Bristol County Deed Records

Bristol County deed records are kept across three separate Registry of Deeds offices that each serve a distinct part of the county. If you need to find a deed, mortgage, discharge, or other land document in Bristol County, you first need to know which district your property falls in. The three offices cover different towns and cities, and each one holds its own set of records. Searching the right district saves time and gets you to the right files faster.

Bristol County's Three Registry Districts

Most Massachusetts counties have one Registry of Deeds. Bristol County has three. This goes back to the 19th century, when the state split the county into geographic districts to make land record access easier for residents spread across a large area. The three districts are Bristol North (Taunton), Bristol Fall River, and Bristol South (New Bedford). Each one is an independent office with its own Register, staff, and set of records.

This matters when you search for deed records. A deed recorded for a property in Taunton will not show up in the New Bedford database. You need to search the correct district. If you are not sure which district covers your town, look it up before you start. Each office lists the communities it serves on its website. Getting the district right is the first step.

All three offices operate under state law. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 183 governs how deeds must be recorded and what they must contain. The offices apply that law locally, but the rules are the same statewide.

Bristol North Deed Records in Taunton

The Bristol North Registry of Deeds is in Taunton and serves the northern part of the county. Register Barry J. Amaral oversees this office. It covers 11 communities: Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton. If your property is in any of those towns, this is your office.

The North Registry's online search goes back to 1903 for recorded land and 1992 for Land Court documents. Even older records are available. The Grantor-Grantee Index Books from 1686 to 1956 are also online. That gives you access to deed records spanning more than 300 years. Turnaround for new recordings is one business day. Original documents are mailed back within one to two weeks after recording.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Recording closes at 4:00 PM. You can reach the office at 508-822-0502 or by email at registry@tauntondeeds.com. Land Court matters go to landcourt@tauntondeeds.com. The office is at 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780.

The Bristol North Registry website at tauntondeeds.com is the place to start your search. The screenshot below shows the registry's homepage, where you can access the deed search tools directly.

The North Registry search portal covers recorded land and Land Court records. Use it to look up deeds by name or document type going back more than a century.

Bristol Fall River Deed Records

The Fall River District Registry of Deeds has been the keeper of land records in its area since 1883. Register Bernard J. McDonald III heads the office today. It serves four communities: Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Freetown. The office is at 441 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The main phone is 508-673-2910 and email is admin@fallriverdeeds.org.

One common question at the Fall River Registry involves name changes. If your name changed after a deed was recorded in your name, you do not need to file any paperwork right away. The next time you record a document, simply write "CURRENT NAME formerly known as PREVIOUS NAME" in the document. Both names then appear in the index, which keeps the chain of title intact. It is a simple fix that avoids extra filings.

Another frequent situation involves mortgage discharges. Once you pay off a mortgage, your lender issues a Discharge of Mortgage. That discharge must be recorded at the Fall River Registry. The recording fee is $105. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return the original document to you after it is recorded.

The Fall River Registry website at fallriverdeeds.com has search tools, recording guides, and contact information. The homepage screenshot below shows where to access deed records for the Fall River district.

The Fall River Registry website gives you direct access to deed searches and filing information for Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Freetown.

Copy fees at the Fall River office differ slightly from other districts. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. Plans are $1.00 per page, and full-size plan copies cost $10.00 each. Postage runs $1.00 for 1 to 10 pages, $2.00 for 11 to 20, and $3.00 for 21 to 30. You can also bring a self-addressed stamped envelope to avoid postage charges. See the full fee schedule at fallriverdeeds.com/recording-information/filings-fees.

The FAQ page at fallriverdeeds.com/about-the-registry/faqs covers common questions about recording documents, name changes, and discharge procedures. The screenshot below shows that FAQ page.

The FAQ page answers many of the most common questions people have when dealing with deed records and property transfers at the Fall River Registry.

Bristol South Deed Records in New Bedford

The Bristol South Registry of Deeds opened on April 17, 1837. Before 1912, clerks copied deeds by hand. The current office building dates to 1908. Register Sherrilynn M. Mello, the 13th person to hold that office, oversees operations today. The office serves Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport. It is at 25 North 6th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Hours at the New Bedford office are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM for recording. The main phone is 508-993-2605. For copy orders, call the Copy Center at 508-993-2603 Ext. 23 or email copycenter@newbedforddeeds.com. The office accepts debit and credit cards, which makes it easy to pay for copies or recording fees in person.

