Worcester Registry of Deeds

First and Last Day Stats: January into February

2012-02-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

January 31, 2012 - 712 Documents Recorded (Down 31% from 2011)

February 1, 2012 - 539 Documents Recorded (Up 24% from 2011)

Historical Indexing Project: Complete through 1966

2012-01-28T09:15:00.002-05:00

The Worcester District Registry of Deeds is proud to announce that our historical indexing project is now complete back through January 1966. Previously, only records dating back to 1973 were fully searchable on MassLandRecords.com. Through a Registry initiative, we have fully digitally indexed all documents recorded between 1973 and 1966.

As always, all of our documents are available online through the un-indexed property search. In addition, we are planning to add a digitized version of the Grantor and Grantee indicies shortly.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

2012-01-12T10:46:00.004-05:00

The Registry of Deeds and the Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Click here for a link to Dr. King's inspirational,"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" from 1963

Year in Review: 2011 Stats

2012-01-05T17:48:00.002-05:00

For 2011, the Registry of Deeds recorded 140,718 documents and had revenue of $22,498,453.46. Also, the number of foreclosure deeds filed dropped by nearly 25% (2017 in '10 to 1522 in '11), a trend that we hope continues.

Seasons Greetings from the Registry of Deeds

2011-12-23T23:22:00.001-05:00

We wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Holiday Hours

2011-12-22T12:52:00.001-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed in observance of Christmas on Monday, December 26, 2011. The Registry will also be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012 in observance of New Years.

Happy Holidays!

First and Last Day Stats: November into December

2011-12-02T23:30:00.001-05:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

November 30, 2011 - 773 Documents Recorded (Down 15% from 2010)

December 1, 2011 - 484 Documents Recorded (Down 10% from 2010)

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

2011-11-23T08:49:00.001-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on this Thursday, November 24th for Thanksgiving. However, the Registry will be open during our normal hours on Friday November 25th.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving from the Registry of Deeds!

New MassLandRecords Homepage

2011-11-14T17:49:00.001-05:00

In response to user feedback, the MLR homepage has recently been updated. The goal of the redesign was to more prominently display the YouTube tutorials and the full functionality of the site.

We'd like to offer special thanks to all of our users who joined us for the information session and have been giving us helpful feedback!

First and Last Day Stats: October into November

2011-11-10T10:05:00.003-05:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

October 31, 2011 - 879 Documents Recorded (Down 19% from 2010)

November 1, 2011 577 Documents Recorded (Down 30% from 2010)

It seems that much of the reduction during these two days this year is related to the snowy climate, rather than the economic climate.

Trick or Treating Postponed in Worcester

2011-10-30T15:06:00.003-04:00

Worcester City Manager Michael O'Brien has postponed Halloween Trick-or-Treating until Thursday November 3rd because of safety issues involving unlit streets and downed power lines because of the recent storm.

We wish you all a happy and safe Halloween from the Registry of Deeds!

New MLR Training Session

2011-10-27T22:27:00.004-04:00

The Worcester Registry of Deeds and Secretary of State Galvin would like to invite you to attend a training session for the new MassLandRecords at the Worcester Registry of Deeds on Thursday November 10, 2011 from 10 to 11am.

The training session will include an introduction to searching, printing, and downloading documents and intends to familiarize all of our users with the new functionalities of the site.

For dates and times for training sessions at other Registries, click here.

MassLandRecords.com Tutorial Videos

2011-10-17T09:20:00.003-04:00

Please view these tutorial videos to assist your use of the new Mass Land Records system

Quick Start Tutorial

Printing Tutorial

Download Tutorial

Changes to MassLandRecords.com

2011-10-17T09:12:00.003-04:00

The Worcester Registry of Deeds has received numerous comments and inquiries concerning the new Mass Land Records system. Change always requires learning and adaptability. At the Worcester Registry we are aware of our users concerns and are working to address them.

The Registers of Deeds in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office is planning six regional training sessions for users of the new Mass Land Records system. The place and times will be announced shortly. It is anticipated these sessions will take place in November 2011.

Until then, you may contact Linda Curran with your questions

Thank you for your patience and comments

Columbus Day Hours

2011-10-07T16:13:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder that the Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed Monday, October 10, 2011 in honor of Columbus Day.

