Hampden County, Massachusetts - Recorder Information

Register of Deeds

You are NOT on the Hampden County official website, you are on Deeds.com, a private website that is not affiliated with any government agency.

The Registry of Deeds is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Hampden County.

All mail should be sent to Springfield Homestead Notary available at Springfield.

Recording Fees

Recording fees regardless the number of pages.

Declaration of Homestead $35
Declaration of Trust $255
Deed $155
Mortgage $205
Mortgage Foreclosure Deed & Affidavit $155
Mortgage Discharge, Release or Partial Release $105
Municipal Lien Certificate $80
UCC Documents (up to 2 debtors) $75
Federal Tax Liens (and related documents) $5
Plans (per sheet) $105
All other Documents $105

Non-statutory marginal references are $1.

Certified copies are $1 per page.

Single documents that affect more than one instrument or certificate and/or attempt to perform two or more separate functions will be treated as a "multiple
instrument" for fee purposes.

Tax stamps are $4.56 per $1,000. There is no tax when the consideration is under $100. A calculator is available on the registry's website.

Document Formatting Requirements

* Documents must be on white paper of sufficient weight to reproduce in registry scanners. All document pages and attachments must be on paper that is no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches.

* Pages with printing on both sides will not be accepted. Printing must be sufficiently dark to be legibly reproduced on registry scanners.

* Documents requiring acknowledgments will not be recorded unless they are notarized in accordance with Massachusetts laws.

* The first page must contain a "recording information area" in the upper right hand corner measuring 3 inches from the top edge of the document and 3 inches from the right edge of the document that is free from all writing and printing. Other margins must be of sufficient size to be legibly reproduced on registry scanners.

* Below the 3 x 3 inch blank area on the first page, a document title should be given.

* The address (street number, street name, town, and condominium unit number, if applicable) of the property on a deed, mortgage, or a discharge of a mortgage shall be typed or printed clearly on a prominent location on the first page. If the address is not on the first page, it should be placed in the left margin on a succeeding page.

* The name and mailing address of the grantee must be clearly stated on the first page.

* Deeds and mortgages must reference the book and page of the deed associated with the property.

* Corresponding names should be stamped, typed, or printed beneath all signatures.

* The document must specify whether it is registered land and is to be recorded in the Land Court.

* If the document refers to attached exhibits, the exhibits must be attached and included at the end of the document.

* A legal description of the property must be provided.

* A document cover sheet is available on the Hampden County Registry of Deeds webpage for documents that do not meet formatting standards.

* The recording clerks at the Registry of Deeds cannot add book and page references to documents. To show a reference on a secondary document (i.e. a mortgage or declaration of homestead that immediately follows a deed), use the term "recorded herewith." This applies to documents submitted by mail or e-recording.

If a document is written in a language other than English, it will not be recorded unless it is accompanied by a certified English translation. In such case, the document to be recorded shall consist of 1) the English language translation with signatures typed and preceded by "/s/" to indicate signature; 2) a certification of the accuracy of the translation, signed by the translator and acknowledged; and 3) the original foreign language document.

REGISTERED LAND

In most cases, the requirements for Registered Land documents are the same as those for Recorded Land; however, there are some additional requirements:

* Documents relating to Registered Land must note the Certificate of Title number, relevant document number, and book and page number of the Certificate.

* Deeds require a lot number, a plan number, a grantee address, consideration, property address, and "being" clause. The grantor must be the same as that on the current Certificate of Title.

* Mortgages are required to have an exhibit containing the property description, which must have the certificate number, plan number, and a lot number.

* When one tenant by the entirety named on a Certificate of Title has died, a Death Certificate and Certificate of No Divorce must be filed.

* If the property in question relates to both Registered and Recorded Land, submitters must either obtain two sets of originals (one for Registered Land and one for Recorded Land), or register the documents first, have certified copies made of the Registered Land documents, and then record the certified copies as Recorded Land.