Massachusetts deed excise tax applies. The rate is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price, rounded up to the nearest $500. On a $300,000 home, that comes to $1,368 in excise tax, paid at the time of recording. This is separate from the base recording fee. If you are submitting documents by mail, make checks payable to the Bristol County Registry of Deeds and include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the registry can return your recorded originals to you.
Taunton City Assessor
The Taunton City Assessor's Office is a useful resource alongside the deed registry. The assessor keeps property valuation data, owner of record as of the last assessment date, and parcel identification numbers for all taxable property in the city. If you do not have a grantor or grantee name to run through the land records portal, looking up the parcel in the assessor's database first can give you that starting point. Assessor data is also helpful for confirming a parcel's legal address or lot number.
The Taunton Assessor's Office is at City Hall, 141 Oak Street, Taunton, MA 02780. You can reach them by phone at (508) 821-1020. Their online property lookup is available at taunton-ma.gov/assessing. You can search by address, owner name, or parcel ID. Keep in mind that assessor records reflect ownership as of a specific assessment date, which may not match the most recent deed transfer. For current ownership, the deed registry is the final word.
Both offices are public resources. The assessor shows you who owns a parcel and how it is valued for tax purposes. The registry shows you the full chain of title and all recorded claims. They are different tools, but both are free to search and both are useful depending on what you need.
Getting Copies of Taunton Deed Records
You have a few ways to get copies of Taunton deed records. The easiest is to use the Massachusetts Land Records portal at masslandrecords.com/bristolnorth. Document images are free to view and print from the site. These are plain copies, not certified, but they are fine for most research purposes. If you need a certified copy, the only way to get one is through the registry office at 11 Court Street in Taunton.
You can request certified copies in person, which is fast since you are already in Taunton. You can also request by mail. When mailing a request, include the book and page number or the document number if you have it, a description of what you need, a return envelope, and payment for the copy fee. Call the registry at (508) 822-0500 to confirm the current fee per page before you send your request. If you only have a party name or property address, you can still ask for a search, but it may take a little longer to process.
Property Fraud Alerts for Taunton Owners
Massachusetts offers a free notification service for property owners through the statewide land records system. You can sign up at cns.masslandrecords.com to get email alerts whenever a document is recorded against your name at any Massachusetts registry of deeds, including the Bristol County Northern District. The service is useful for Taunton homeowners who want to know right away if anything is filed against their property. Deed fraud, fraudulent liens, and unauthorized title transfers are real risks, and early notice gives you time to respond. Registration is free. You enter your name as it appears in your deed, and the system handles the rest.
Bristol County Deed Records
Taunton deed records are part of the Bristol County Northern District. The county page has full details on the registry, search options, recording fees, and how to request copies.