Enjoy your Holiday,

Registry Staff

First and Last Day Stats: September into October

2011-10-06T08:23:00.002-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

September 30, 2011 - 1097 Documents Recorded (Up 29% from 2010)

October 3, 2011 - 658 Documents Recorded (Down 27% from 2010)

New MassLandRecords.com

2011-09-23T22:12:00.003-04:00

The new version of MassLandRecords.com will become the default version of the site beginning on October 1st. You will, however, still be able to access the former version until January 1, 2012. We highly recommend that anybody currently using the old version of the site begin to familiarize themselves with the new version of the site.

The new version of MassLandRecords.com offers many advanced features not available on the old site but that are available on the Public Access terminals in the Registry. To view the full functionality of the new site, be sure to click on the "Advanced" button.

If you have any questions about the new search, please feel free to ask Registry staff or send us an email.

First and Last Day Stats: August into September

2011-09-06T15:54:00.001-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

August 31, 2011 - 638 Documents Recorded (Down 16% from 2010)

September 1, 2011 - 561 Documents Recorded (Down 13% from 2010)

Labor Day Holiday

2011-09-03T18:54:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2011 in observance of Labor Day. We thank all American workers for their contributions which have built and strengthened our nation.

First and Last Stats: July into August

2011-08-02T21:56:00.001-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

July 29, 2011 - 743 Documents Recorded (Down 13% from 2010)

August 1, 2011 - 671 Documents Recorded (Up 2% from 2010)

First and Last Stats: June into July

2011-07-06T21:11:00.002-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

June 3o, 2011 - 868 Documents Recorded (Down 13% from 2010)

July 1, 2011 - 584 Documents Recorded (Up 2% from 2010)

Fourth of July Hours

2011-06-28T22:25:00.003-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and the Satellite Office will be closed on Monday, July 4, 2011 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

We wish you all a safe and happy Fourth of July!

First and Last Day Stats: May into June

2011-06-02T14:55:00.001-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

May 31, 2011 - 752 Documents Recorded (Down 31% from 2010)

June 1, 2011 - 509 Documents Recorded (Down 25% from 2010)

Memorial Day Hours

2011-05-27T10:58:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observation of Memorial Day.

Click Here for more information about Memorial Day observations around Worcester County.

First and Last Stats: April into May

2011-05-10T14:16:00.002-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

April 30, 2011 - 890 Documents Recorded (Down 24% from 2010)

May 2, 2011 - 577 Documents Recorded (Down 24% from 2010)

Where to Find New Homestead Forms

2011-04-27T10:11:00.001-04:00

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has issued a pamphlet and forms for declaring a homestead under the new homestead law that became effective on Wednesday, March 16th.

The pamphlet and forms are accessible on the Secretary's website.

Patriot's Day Hours

2011-04-14T07:58:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed Monday, April 18th in honor of Patriot's Day.

Patriot's Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War. The Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon, also is held on Patriot's Day.

First and Last Day Stats: March 31st and April 1st

2011-04-05T11:12:00.002-04:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. To see stats from earlier in the year, click on the First/Last tag below the post.

March 31, 2011 - 560 Documents Recorded (Down 26% from 2010)

April 1, 2011 - 519 Documents Recorded (Up 6% from 2010)

Fitchburg Satellite Office closed Friday

2011-03-31T15:17:00.000-04:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Friday April 1, 2011 due to the forecast of inclement weather.

The Registry office at 90 Front Street in Worcester will remain open between 8:15 AM and 4:30 PM.

New Homestead Pamphlet and Forms

2011-03-14T12:20:00.002-04:00

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth has issued a pamphlet and forms for declaring a homestead under the new homestead law that goes into effect on Wednesday, March 16th. The pamphlet and forms are accessible on the Secretary's website.

New Homestead Law Takes Effect March 16th

2011-03-11T11:40:00.003-05:00

Revisions to the Massachusetts Homestead Law will go into effect on March 16, 2011. Chapter 395 of the Acts of 2010, AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE ESTATE OF HOMESTEAD, revises and replaces the provisions of the Massachusetts Homestead Act, G.L. c. 188. The amendment provides additional definition and clarifies a number of uncertainties in the existing statute. More information is available at the General Court’s webpage.

