Holiday Schedule

The Registry of Deeds will be closed on December 25, 2008 and January 1, 2009 for the Holidays.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa from the Registry of Deeds!

Back Indexing Project - Phase One Complete

We have completed phase one of our back indexing project. The first phase of the project includes all records from December 31, 1965 to January 1961. If you would like to search for a document from January 1961, simply change the date range on MassLandRecords.com and the index and image will be available for your viewing and printing.

This phase of the project began on January 24, 2008 and has been finished in under a year.

Thanks to our staff who worked diligently to complete this phase of the project so quickly.

Toys and Books for Tots

Please join us for our 16th Annual Toys and Books for Tots on Thursday, December 18th 2008 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Coral Seafood Restaurant, 255 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA.

Our event has provided toys and books to underprivileged children during the holiday season for many years. Given the current economic climate, your participation this year will be especially important.

Kindly bring an unwrapped toy or book. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, December 18th.

Understanding Reverse Mortgages

The Worcester County Bar Association Real Estate Law Section will be meeting on Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 4:30 PM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA.

The main presentation will be Understanding Reverse Mortgages. The speaker will be Attorney Anthony DeSantis of Old Republic National Title Insurance and Underwriting Issues for Reverse Mortgages.

Blanket Drive

We are collecting blankets for shelters in Worcester County this Winter.

Various shelters in Worcester County are in desperate need of blankets or fleece throws this year. Blankets are a fundamental necessity in the winter months for many homeless people.

The blankets are a way for the general public to make a critical difference in the lives of these people. To the victims in crisis, the blankets offer immediate relief. In some instances, the blanket becomes their only possession.

Blankets do not have to be new but they should be clean and usable.

If you have any blankets to donate, please bring them to the Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA. Kindly leave them in the boxes provided in the public access area.

Thanksgiving Day

The Worcester Registry of Deeds will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27,2008. The office will be opened on Friday, November 28, 2008, regular hours of operation.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

WCBA Real Estate Law Section

The Worcester County Bar Association Real Estate Law Section will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA.
The main presentation will be on Tax Benefits of Land Conservation:
A Survey of Federal Law and Potential State Opportunities.

Veterans' Day

The Worcester Registry of Deeds will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th 2008, in honor of Veterans' Day.
We thank all of our Veterans for their service.

Don't Forget to Vote!

Tommorow, November 4, 2008 is Election Day. Don't forget to Vote!

To find your polling place click here.

RESPA Do's and Don'ts Seminar

First American Title Insurance Company will be presenting a program on RESPA Do's and Don'ts on Thursday, November 13th from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester. The program will cover everthing new in RESPA enforcement actions for kickbacks, referral fees and the like. Speaker will be Ruth A. Dillingham, Esq.
RSVP by November 10th to Janine Heller or for further information email Janine at jheller@firstam.com

How to Probate an Estate

The Massachusetts Bar Association will be holding a two part seminar on How to Probate an Estate. Part one will be held from 4-7 P.M. on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 and part two from 4-7 P.M. on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 in the Commonwealth Room of the Registry of Deeds.

Upcoming WCBA Real Estate Law Section Meeting

The WCBA Real Estate Law Section Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 4:30 PM in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds at 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA.

Main Presentation: Margaret R. Stolfa, General Counsel with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will discuss the development of the DEP’s new storm water management program, as it applies to private developers.

Casemaker Event Canceled

The Casemaker event scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday September 25th has been canceled.

We're sorry for any inconvenience.

Upcoming Events

Worcester County Bar Association Real Estate Committee will be meeting Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 4:30 P.M. at the Registry of Deeds in the Commonwealth Room. On the agenda will be a presentation by Francis J. Nolan, Attorney Director of Harmon Law Office, PC. on Foreclosures and Current Trends beginning with a very quick overview of the process, followed by recent trends legislatively, judicially and among title companies. Also, a representative of the Attorney General's Office will address foreclosure related matters.

Massachusetts Bar Association on Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 2:00 P.M. to 3:15 P.M. will be holding a training program on Casemaker in the Commonwealth Room of the Registry of Deeds. For more information contact Andrew Gorman at (617) 338-0540.

The MBA's comprehensive legal research database, Casemaker, will be expanding its product offerings for Massachusetts lawyers and law students.

Casemaker 2.1 will be released October 1, 2008. Casemaker 2.1 will feature substantial improvements over Casemaker 2.0, the prevailing version of the software. Casemaker 2.1 will have a completely new interface and breadcrumb navigation, but will retain the user-friendly nature of its search functions. CaseCheck will be expanded to include results from all 50 states. Totally new to Casemaker 2.1 will be the CaseKnowledge function, which will retrieve any CLE, ABA or state publications related to your search results. Casemaker 2.1 Webinars, covering general searching and Massachusetts searching, will be made available at the Casemaker page, as accessed through www.MassBar.org.

