Bristol County Land Records

Bristol County property records are spread across three separate registries of deeds: one in Taunton, one in Fall River, and one in New Bedford. Together they cover 20 communities in southeastern Massachusetts. You can search Bristol County property records online through MassLandRecords.com by picking the right district. Each registry also runs its own website with search tools and contact details. If you need a deed, mortgage, or lien record from Bristol County, the first step is figuring out which of the three districts handles your town.

Northern Bristol Registry in Taunton

The Northern Bristol Registry of Deeds is at 11 Court Street in Taunton. Register Barry J. Amaral leads the office. The phone number is (508) 822-0502 and the fax is 508-880-4975. You can email the registry at registry@tauntondeeds.com. For Land Court questions, use landcourt@tauntondeeds.com. This district covers 11 communities: Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Taunton.

The Northern Bristol Registry website has information about recording and requesting copies. There is also a satellite office in Attleboro that is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. If you live in the northern part of Bristol County, this satellite can save you a trip to Taunton. For online searches, use MassLandRecords.com/bristolnorth to find Bristol County property records in this district.

To request copies by mail, send your request to Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds, 11 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. Include the grantor or grantee name, document or recording number, property address, and recording date. You can also call (508) 822-0502 for help finding a specific record.

Bristol County Fall River Registry

The Fall River District Registry of Deeds handles Bristol County property records for four communities: Fall River, Freetown (Assonet), Somerset, and Swansea. The office is at 441 North Main Street in Fall River. Register Bernard J. McDonald III runs this district. The phone is (508) 673-2910, and the email is admin@fallriverdeeds.org. You can search this district's records online at MassLandRecords.com/bristolfallriver or through the Fall River Registry website.

This is the smallest of the three Bristol County districts by community count. But Fall River is a sizeable city, so the volume of recordings here is still significant. If your property is in Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, or Freetown, this is where your deed and mortgage are on file.

Southern Bristol Land Records

The Southern Bristol Registry of Deeds sits at 25 North 6th Street in New Bedford. Register SherriLynn M. Mello leads this office. The phone is (508) 993-2603, and the email is info@newbedforddeeds.com. This district covers five communities: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport. You can search Bristol County property records for these towns at MassLandRecords.com/bristolsouth or on the New Bedford Registry website.

The New Bedford office has a useful service that started in March 2023. You can submit fully executed documents by email to LPerry@newbedforddeeds.com for a pre-recording review. Staff will look over your documents and let you know if anything needs to change before you bring them in for recording. This is not required, but it cuts down on rejections. It can save you a trip back if there is a problem with the paperwork.

The Fall River Registry of Deeds website serves as the online gateway for Bristol County property records in the Fall River district.

Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, and Freetown all file their land records through this district office.

The Southern Bristol Registry of Deeds in New Bedford handles property records for five communities in the southern part of Bristol County.

New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Acushnet, and Westport all record deeds and mortgages at this office.

Bristol County Recording Fees

All three Bristol County registries follow the same statewide fee schedule. A deed costs $155 to record. Mortgages are $205. Mortgage discharges run $105. A Declaration of Homestead is $35. Trust declarations cost $255. Plans are $105 per sheet. Most other documents are $105. The excise tax on deeds is $4.56 per $1,000 of sale price, paid at the time of recording. Under M.G.L. Chapter 183, these fees and recording rules apply uniformly across the state.

Certified copies cost $1.00 per page at all three Bristol County offices. Registered Land certificates are $5.00 each. Online copies are free to view and print at most registries. If a company sends you a letter offering to sell a copy of your deed for $83 or more, that is a scam. Contact your Bristol County registry directly for a free copy.

Bristol County Property Laws

Bristol County property records are governed by several chapters of the Massachusetts General Laws. M.G.L. Chapter 183 covers the transfer of real property and sets out what makes a deed valid. Any deed not recorded at the registry may not hold up against a later claim from someone else. That is why recording matters when you buy, sell, or refinance a property in Bristol County.

Registered land in Bristol County operates under M.G.L. Chapter 185, the Land Court Act. The state guarantees ownership for registered parcels. About 10 to 20 percent of properties statewide are on this system. If yours is registered, the original documents stay at the registry and ownership only transfers through the Certificate of Title process. The homestead law at M.G.L. Chapter 188 protects your primary home from most creditors up to $1,000,000. Filing costs $35 at any of the three Bristol County registries. All land documents are public records under M.G.L. Chapter 66.

Cities in Bristol County

Three Bristol County cities have property records pages on this site. Each one files land records at the Bristol County registry that covers its area.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bristol County. Check which county your property is in before you start a search.