The Registry of Deeds is working with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to provide new homestead forms and information materials. The new information will be posted here on the Worcester Registry of Deeds blog.

Highlights of the New Law:

Automatically protects up to $125,000 in home equity without filing
Protects up to $500,000 for those who file for homestead protection
Allows spouses to both file-- currently only one may file
No need to re-file after refinancing
Provides coverage for homes kept in trusts
Homesteads currently in effect will remain in full force notwithstanding their failure to comply with provisions of the new statute

First and Last Day Stats

2011-03-01T17:46:00.005-05:00

The first and last days of each month have historically been busy days in terms of the number of documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. We will be tracking them here and comparing volume to 2010 here at the Registry of Deeds Blog

Jan 3, 2011 - 633 Documents Recorded (Up 8% from 2010)
Jan 31, 2011 - 1006 Documents Recorded (Up 32% from 2010)

Feb 1, 2011 - 427 Documents Recorded (Down 28% from 2010)
Feb 28, 2011 - 744 Documents Recorded (Down 12% from 2010)

March 1, 2011 - 572 Documents Recorded (Down 19% from 2010)

Presidents Day Hours

2011-02-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Monday, February 21, 2011 in observance of the Presidents Day Holiday.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closed Today

2011-02-02T07:27:00.002-05:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed today, Wednesday, February 2, 2011 due to inclement weather.

New Registry Inclement Weather Policy

2011-02-01T15:43:00.001-05:00

Effective February 1, 2011, the Worcester Registry of Deeds and Satellite Office will not be open for business if the Worcester Trial Court is closed for the entire day. The Worcester Registry of Deeds will be open regular business hours if the Worcester Trial Court has a delayed opening.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closed Today

2011-01-27T07:31:00.002-05:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed today, Thursday, January 27, 2011 due to inclement weather.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Delayed Opening

2011-01-21T07:52:00.004-05:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will open at noon today, Friday, January 21, 2011 due to inclement weather.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closed Today

2011-01-18T08:31:00.002-05:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed today, Tuesday, January 18,2011 due to inclement weather.

MLK Day Hours

2011-01-13T09:01:00.002-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2011 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Fitchburg Satellite Office closed on Wednesday

2011-01-11T08:01:00.003-05:00

The Registry's Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Wednesday January 12, 2010 due to the forecast of inclement weather.

The Registry office at 90 Front Street in Worcester will remain open between 8:15 AM and 4:30 PM.

Homestead Notice

2011-01-04T15:04:00.000-05:00

Chapter 395 of the Acts of 2010, AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE ESTATE OF HOMESTEAD, revises and replaces the provisions of the Massachusetts Homestead Act, G.L. c. 188. The amendment provides additional definition and clarifies a number of uncertainties in the existing statute. More information is available at the General Court’s webpage.

New Years Hours

2010-12-29T13:08:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder that the Registry of Deeds and the Fitchburg Satellite Office will be open during normal operating hours on Friday December 31, 2010.

Happy New Year from the Registry of Deeds!

Inclement Weather Update

2010-12-26T22:01:00.003-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be open during normal hours on Monday December 26th. Access to the Registry of Deeds may not be available until 8:15 a.m. due to inclement weather.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closed Monday

2010-12-26T18:21:00.001-05:00

Due to inclement weather, the Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Monday December 26, 2010. The Registry of Deeds will remain open.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.9

Holiday Hours

2010-12-20T20:42:00.003-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be open during normal operating hours on Friday December 24th and Friday December 31st.

Happy Holidays from the Registry of Deeds

Electronic Recording Update

2010-12-17T12:58:00.002-05:00

The Electronic Recording program at the Registry of Deeds is progressing well. We are currently fine tuning the payment process and are adding another submitter. Our first submitter was a local credit union, and we are currently working with a local attorney submitter. The Registry will be issuing a press release with more information about Electronic Recording, which will be published here, shortly.

Appellate Training Event

2010-11-19T12:51:00.002-05:00

CPCS Children & Family Law Division will be hosting Appellate Training at the Worcester District Registry of Deeds on November 22, 2010 from 2 to 4 p.m. The training will feature a discussion of Motions for Relief from Judgment, Motions for New Trial, Writing Tips, and Various and Sundry Other Matters. Speakers will include Andrew Cohen & Lisa Sheehan of CPCS Children & Family Law Division, Boston and Beth Nussbaum, Esq., of Sharon.

