Hampshire County Public Records

Hampshire County public records cover land documents, court filings, vital records, and government documents across 21 municipalities in western Massachusetts. The Registry of Deeds in Northampton is the primary source for property-related public records. This page explains how to access and search Hampshire County public records through both online tools and in-person visits.

Hampshire County Registry of Deeds

The Hampshire County Registry of Deeds is at 60 Congress Street in Northampton. Register Thomas J. O'Leary runs the office. The Registry holds all land-related public records for the county's 21 cities and towns. It records deeds, mortgages, liens, homestead declarations, plans, and other property documents. The index runs from 1960 forward. Images are available for most records from the 1960s onward.

You can search the Hampshire Registry through the statewide MassLandRecords portal at the Hampshire-specific address: masslandrecords.com/Hampshire/. The online index lets you search by name, document type, book and page, or document number. No account or fee is needed to search. You can view and print document images directly from the site.

The office also has a Land Court section that handles registered land matters. For Land Court questions, call the extension at (413) 584-1570 and ask for Land Court assistance.

Search Hampshire County Records Online

The MassLandRecords portal gives free access to Hampshire County land records. The portal is the main online tool for searching property public records in the county. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date range without creating an account. Results show the document type, recording date, book and page, and a link to the image.

The MassLandRecords portal, shown below, is the primary online access point for Hampshire County property public records.

Hampshire County records on MassLandRecords are indexed from 1960 and include document images for most records starting in the 1960s.

Vital records for Hampshire County residents are available through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at the state level. The RVRS holds birth, death, and marriage records for Massachusetts going back to 1926. You can order certified copies online, by mail, or in person in Boston. Fees for state vital records are $20 per certified copy.

The state vital records portal, shown here, allows Hampshire County residents to order certified birth, death, and marriage certificates.

Local vital records can also be obtained from the town or city clerk in the municipality where the event occurred.

Note: The online index does not include records from before 1960. Call or visit the Registry in Northampton to research older Hampshire County property documents.

Hampshire County Recording Fees

The Hampshire County Registry uses the standard Massachusetts fee schedule. Fees are the same at all registries across the state. A deed costs $155. A mortgage is $205. A discharge is $105. A homestead declaration runs $35. A Declaration of Trust is $255. UCC filings are $75. A Federal tax lien recording is $5. Plan sheets cost $105 per sheet. A Municipal Lien Certificate is $80. Certified copies are $1 per page.

The real estate excise tax is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price. This applies to all deeds transferring title to real property in Hampshire County. The tax is paid at the time of recording. Documents can be submitted by mail, in person at 60 Congress Street in Northampton, or through a title company or attorney. The Registry accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards.

Public Records Requests in Hampshire County

The Massachusetts public records law, MGL Chapter 66, Section 10, applies to all government offices in Hampshire County. This includes town and city clerks, school departments, police departments, and other public agencies. You can request any public record held by these offices. You do not need to be a resident or explain your reason for requesting the records.

Agencies must respond within 10 business days of receiving a written request. For cities and towns with more than 20,000 residents -- which includes Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton in Hampshire County -- the first two hours of staff time for a request are free. After that, agencies may charge up to $25 per hour. Copies cost a maximum of $0.05 per page. Requests can be sent by email, mail, or dropped off in person.

If a Hampshire County agency denies your request or misses the response deadline, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. The phone number is (617) 727-2832. The Secretary of the Commonwealth manages the records appeal process and publishes a public records guide for requesters.

Note: Hampshire County government itself was abolished, so county-level offices no longer exist. Records that were once held at the county level now flow to state agencies or local town offices.

Court Records for Hampshire County

Hampshire County courts include the Hampshire Superior Court, the Northampton District Court, the Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, and the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. All of these generate public records that can be searched through the MassCourts case lookup system. You can search by party name or case number at no cost.

The superior court handles serious civil and criminal matters. The district courts cover lower-level civil and criminal cases. The probate and family court manages estates, guardianship, divorce, and custody cases for all 21 municipalities. Court records include case filings, docket entries, orders, and judgments. Most records are public. Certain juvenile records, sealed cases, and impounded files have restricted access. For those, contact the court clerk directly to ask about access procedures.

Cities and Towns in Hampshire County

Hampshire County has two cities -- Northampton and Easthampton -- and 19 towns. No cities in Hampshire County currently qualify for a dedicated public records page. All municipalities file land records at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds in Northampton.

Cities and notable towns in Hampshire County include Northampton (county seat), Easthampton, Amherst, South Hadley, Ware, Hadley, Belchertown, and Granby. Each municipality has its own town or city clerk who handles local public records requests.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County is bordered by four other Massachusetts counties. Properties near county lines may have records filed in more than one registry.