Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Register O'Donnell Stresses Need to File Mortgage Discharges



Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Register O'Donnell Stresses Need to File Mortgage Discharges

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today reminded consumers about the importance of filing a mortgage discharge in a timely manner after their mortgage has been paid off.

Register O'Donnell noted, "During our office hours, one of the most commonly asked questions by homeowners is whether they have clear title to their property. This can be determined by accessing the Registry's online records and verifying if all mortgages associated with the property have been discharged."

The Register went on to say, "When a mortgage is paid off, a mortgage discharge document needs to be recorded with the Registry of Deeds to clear a homeowner's property title. A discharge is a document (typically one page) issued by the lender, usually with a title such as "Discharge of Mortgage" or "Satisfaction of Mortgage."

In many instances stated O'Donnell, "Discharges are sometimes filed directly by banks or settlement attorneys with the Registry as part of a property sale or as a result of a refinancing transaction. In other cases, the mortgage discharge is sent to the property owner who is then responsible for making sure the document is recorded at the Registry.

"Whether or not a discharge is recorded by the lending institution or the individual property owner, ultimately the responsibility falls on the property owner to check and make sure that all necessary documents have been recorded at the Registry of Deeds."

The Register further mentioned that there have been cases where no discharge has been recorded against a long paid off mortgage. Unfortunately, some of the lending institutions that provided funds for these mortgages are no longer in existence. In most other cases, financial entities have merged with another lending entity. "You cannot sell your property without having all mortgage discharges recorded," the Register warned.

If a property owner needs to retrieve an original discharge of a mortgage and is unclear which lending institution is now responsible for providing the document, an option is to contact the Massachusetts Division of Banks at 1-800-495-2265. This government agency can assist the consumer in tracking down contact information for the lending institution that is responsible for the mortgage.

When recording a discharge, the original document is required. The Registry of Deeds does not accept photo copies or faxed copies of documents. The filing fee, set by state statute, is $76.00.

In conclusion O'Donnell stated, "After paying off all the mortgages on their property, homeowners want to be assured that they have clear title to their property, especially if they are contemplating selling. Being diligent and aware of what is required will go a long way in giving the homeowner peace of mind.

"The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is staffed with a team of customer service representatives who can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM at 781-461-6101. These representatives have been trained in researching documents and are well versed on the subject of mortgage discharges and what, if necessary, needs to done to clear title to a property.

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org.


Register William P. O'Donnell
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

phone: 781-234-3336
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831

Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage
screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage

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