Please contact Andrew Cohen at acohen@publiccounsel.net or (617) 988- 8310, or Lisa Sheehan, at lsheehan@publiccounsel.net or (617) 988-8456, if you have any questions.

Veterans Day Closing

2010-11-08T10:27:00.004-05:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 2010 in honor of Veterans Day.

Grantor Index Demonstration and E-Recording Update

2010-11-05T12:57:00.002-04:00

On Monday, November 15, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Anthony J. Vigliotti and the Worcester Registry of Deeds staff will present a demonstration of its electronic 1731-1961 Grantor Indices.

These indices will be available at dedicated terminals within the Registry of Deeds for your use. It is the goal of the Registry to provide access to the indices on the new Mass Land Records site in the near future.

Additionally, an update will be provided on the Worcester Registry of Deeds electronic recording pilot project. The Worcester Registry will be the first Registry to electronically record documents in CERS, the Commonwealth Electronic Recording System.

Electronic Recording Delayed until Next Week

2010-10-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

The Registry of Deeds has decided to temporarily delay the implementation of Electronic Recording until next week. While the Electronic Recording system is ready for live use, we have been experiencing connectivity issues due to an upgrade to our T1 lines to increase bandwidth. Although these upgrades have slightly delayed electronic recording, they will help us to continue to provide the highest quality services to our users. We will continue to post updates on the implementation of Electronic Recording here on our blog.

Electronic Recording - Coming Next Week

2010-10-22T16:06:00.002-04:00

After years of research and many months of development, the Registry of Deeds will begin live electronic recording next week. We are happy to be working with the Webster First Federal Credit Union for the initial live recordings to verify the electronic recording process. We will be opening electronic recording to a range of submitters shortly thereafter.

Electronic recording is the most significant of the Registry's many efforts to make our operation as digitized as possible. These innovations will allow the Registry to reduce costs and go green at a time when it is most pressing, while maintaining high quality service for our users. Thank you all for following the Registry's progress as we move towards reaching our goal.

Columbus Day Hours

2010-10-07T22:49:00.000-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed Monday, October 10, 2010 in honor of Columbus Day.

Statistics for Q3 2010

2010-10-04T11:11:00.002-04:00

The following is a breakdown for the months of July, August and September 2010 for income, foreclosure deeds, and recordings in the Worcester District Registry of Deeds.

Month	Income	Foreclosure Deeds	Recordings
July	$1,936,100.45	209	12,377
August	$2,090,084.75	195	13,375
September	$2,230,829.88	132	13,768
Q3 Total	$6,257,015.08	536	39,520

Mortgage Fraud on the Rise

2010-09-18T01:05:00.003-04:00

New data suggests that mortgage fraud may be once again on the rise. After reaching a peak in 2006, mortgage fraud has began to become more problematic again, increasing 17% from last year.

Read more about this trend at the Wall Street Journal here.

Electronic Grantor Index Live

2010-09-16T15:35:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds is pleased to announce that we have enabled an electronic version of our Grantor Index from 1731 to 1965 on several of our public access computers in the Registry. We are completing training for staff and frequent users of the Grantor Index this week. Please inquire with a Registry staff member if you would like to access the electronic Grantor Index. Additionally, we hope to launch an online version of the Grantor Index in the near future.

Labor Day Holiday

2010-09-05T18:21:00.003-04:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2010 in observance of Labor Day. We thank all American workers for their contributions which have built and strengthened our nation.

Registry of Deeds Technology Advisory Committee Meeting

2010-08-29T23:42:00.000-04:00

The Registries of Deeds of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required to meet each year with the Registry of Deeds Technology Advisory Committee members to report on the status of the Registries of Deeds and the use of the Registry of Deeds Technology Funds. The meeting will be hosted by the Secretary of the Commonwealth on Monday, August 30, 2010, in Boston. The Worcester District Registry of Deeds will present the following to the Technology Advisory Committee:

For Fiscal Year 2010, the Worcester District Registry of Deeds collected $25,970,229.90 in total income. The Fiscal Year 2010 budget for the Registry of Deeds was $2,345,612.00. For Fiscal Year 2011, the budget of the Registry of Deeds has been reduced by $117,281.00 to $2,228,331.00.

