Suffolk County Public Records

Suffolk County public records include property deeds, land court documents, court case filings, and government documents for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. The Suffolk Registry of Deeds at the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston holds land records going back centuries. This page covers where to find Suffolk County public records, how to search them online, and how to request documents from the right office.

Suffolk Registry of Deeds

The Suffolk Registry of Deeds is on the first floor of the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse at 24 New Chardon Street in Boston. Register Stephen J. Murphy leads the office. Research hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The recording counter closes at 4:15 PM. E-recordings must be submitted before 3:30 PM for same-day processing. Mailing address: P.O. Box 9660, Boston, MA 02114-9660.

Phone numbers: main line (617) 788-6221, plan counter (617) 788-6253, registered land (617) 788-6251, fax (617) 788-8575. Email: Suffolk.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us. Online records are searchable at masslandrecords.com/Suffolk. The Registry is easy to reach by MBTA from Haymarket, North Station, Government Center, Park Street, and Charles St/MGH stops. It is also close to I-93.

The RAO for public records requests at the Suffolk Registry is Thomas M. Ryan, First Assistant Register. Phone: (617) 788-6275. Email: Thomas.Ryan@sec.state.ma.us.

Suffolk County Land Record Systems

Suffolk County uses two distinct land recording systems, which can confuse people searching for the first time. Recorded Land, sometimes called the Torrens system, covers roughly 90% of properties. Records in this system use Book and Page numbers. Registered Land, which is the Land Court system, covers about 10% of properties. Documents in that system use Certificate of Title numbers instead of book and page. When you search online or ask the Registry for a document, you need to know which system your property falls under.

The Land Court is a separate court from the Registry of Deeds, though both are at the Brooke Courthouse. The Massachusetts Land Court address is 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 788-7470. Land Court Survey Plans are available for free at lcsurveyaccess.jud.state.ma.us. These are the official plot plans and survey maps recorded in the Land Court system.

E-recording at the Suffolk Registry is available through Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network, and CSC. Most attorneys and title companies use e-recording for routine closings. All e-recorded documents must be submitted by 3:30 PM for same-day recording.

Note: If you are searching for a document and cannot find it, try the other land system. A property may be in Registered Land when you searched Recorded Land, or vice versa.

Historical Records for Boston Neighborhoods

Several Boston neighborhoods were not always part of Suffolk County. This matters a great deal for historical deed research. Brighton and Charlestown were part of Middlesex County until 1874. Dorchester was in Norfolk County from 1793 to 1870. Hyde Park was in Norfolk County until 1912. Roxbury was in Norfolk County from 1793 to 1868. West Roxbury was in Norfolk County until 1874.

If you are tracing the title history of a property in one of these neighborhoods back before its annexation date, you may need to search at a different registry. Pre-annexation deeds for Brighton and Charlestown are at the Middlesex South Registry in Cambridge, phone (617) 679-6310. Pre-annexation deeds for Dorchester, Hyde Park, Roxbury, and West Roxbury are at the Norfolk Registry in Dedham, phone (781) 461-6107. The transition dates tell you exactly when to switch between registries for your title search.

This is one of the more complex aspects of Suffolk County public records research. Title attorneys handling Boston properties routinely check multiple registries for older transactions.

Suffolk County District Attorney Public Records

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office maintains public records for prosecutorial activity in Suffolk County. The main office is at One Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114. Phone: (617) 619-4000. For public records requests, the RAO email is SCDAOPRR@state.ma.us and the RAO phone is (617) 619-4357.

The Suffolk DA has an online public records request form available at suffolkdistrictattorney.com. Under the public records law, the first four hours of search and retrieval time are free for state agencies. After that, the charge is up to $25 per hour. This is the site shown in the image below.

Submitting your request through the DA's online form speeds up processing. Include as much detail as possible: the type of records, the case number or party names if known, and the date range you are looking for.

The Suffolk DA public records portal shown below provides specific instructions for submitting requests and describes what categories of records the office holds. The page is at suffolkdistrictattorney.com/about-the-office/public-records.

The page explains the response timeline, appeal process, and types of records the DA maintains. Use it as your starting point for criminal case or prosecution-related public records in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County Courts and Case Records

Several courts serve Suffolk County, and each holds its own set of public records. The Suffolk Superior Court at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, handles major civil and criminal cases. The clerk's number is (617) 788-8175. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court at 24 New Chardon Street handles estates, guardianships, and family matters. Phone: (617) 788-8300. Case records from all of these courts are searchable at no cost through MassCourts.org, the state's online case lookup system.

For statewide criminal history records, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages CORI checks. Sex offender status is available through the Sex Offender Registry Board. Vital records for births, deaths, and marriages in Boston and other Suffolk County cities are available through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at the state level or through the city clerk where the event was recorded.

Suffolk County Recording Fees

The Suffolk Registry of Deeds uses the statewide fee schedule. Standard fees: Deed $155, Mortgage $205, Discharge of Mortgage $105, Homestead Declaration $35, Declaration of Trust $255, UCC Filing $75, Federal Tax Lien $5, Plans $105 per sheet, Municipal Lien Certificate $80, Certified Copies $1 per page. Excise tax is $4.56 per $1,000 of sale price on all deeds. For a $800,000 property in Boston, excise tax alone would be $3,648, paid at the time of recording.

Suffolk County properties often involve high sale prices due to the Boston real estate market. As a result, excise tax at Suffolk Registry closings tends to be significantly higher than in other counties, even though the rate is the same statewide.

Public Records Law in Suffolk County

Massachusetts public records law under MGL Chapter 66, Section 10 gives any person the right to request records from a government agency. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. For state agencies including the District Attorney, the first four hours of search time are free. For municipalities with more than 20,000 residents, the first two hours are free. After the free time, the maximum rate is $25 per hour. Copies are $0.05 per page.

If a request is denied or not answered on time, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 727-2832. Email: pre@sec.state.ma.us. You have 90 days from the denial or missed deadline to file an appeal. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office oversees public records compliance across all Suffolk County agencies.

Cities in Suffolk County

Suffolk County has four municipalities: Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Boston and Revere have their own public records pages.

Chelsea and Winthrop are also in Suffolk County. All four municipalities use the Suffolk Registry of Deeds and the Suffolk County courts for land records and case filings.

Nearby Counties

Suffolk County is a small county surrounded by larger ones. If a property or case involves a neighboring jurisdiction, check the correct county registry or court.