CasemakerX is a unique social and professional networking website developed for law students. In addition to being able to access social networking features, law students signed up for CasemakerX will have free access to Casemaker legal research products. CasemakerX will allow law students to present a professional profile to attorneys and law firms seeking new employees. Practicing attorneys and law firms will have access to CasemakerX via a special portal, which will allow them to post jobs, fellowships and internships.

Updates on these Casemaker products will be made available on the MBA web site, www.massbar.org, as well as in its publications, Lawyers Journal and eJournal.

Filing Fee Notice

The Registry of Deeds’ filing fees are set forth in M.G.L. c. 262 s. 38, as amended by the Chapter 182 of the Acts of 2008. Filing fees shall be subject to the Community Preservation Act surcharge, established in M.G.L. c. 44B s. 8 and the Registers Technology Fund surcharge, set forth in M.G.L. c. 9 s. 31 unless otherwise exempted.

The filing fees and surcharges apply to all recordings unless there is an applicable statutory exemption. Any filer claiming an exemption from the filing fees should provide the relevant statue to identify the exemption.

At a recent meeting of the Registers of Deeds Association it was unanimously voted that all Commonwealth of Massachusetts Agencies will be responsible for paying filing fees for all documents and plans that are presented for recording at all Registries of Deeds beginning September 8th, 2008.

The Worcester District Registry of Deeds will be enforcing this effective September 8, 2008.

Anthony J. Vigliotti

Update on Back Indexing Project

In January 24, 2008, the Registry began a back indexing project to expand the year range of our fully indexed database. Since January 24th we have back indexed over 2 1/2 years of records. Currently we are indexing May of 1963. This work is being done daily and updated instantly.

On the search menu of masslandrecords.com you can enter a date prior to 01/01/1966 and the index and image will be available for your viewing and printing.

Notification from The National Association of County Clerks, Recorders, and Elected Officials

At the annual conference for the National Association of County Clerks, Recorders and Elected Officials, Worcester County Register of Deeds was appointed Parliamentarian by its president Beverly Kaufman, County Clerk of Harris County, Houston, Texas.

Anthony J. Vigliotti is an Attorney and the Worcester County Register of Deeds. He also serves as member of NACRC’s Board of Directors.

Register Vigliotti received his Certified Public Official award in land records and land records management from outgoing President Kathy Guay of Merrimac County, New Hampshire. The CPO designation is awarded to individuals who have completed substantial education programs regarding land records and their management.

1031 Like-Kind Exchange Seminar For Paralegals

The Registry of Deeds will be hosting a seminar on 1031 Like-Kind Exchange for Paralegals on August 5, 2008 in the Commonwealth Room.

Registration begins at 9:30 am and the Program runs from 10:00 am until noon.

This program is open to all CATIC agents and paralegals. Pre-registration is required and telephone registration and walk-ins will not be accepted. Space is limited.

• Fax the registration form to CATIC Exchange Solutions, Inc. at 860-513-3132.
• Go to the CATIC Exchange website at www.caticexchange.com and click on Seminars.

Update on Recording Fees for Multifunctional Documents

On July 13, 2008, Governor Patrick signed the FY 2009 budget which included outside sections amending Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 262, § 38 and Chapter 44B, § 8 to require additional recording fees for multifunctional documents. The Amendments provide that “when a document includes multiple references to a document or instrument intending or attempting to assign discharge, release, partially release, subordinate or notice any other document or instrument, each reference shall be separately indexed and separately assessed and additional recording fee.”

The intent of the Amendments is eliminate any confusion that may have arisen with respect to recording fees subsequent to the Patriots Resorts Corporation case [71 Mass. App. Ct. 114] and to codify the current practice of most Registries. The practical result is that if a single document discharges a Mortgage, an Assignment of Leases and Rents and a U.C.C., the recording fee will be $195.00, as if it were three separate discharges. The effect of the Amendments is retroactive to eliminate any potential claims for excess recording fees that may have been brought pursuant to the Patriots Resorts Case

Click Here to View the House Bill

Reminder: The Facts & Truths About Reverse Mortgages Seminar TODAY

Today the Registry of Deeds will be hosting two seminars entitled "The Facts & Truths About Reverse Mortgages" presented by Millbrook Mortgage.

The first seminar will be geared towards the general public and will begin at 1:00 PM. The second seminar, designed for attorneys, will begin at 4:30PM. Both seminars will be located in the Commonwealth Room of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, 90 Front Street, Worcester.

The Facts and Truths about Reverse Mortgages

The Registry of Deeds is hosting a seminar on The Facts and Truths about Reverse Mortgages. Presented by Millbrook Mortgage, the seminar will focus on reverse mortgages from an attorney's perspective.

