As part of an ongoing effort to bring the Registry of Deeds directly to the citizens of Norfolk County, Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell appeared January 23rd as guest speaker at the Franklin Senior Center. O’Donnell gave an overview of the Registry, the principal office for providing real property information in Norfolk County.
Register O’Donnell also spent time warning seniors about an ongoing deed scam that is being perpetrated against all citizens of Norfolk County, young and old. “Norfolk County residents continue to receive direct-mail solicitations offering them a certified copy of their property deed for an exorbitant fee ranging anywhere from $59.50-$86.00,” stated O’Donnell. “Don’t fall victim to this deed scam. These companies are making outrageous profits. If a consumer knew that the Registry of Deeds would provide them a certified copy of a property deed for a charge of only $1.00 per page, plus an additional $1.00 for postage, they would never agree to pay these companies such an outrageous fee for service. The average price for a mailed homeowner’s deed by the Registry, usually two pages, is $3.00.”
A good portion of the address was also spent discussing the advantages of the Massachusetts Homestead Act. Register O’Donnell noted, “The Homestead Act is an important tool for homeowners as the law provides limited protection against the forced sale of an individual’s primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000.”
Concluding his remarks, O’Donnell stated, “I want to thank Karen Alves, Director of the Franklin Senior Center, Council on Aging board members and all the staff at the Senior Center who do an outstanding job serving the elderly community of Franklin.”
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 and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
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