The online search at the New Bedford Registry is fast. All images load in under 30 seconds. One important tip: do not add a space after the last letter or number you type in any search field. That extra space can cause searches to come back empty or return wrong results. The New Bedford search guide at newbedforddeeds.com walks you through the search steps and explains how to use each field correctly.

Registered Land pre-approval has been required since March 1, 2023. Submit Registered Land documents by email to LPerry@newbedforddeeds.com before bringing them in. This step is now part of the standard process for Land Court documents at the New Bedford office.

The New Bedford Registry homepage at newbedforddeeds.com gives you access to deed searches and office information for the Bristol South district. The screenshot below shows the homepage.

The New Bedford Registry website covers deed searches, fee schedules, and the search guide for Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport.

Note: Postage rates at the New Bedford office changed on January 2, 2025. The current rates are $2.00 for 1 to 15 pages, $3.00 for 16 to 30, $4.00 for 31 to 45, $5.00 for 46 to 60, and documents over 60 pages must be weighed. Full fee details are at newbedforddeeds.com/recording-information/filings-fees.

Bristol County Deed Recording Fees

Recording fees across Bristol County follow the state schedule for most documents. A standard deed costs $155 to record. A mortgage is $205. A Discharge of Mortgage is $105. Homestead declarations run $35. These fees apply at all three Bristol County offices for the main recording types.

Copy fees do vary between districts. The Fall River office charges $0.50 per page for standard copies and $1.00 for certified copies. The North and South offices may differ, so call or check the website for the office you plan to use. If you are mailing in a request, include postage or a self-addressed stamped envelope. Each office has its own postage rate schedule.

The excise tax on property transfers is $4.56 per $1,000 of sale price. This is a state rate and applies to all three Bristol County districts. If you want to estimate the excise tax before closing, use the calculator at franklindeeds.com/excise-tax-calculator. The tax is paid at recording and is part of the deed transaction.

General laws governing recording requirements are found in MGL Chapter 183. Homestead protections fall under Chapter 188. Both statutes are available on the state legislature's website.

Getting Copies of Bristol County Deed Records

You can get copies of deed records from any of the three Bristol County offices in person, by mail, or online. In-person requests are the fastest. Bring the book and page number or the document number if you have it. Staff can pull the record and make copies while you wait in most cases.

Mail requests work for all three offices. Write your request clearly. Include the name of the party, the property address or description, and the approximate date of recording. Include a check for the estimated copy and postage fees. If you are unsure of the cost, call the office first. Each office will return original documents by mail after recording if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Online access is available for all three districts through their websites. You can view document images and print copies at home. Some documents may require you to visit in person or call the office for certified copies. Certified copies have a higher fee than standard ones and include a stamp or seal from the office. Contact information for each district: North Registry at 508-822-0502, Fall River at 508-673-2910, and New Bedford Copy Center at 508-993-2603 Ext. 23.

Homestead Protection and Deed Recording Options

Massachusetts homestead law under Chapter 188 lets homeowners protect up to $500,000 of their home's value from certain creditors. To get that protection, you must record a Declaration of Homestead at the Registry of Deeds in the district where your property sits. The fee is $35. You file it once and it stays on record as long as you own and live in the home.

Recording a Homestead is straightforward. The form is short. You sign it in front of a notary, then bring or mail it to the correct Bristol County district office. The Registry records it and returns the original. It is one of the lower-cost protections you can put in place as a homeowner, and it shows up in deed records tied to your property.

All three Bristol County registries support standard recording by mail and in person. Electronic recording options may be available through approved e-recording providers. Check with each office to see which vendors they currently accept. E-recording lets title companies and attorneys submit documents digitally, which speeds up the process on both ends.

The state's Consumer Notification System lets you sign up for alerts when documents are recorded against your property. You can register at cns.masslandrecords.com. This is a free service and a good way to keep track of activity on your property in the deed records.

Cities in Bristol County

Bristol County's three Registry districts each serve specific cities and towns. The links below go to city pages for the three largest cities in the county, each handled by a different registry office.

Other communities in Bristol County include Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Norton, Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Freetown, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Westport. Each of these towns files deed records at the district office that covers its area.

Nearby Counties

Bristol County borders two other Massachusetts counties. If you are searching deed records for property near the county line, you may want to check these registries as well.