Find Property Records in Plymouth County
Plymouth County property records are managed by the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, with a main office in Plymouth and a satellite location in Brockton. The registry serves 27 communities across the county and holds land records that stretch all the way back to the Plymouth Colony era. You can search Plymouth County property records online through the Plymouth Deeds website or the statewide MassLandRecords portal, or visit the office in person for deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents.
Plymouth County Overview
Plymouth County Registry of Deeds
The Plymouth County Registry of Deeds is run by Register John R. Buckley, Jr. The main office is at 50 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. The phone number is (508) 830-9200, and the fax is (508) 830-9221. You can also email buckley@plymouthdeeds.org with questions about recordings or account access. The registry covers 27 towns and cities, from Brockton in the north to Wareham and Marion in the south. It is one of the oldest land records offices in the country, with roots that go back to the original Plymouth Colony.
Plymouth County also has two satellite offices. The Brockton office sits at 155 West Elm Street, Brockton, MA 02301, and can be reached at (508) 586-6998. There is also a location in Rockland at 920 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370. These offices handle basic services so you do not always have to drive to Plymouth. If you live in the northern part of the county, the Brockton office may save you a trip.
The registry is part of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, like every Registry of Deeds in the state.
| Main Office | 50 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 830-9200 |
| Brockton Office | 155 West Elm Street, Brockton, MA 02301 |
| Brockton Phone | (508) 586-6998 |
| buckley@plymouthdeeds.org |
Search Plymouth Property Records Online
Plymouth County uses a system called TitleView for its online record searches. You can access it through the Plymouth Deeds search page. TitleView lets you look up records by name, document type, property address, or book and page number. Searching is free. You can view indexed data and document images right in the browser. If you need help with TitleView, call the staff at 508-830-9286.
There is a catch, though. Printing from TitleView requires a paid subscription. The cost is $30 per month plus $1 per page. There is also a $60 non-refundable deposit that gets credited when your account goes live. The application process takes a few days. For most people who just need to look something up, the free search and view access is more than enough. You can always write down the book and page reference and request a copy by mail or credit card if you need the actual document.
You can also search Plymouth County records through MassLandRecords.com. That portal offers the same search types found at other counties: Name Search, Document Search, Book Search, Property Search, and Recorded Date Search. Printing from MassLandRecords is free at most registries, so this may be the better option if you need to save or print documents.
Note: The address search on MassLandRecords is not the official index under Massachusetts law and may have gaps.
Plymouth County Fees and Documents
Recording fees at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds match the statewide schedule. A deed is $155. A mortgage is $205. Discharges cost $105. A Declaration of Homestead is $35. Plans cost $105 per sheet. All other documents are $105. The deed excise tax is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price, collected at recording. These fees are the same at every Massachusetts registry and are set by state law under M.G.L. Chapter 183.
Plymouth County records a wide range of document types. The main ones are deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, liens, easements, foreclosure documents, UCC statements, homestead declarations, and trusts. Each has its own abbreviation in the search system. Click "Search Tips" on the TitleView page to see the full list of document type codes.
Copies can be ordered by mail or credit card through the Plymouth Deeds website. Certified copies are $1.00 per page.
Plymouth County Historical Land Records
Plymouth County has one of the most remarkable collections of land records in the United States. The registry holds original handwritten Colonial records from the Plymouth Colony, dating to 1620. These are not just historical curiosities. They form the foundation of title chains for some of the oldest properties in the country. Records from 1685 to the present are maintained and accessible through the registry.
The office also keeps several special collections that researchers and title examiners find useful:
- Atlas Plans and historical maps of Plymouth County parcels
- Index Cards referencing plans and decrees
- County Commissioner Records
- Mayers' Index to the Plymouth Colony Land Deeds
- Plan Index from 1890 to 1965 in PDF format
The registry puts together a virtual exhibit of notable land records too. It features famous people, buildings, and places in Plymouth County. New entries get added each month. Electronic volumes of these notable records are available for browsing on the website. This collection gives you a unique look at how Plymouth County property records have shaped the area over the past 400 years.
The Plymouth County Registry of Deeds homepage gives you links to search tools, fee schedules, copy requests, and satellite office details.
From this page you can access TitleView, order copies, and find contact information for all three Plymouth County registry locations.
Plymouth County Property Laws
All Plymouth County property records are governed by Massachusetts General Laws. The core statute is M.G.L. Chapter 183, which lays out the rules for how deeds must be written, signed, and recorded. If a deed is not recorded properly under Chapter 183, it may not hold up against later claims from third parties. This is why title searches are so important before you close on a property.
Registered Land in Plymouth County falls under M.G.L. Chapter 185. The Land Court issues Certificates of Title for these properties, and the state guarantees the ownership. About 10 to 20 percent of Massachusetts properties use this system. If you are not sure which system your property is on, the registry staff can tell you.
The homestead law at M.G.L. Chapter 188 lets you protect your primary home from most creditors up to $1,000,000. Filing a Declaration of Homestead at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds costs $35. It is one of the cheapest and most effective forms of asset protection available.
The Plymouth town assessor database lets you look up assessed values, parcel data, and owner names for properties in the town of Plymouth.
This tool is separate from the Registry of Deeds but gives you assessed value data that can help with property research.
Cities in Plymouth County
Two communities in Plymouth County have their own property records pages. Both file their land documents at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds.
Nearby Counties
Plymouth County shares borders with three other Massachusetts counties. Check the right county before you search, especially for properties near the boundary lines.