The Registry of Deeds is targeting October 4, 2010 for the launch of the Electronic Recording Massachusetts Portal Pilot Project. Additionally, the Registry of Deeds has digitized the Grantor indicies from 1731 to 1965. The Grantor indicies will be available online and in house in a phone-book directory format with links to the corresponding images.

The Registry of Deeds future goals include:

Implementation of an automatic redacting system at the time of recording
Restoration and Preservation of Historical Records
Implementation of property fraud alert software

Changes to Masslandrecords.com

2010-08-12T14:47:00.005-04:00

Several changes that should dramatically enhance the performance of the new Masslandrecords,com search have been implemented. We encourage all users to use the new version in the upcoming weeks and give us your feedback via phone or email. The old version will continue to remain on the site should you experience any problems with the new version. Click here to access the new version of Masslandrecords.com.

New Law Enacted in Response to National Lumber

2010-08-11T15:50:00.002-04:00

In 2005, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts decided a case, National Lumber Co. v. Lombardi, in which the Court held that documents sent to Registries of Deeds via mail are considered recorded the moment they are received by the Registry. This decision was problematic as these documents are in actuality recorded into the Registries' computer systems over the course of the day they are received.

Yesterday, the Governor signed Senate Bill 2549 into law to rectify this situation. Under the new law, "No instrument received by the register shall be considered recorded until the register assigns to the instrument an instrument number, or book and page number, as the case may be." This means that once this law goes into effect, documents are not officially recorded until entered into the Registry's computer database. Click here to read the full text of the new law.

E-Recording Launch Date: October 4th

2010-08-10T13:57:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds is proud to announce that the launch date for the new E-Recording Portal is scheduled for October 4th. Please check back often as we will continue to post information about the portal, including how to become a submitter.

Register's Update

2010-08-05T11:06:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds is currently working on two projects that will allow users to both access records and record documents remotely.

Work is continuing on the E-Recording Portal. The current target date for rolling out the portal is September 30, 2010.

Grantor Indices from 1731 – 1960 have been scanned into a database. We are currently waiting for the arrival of four books that have been rescanned in order to improve the quality of the images. We anticipate having these indicies online in a telephone directory style shortly.

As these projects move towards completion, we are continuing to explore these future improvements

We recently tested an expanded and improved historical index search system with Foveonics Imaging Technologies, Inc. This system allows quicker and greater search capabilities then our proposed system. It also allows us to redact our older indices while preserving the redacted information in a secured database.

We have studied the installation of E-Recording kiosks being used by Maricopa County (Phoenix) Arizona. These kiosks could be placed in a library, Town Hall or Court House to expedite recordings by the general public with payments using credit or debit cards.

In the last fiscal year, the Registry reduced staff by five positions due to budget cuts, while the volume of our work began to increase, with the total number of documents recorded reaching 153,689. The Registry operated with a budget of $2,345,612.00 and returned $25,970,229.90 of revenue to the Commonwealth.

The Worcester Registry of Deeds always welcomes your opinions and suggestions. Please send them to linda.curran@sec.state.ma.us

Land Court to Relocate

2010-08-04T11:11:00.000-04:00

Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan has announced that efforts are underway to relocate the Land Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court to the Suffolk County Courthouse at Pemberton Square. Relocation of the Land Court, which currently occupies private leased space at 226 Causeway Street in Boston, will realize annual savings exceeding $2.7 million.

"The size of the Trial Court’s FY11 budget gap requires aggressive action on the Land Court lease, one of the largest leases in our portfolio," said Chief Justice Mulligan. "The move of an entire court department reflects the unprecedented actions necessary given our appropriation this year. We plan to relocate the court by the end of December to maximize available savings. The Legislature has provided the Trial Court with the authority to manage lease expenses in addressing the significant budget shortfall."

Chief Justice Mulligan also commended those affected by the move. "I want to recognize the extraordinary cooperation of those who work in the Land Court, the Superior Court and the Office of Community Corrections to ensure that this relocation is accomplished smoothly and successfully," he said.