Time and Place: July 15, 2008 at 4:30PM in the Registry of Deeds Commonwealth Room

Buy Worcester Now Program

Worcester City Manager Michael V. O'Brien and the Registry of Deeds will be conducting a seminar, Buy Worcester NOW, for all attorneys interested in a proposal to create new demand in the Worcester Housing Market. The seminar will be held in the Commonwealth Room of the Registry of Deeds on July 7, 2008 from 2:30 until 3:30 PM.

Condolences to the Russert Family

On behalf of the Registry of Deeds, I would like to offer our greatest sympathy to the Russert Family. Tim's passing represents not only the loss of an outstanding journalist but also an outstanding human being. May his family find peace in this time of great sorrow.

Anthony J. Vigliotti
Register of Deeds

Title Insurance Explained

Today at Noon, Bill Wagner of Chicago Title Insurance Company will be hosting a seminar entitled, Title Insurance Explained at the Registry of Deeds. The seminar is a basic treatment of jacket coverages and schedules. Sponsored by the Worcester County Bar Association, this one hour seminar is open to all WCBA members and their staffs.

Children and Family Law Program

On Monday, June 9, from 4:30 - 7:00 P.M. in the Commonwealth Room at the Worcester Registry of Deeds, Deborah Capuano will be hosting a Seminar for the Children and Family Law Program. Please join us for this program.

The Registry of "Good" Deeds

Congratulations to Edwin "Ted" Coghlin on his induction into the New England Scouter Hall of Fame. The Registry of Deeds hosted a celebration of his induction last night, presented by the Mohegan Council of the Boy Scouts of America. We are proud that we could help recognize Mr. Coghlin's good deeds.

South Essex Registry of Deeds Move

Congratulations to Register John O'Brien and the South Essex Registry of Deeds in Salem on the completion of their successful move to a new location this past weekend. For more information about their move, please visit SalemDeeds.com

Grantor Book Project

Today the Summer Interns at the Registry have started to lay the foundations for putting the Grantor Index online back to 1731. The online index will be in an "e-book" format, mimicking the format of the paper books. Although we are in the process of indexing documents from 1965 backwards, this process moves slowly. The online grantor indices, while not as thorough as our full indexing, will provide the capability to search ALL of our records from the comfort of your home or office.

Stay tuned here for more information on the progress and details of this exciting project.

Memorial Day Reminder

Just a reminder that the Registry of Deeds will be closed this Monday May 26, 2008 in observance of Memorial Day.

Voice of the Child Seminar

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Worcester County Bar Association Family Law Committee will be hosting a seminar on "The Voice of the Child: How to Get It, How to Interpret it, How to Use It" at the Registry of Deeds on June 3, 2008 from 4-6PM.

Speakers include the Honorable Susan D. Ricci, Joan E. Arnold, Esq. AJCM, Christine D. Anthony, Esq., Mark T. Lee, Esq., and Joseph C McGill L.I.C.S.W.

The program will provide guidance for attorneys and guardians ad litem involved in custody disputes in the Probate and Family Court.

Those planning to attend please RSVP to Rickleslaw@charter.net or (508) 752-0499

eSign Seminar

AmTrust Bank is one of the 20 largest mortgage lenders in America. Since its founding in Cleveland in 1889, it has been a leader in forward-thinking financial services. Today AmTrust is on the forefront of electronic mortgage closing technology. Come and learn how cutting-edge electronic document execution technology can help you become more profitable and efficient.

Presented by:
Pete Beyer, Gary Bellino and Nancy Roy
Product and Technology Consultants, AmTrust Mortgage Banking

Thursday, May 22, 2008
12:00 noon Registration
12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Program

Worcester Registry of Deeds
90 Front Street
Worcester, MA 01608
A deli-style lunch will be provided.

To Register please call (413) 552-3400 or (800) 552-2842.

Law Day and Democracy

Last week, the Worcester County Bar Association hosted its annual Law Day Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Each year the WCBA hosts an essay competition, and this years winner was Tylor Liljegren, an eight-grade student at Turkey Hill Middle School in Lunenburg. Tylor's essay, posted below, should serve as a reminder to all of us who often forget how fortunate we are to be Americans.

Democracy

This is a silly question that no doubt has been uttered by the lips of many American youths, “Why should I care?” It seems my generation lacks what past generations thrived on; a drive, a commitment, a passion, you know those things that made us free in the first place. America is just a baby. We are fragile. Nations have come and gone before us like the tides of the oceans that cradle us. Our democracy is what makes us strong, what makes us standout, what makes us proud to say we are a working part of the greatest patriotic machine on earth.