"The entire Trial Court is under pressure to cut costs and deliver services," said Land Court Chief Justice Karyn Scheier. "Wherever the Land Court is located, we will work hard to honor our long history and serve the real estate bar and the public at the highest level possible, given our resources."

The Trial Court Relocation Committee included termination of the Land Court lease among its recently announced preliminary recommendations, which were based on a review of all 103 courthouse facilities. The Court will move into space in the Suffolk County High Rise Courthouse now occupied by several programs operated by the Office of Community Corrections.

The Trial Court’s FY11 budget stands at $534.8 million, which compares with an FY10 budget of $559.5 million and FY09 initial appropriation of $605.1 million. An absolute hiring freeze in the Trial Court has resulted in the loss of more than 700 employees since 2008.

The Land Court also has been severely impacted by the surge in foreclosures generated by the fiscal crisis and by the hiring freeze, which puts the Court below 50 percent of optimal staffing levels. The Court, comprised of seven judges with statewide jurisdiction, received more than 26,000 filings in FY09.

Blood Drive at the Registry of Deeds on Thursday, July 22nd

2010-07-12T16:46:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and the American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive on Thursday July 22, 2010 between 9am and 3pm in the Commonwealth Room of the Registry. All donors will receive a voucher for a free half gallon of Friendly's Ice Cream and can register to win Red Sox tickets. Please schedule your appointment with Linda by calling (508) 368-7012. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.

E-Recording Update: Week of June 29th

2010-06-29T13:37:00.002-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and the E-Recording team have continued to make progress. The development team has deployed many changes to customize the user interface. Additionally, round trip testing of the E-Recording process has continued. Check back here for updates on testing and the roll-out of the E-Recording portal.

Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Register of Deeds Association Annual Meeting

2010-06-22T20:40:00.002-04:00

The Worcester Registry of Deeds today hosted the Annual Meeting of the Registers and Assistant Register of Deeds Association in the Commonwealth Room. Highlights of the meeting included a presentation on GIS, a presentation on Mortgage Fraud by Albert Lamoreaux of the FBI, and remarks by Secretary of the Commonwealth Galvin.

Flag Day

2010-06-14T13:07:00.002-04:00

Today is Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the United States flag during the second Continental Congress in 1777. Flag Day was established by President Wilson in 1916. Click here to view our instructions on how to display the flag at WorcesterDeeds.com

Happy Flag Day from the Registry of Deeds!

Fourth of July Hours

2010-06-11T10:44:00.003-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and the Satellite Office will be closed on Monday, July 5, 2010 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The Registry observes all Sunday holidays on the following Monday. We will post another reminder as the Fourth of July approaches.

E-Recording Update: Week of June 7th

2010-06-07T07:22:00.002-04:00

The goal for this week is to complete a full test transaction. This includes the EDS Pay integration and administrative functions and reports. Processing times have been significantly reduced to make the e-recording process more efficient.

Memorial Day Holiday

2010-05-28T10:10:00.001-04:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on Monday, May 31, 2010 in observance of Memorial Day. We thank all the women and men who have given their lives in the service of our Country.

E-Recording Update

2010-05-21T16:10:00.000-04:00

The Registry of Deeds is continuing in-house testing for our new e-Recording system. Last week we successfully tested the integration of ACS 20/20 and the e-Recording portal using single page TIFF files. This week we further tested scanning multiple page documents and converting them to a TIFF standard. Extensive testing will continue next week.

Law Day 2010

2010-05-07T08:23:00.001-04:00

The first day of May of each year is designated as Law Day, U.S.A. It is set aside as a special day of celebration by the American people in appreciation of their liberties and the reaffirmation of their loyalty to the United States of America; of their rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other as well as with other nations; and for the cultivation of that respect for law that is so vital to the democratic way of life.

The Theme of Law Day this year is Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges.

The Worcester County Bar Association held its annual breakfast on April 30, 2010. The guest speaker was the honorable Judge John S. McCann. The Essay Contest Award was presented to Ryan Fox, Eighth Grade student at Saint Bernadette School in Northboro, MA; Liberty Bell Award was presented to Stephen T. Greaney; and the Community Service Award was presented to Attorney Brian J. Buckley. Congratulations to all!

Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Registers of Deeds Association Meeting

2010-04-26T11:46:00.002-04:00

The Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Registers of Deeds Association is meeting today in the Commonwealth Room of the Registry of Deeds. The topics discussed include updates on electronic recording and the possible effects of the recent state Security Breach statute, Mass. Gen. Laws 93H, on the Registries of Deeds.

Patriots' Day

2010-04-14T13:38:00.005-04:00

The Registry of Deeds and the Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed, Monday April 19th 2010 in observance of Patriots' Day.

Patriots' Day commemorates the anniversaries of the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War. Also, the Boston Marathon is held each year on the celebration of Patriots' Day, making the day also known as Marathon Monday.

Statistics for Q1 2010

2010-04-08T15:55:00.003-04:00

The following is a breakdown for the months of January, February and March 2010 for income, foreclosure deeds, and recordings in the Worcester District Registry of Deeds.

Month	Income	Foreclosure Deeds	Recordings
January	$1,586,170.99	176	11,146
February	$1,505,695.72	154	10,279
March	$1,921,155.43	238	12,816
Q1 Total	$5,013,022.14	568	34,241

Electronic Recording Update

2010-03-22T07:24:00.003-04:00

The Worcester District Registry of Deeds Electronic Recording Portal Pilot Project is scheduled for testing on April 12, 2010.

Evacuation Day Hours

2010-03-12T23:54:00.002-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be open as usual on Evacuation Day, March 17, 2010.

Evacuation Day commemorates the evacuation of British forces from the city of Boston following the Siege of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War.

Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Register of Deeds Association Meeting

2010-03-01T12:37:00.001-05:00

The Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Register of Deeds Association will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA at 9:00 am.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closed Today

2010-02-24T08:32:00.001-05:00

Due to the inclement weather today, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 the Worcester Registry of Deeds Satellite Office will be closed.

Real Estate Bar Association Meeting

2010-02-22T17:53:00.001-05:00

The Real Estate Bar Association Worcester County Regional Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

Presidents Day Holiday

2010-02-15T14:04:00.000-05:00

The Registry of Deeds and Fitchburg Satellite Office will be closed Monday, February 15, 2010 in honor of Presidents Day.

Fitchburg Satellite Office Closing Today 2/10/10 at Noon

2010-02-10T11:17:00.001-05:00

Due to the inclement weather forecast for today, Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the Worcester Registry of Deeds Satellite Office will be closing at noon. The office will be open on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at our regular business hours.

Notice to Homeowners - Certified Copies

2010-02-05T10:29:00.001-05:00

National Record Service, Inc. of Northbrook, Illinois, a private corporation is soliciting services from homeowners by offering to obtain a certified copy of your deed for $69.50.

Please note, that you may obtain a copy of your deed free of charge by visiting WorcesterDeeds.com and clicking on "Search our Documents".

Certified copies are available at the Worcester Registry of Deeds at a cost of $1.00 per page. You can also send a letter to the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA 01608, requesting a certified copy of your deed. Please include the Book and Page number of your deed (found on WorcesterDeeds.com), a check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a self addressed stamped envelope.

Haiti Relief Effort

2010-01-29T16:06:00.007-05:00

As a response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Presidents Bush and Clinton have created a fund to assist with relief and recovery efforts.

Visit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund website to donate. Thank you.

Mock Trials in the Commonwealth Room

2010-01-29T16:03:00.002-05:00

The Massachusetts Bar Association will be sponsoring Mock Trials in the Commonwealth Room on the following dates:

February 1st at 2:00 PM Shrewsbury Sr High School v. Holy Name Central Catholic High School Judge: Michael S. Hussey
February 2nd at 2:00 PM South High Community School v. MA Academy for Math & Science Judge: Geoffrey S. Spofford
February 2:00 PM South High Community School v. Shrewsbury Sr High School Judge: Matthew R. Fisher

Martin Luther King Day Hours

2010-01-15T12:38:00.005-05:00

The Registry of Deeds, including the Fitchburg Satellite Office, will be closed on Monday, January 18th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Review of 2009 and Preview of 2010

2010-01-10T22:22:00.003-05:00

In 2009, the Registry of Deeds completed an inventory of all microfilm, plans, aperture cards, and County Commissioner's records. Also, the Registry began indexing and key stroke verifying previously un-indexed records from 1965 back to 1961, which will continue into 2010. Other goals for 2010 include replacing aging microfilm with new film made from digital images and implementing electronic recording.