There’s a little village in Hungary called Tiszakecske and it’s where my Papa fled to America from during the Hungarian Revolution. He was only fifteen, and his mother would not join him, but the idea of America and the freedom it advocated was a sweet one and worth the chance. He left the only home he ever knew, a place where his father was labeled a martyr and put to death, a place where you couldn’t walk down the street without seeing a Red man with a machine gun, a place that used to be so beautiful. It took two long years spent in and out of various refugee camps, but he got here, and that made all the difference.

We hear stories all the time about genocide in Africa and bombings between Israel and Palestine; it’s hard to think of these things deeply as they are sadly becoming our daily reality. We are thousands of miles away from these places, that’s the gist of it, but what makes us so different? Why are we spared of this day to day misery that casts itself over certain parts of the Earth, a lurking shadow? Do we not all have the same beating hearts? Do we not all breathe the same air? Certainly we do, but we were not all lucky enough to be born with that same liberty that stands tall and strident holding her touch proudly and greeting all those who come.

The word democracy itself leaves a chummy, warm, perhaps familial feeling; a sensation of being united, not always in opinion, but most certainly in the ability to have one. We are a united people, and there is nothing, not a war, not a bombing, or a terrorist attack that can erase the indelible ink that wrote the Constitution. Consequently, when one says they don’t care about their rights it’s not only a naïve statement, but also very selfish when one thinks about the things some less fortunate people would give for them.

An estimated twenty-five thousand men died in the Revolutionary War, that’s not counting the wounded or those who died in the proceeding wars trying to keep our values whole. Every one of those people stared death in the face just for my right to say, write, and believe whatever I think to be true. Now, I am aware that that particular war happened two hundred and twenty five years ago, and there is nothing I can do to bring those people back, but I cannot let those soldiers die in vain. I cannot forget what John Adams did to negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain or what Betsy Ross sewed into the first American flag. This is the very least that I could do.

Assessors Event

This afternoon the Registry will be hosting the Worcester County Assessors Annual Meeting. This is the first time that many of the Assessors will be visiting our new facility. We look forward to this exciting opportunity to showcase the new Registry and the technology that we have implemented, not only for the benefit for our frequent users but all of those interested in an efficient land records system.

Registered Land News

All Registered Land documents from Document #1, dated April 1, 1899 to the present date are scanned into the Registry of Deeds database and are now available to be viewed and printed from the website. For more information on Registered Land, please visit our website, www.worcesterdeeds.com

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 12, 2008

I will be hosting a software demonstration by Fidlar Technologies for property owner protection regarding land fraud. More detailed information to follow.

Register Vigliotti

E-Recording Event Recap

Special thanks to Dean Arthur R. Gaudio for the presentation on the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act and Senate No.827, an Act Relative to the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act

Thanks to Register Richard Howe who gave a brief discussion on E Recording in the Lowell Registry of Deeds.

I would also like to thank all the Registers and their staff, Kelly Kopyt, and Laurie Flynn from the Secretary of State's Office and many title examiners, attorneys and bankers who attended this informative seminar.

Electronic Recording in the Worcester Registry of Deeds is just around the corner!

Anthony J. Vigliotti, Register

Electronic Recording Event Reminder

Just a reminder that our next event in the Commonwealth Room is coming up on this Wednesday April 2nd at 1:00PM. The event is a presentation on Electronic Recording: Everything you wanted to Know and Ask by Dr. Arthur Gaudio, Dean and Professor of Law at Western New England College. As those of you following trends in recording technology know, electronic recording is the wave of the future, thus we highly encourage all who can to attend.

Upcoming Events at the Registry

In the upcoming weeks the Registry is proud to be hosting two events in our Commonwealth Room:

Electronic Recording Seminar: “Everything you wanted to KNOW and ASK”, April 2, 2008, 1:00 P.M. Commonwealth Room, Guest Speaker, Arthur R. Gaudio, Dean & Professor of Law, Western New England College

Seminar on How to Automate Entire Closing Process, April 18, 2008 4:30 P.M. - 6 P.M. in the Commonwealth Room, Presented by Dr. Rick Kabra, CEO of Easy Soft

Please contact Linda Curran for more information on these events and the Commonwealth Room

Super Tuesday is Here

Today is Super Tuesday. Massachusetts and 21 other states across the country are holding their Presidential Primaries today. This is your chance to help decide the who the Republican or Democratic nominee for President will be.

Polling hours are from 7 AM to 8 PM. To find your polling location, please visit www.sec.state.ma.us

Exciting News to Enhance Your Online Searches

The Registry just began creating a historical index starting from 1965 back to 1960. The index will be updated on an ongoing basis. Our goal is to have a complete online index back to 1731.

This is a continued effort to provide our users with state of the art technology.

Deed Indexing Standards

The full version of the Deed Indexing Standards Version 4.0 for 2008 is available online at www.WorcesterDeeds.com

Please note the changes to the standards, especially the option to use a Document Cover Sheet.