2009 Year End Statistics

2010-01-10T22:07:00.005-05:00

The following is a comparison of statistics from 2009 and 2008. While income has dropped slightly, there was been in increase in the number of total recordings and a decrease in the number of foreclosure deeds recorded.

	Income	Foreclosure Deeds	Recordings
2009	$25,318,856.09	1489	159,753
2008	$26,405,197.98	1968	143,362

For Fiscal Year 2010, the Registry of Deed's budget appropriation is $2,345,612.00, down from $2,688,908 in 2009 and 2.713,416.00 in 2010.

New Years Hours

2009-12-31T02:03:00.002-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be open during our normal operating hours on New Years Eve, Thursday December 31, 2009. The Registry will be closed for New Years Day on January 1, 2010.

Have a Happy New Year from the Worcester District Registry of Deeds!

Christmas Hours

2009-12-23T15:10:00.000-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be open during our normal hours on Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24th. The Registry of Deeds will be closed for Christmas on Friday December 25th.

Have a Merry Christmas from the Registry of Deeds!

Happy Hanukkah 2009

2009-12-11T15:08:00.002-05:00

Today at sundown marks the first night of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights.

Register Vigliotti and his staff would like to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah.

Special Election Today - Polls open until 8 PM

2009-12-08T13:08:00.002-05:00

Today is the primary for the Special Election to replace Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Polls are open until 8PM. For more info on the election and where to vote, click here!

Fitchburg Satellite - Closed on Wed Dec 9, 2009

2009-12-08T10:32:00.003-05:00

The Fitchburg Satellite office will be closed Wednesday December 9, 2009 due to the inclement weather forecast. The office will reopen on Thursday December 10, 2009 at our regular business hours.

Thanksgiving Reminder

2009-11-24T18:25:00.002-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2009 for Thanksgiving. The Registry will be open as usual on Friday, November 27, 2009.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Registry Closed for Veterans Day

2009-11-10T10:18:00.001-05:00

The Registry of Deeds will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday November 11, 2009, in honor of Veterans Day.

Election Day

2009-11-03T09:35:00.001-05:00

Today is Election Day - Don't forget to vote!

October Statistics

2009-11-02T19:36:00.002-05:00

The total number of documents recorded in October 2009 was 13, 564, up from 11,411 in October 2008. The number of deeds recorded increased from 1,274 in October 2008 to in 1,395 October 2009. The number of foreclosure deeds dropped from 173 in October 2008 to 142 in October 2009.

The final recording day of the month, October 30th was a very busy day, with 1,098 documents recorded.

W.C.B.A. Real Estate Section Meeting

2009-10-27T13:21:00.001-04:00

The Worcester County Bar Association Real Estate Section will be holding a meeting Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 4:30 PM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester District Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA.

Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Registers of Deeds Association

2009-10-22T12:49:00.004-04:00

On October 19th, 2009 the Massachusetts Registers and Assistant Registers of Deeds Association held their annual meeting and the Association formulated plans for technology and operational advancements for the Registry of Deeds. These plans consisted of developing standards and regulations for electronic recording, exploring optional returning of recorded plans at time of recording, improvements of the new version of Mass Land Records website, centralizing storage of documents, microfilm, and technology backups for all Massachusetts Registry of Deeds, and continued development of disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

The Association also elected Register Vigliotti as President. The Association also elected the following officers: Barry J. Amaral, Register of Northern Bristol County Registry of Deeds as Vice President; Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., Register of Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds as Secretary; and Michael Holden, Assistant Register of Plymouth County Registry of Deeds as Treasurer.

Judicial Institute Fall 2009 Judicial Response Program

2009-10-10T22:52:00.001-04:00

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Trial Court Judicial Institute will be holding a Judicial Response program on Friday, October 16, 2009, in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM.

Old Republic Title Insurance Seminar

2009-10-10T22:37:00.001-04:00

Old Republic Title Insurance Company will be holding a Fall Seminar on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 beginning at 8:30 AM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds.

Topics to be presented:
Short Sales
HUD-1/ RESPA Changes
Reverse Mortgages
Underwriting Updates