Land Court Notice

Please be advised the Land Court  Office will be closed to the public on Friday, March 27, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.  We will resume our normal hours on Monday, March, 30, 2020.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

Effect March 26, 2020

RE: Land Court Memorandum

For Documents that would require Land Court approval during this PANDEMIC impact, please call our Registered Land Department for instructions as the process for Land Court approval has changed during this time.        (508) 993-2605 ext. 15

March 30,2020

UPDATE:
Effective Monday March 23,2020 The Registry falls under the category of essential employees we will continue to follow the same procedure that has been adjusted for the past week. We will now be closing from 12pm to 1pm for staff lunches.

March 17, 2020 – Noon

PANDEMIC IMPACT UPDATE #2

In order to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the integrity of the recording system I am announcing the following changes to operation resulting from the Pandemic.

The building will be closed to the general public – effective Wednesday, March 18 and until further notice.

Our employees will be at their workstations and answering emails and phone calls placed to the Registry as long as operations have not been directed to close.  Copy request can be directed to copycenter@newbedforddeeds.com. All other inquiries should be directed to Sherri@newbedforddeeds.com for recorded land questions and lperry@newbedforddeeds.com for registered land questions.

Effective Wednesday, March 18 – and until further notice – closings cannot be conducted at the New Bedford Registry location.  Closing attorneys and real estate professionals are encouraged to make alternate arrangements at locations of their choosing.

Limited access to the research hall (the “stacks”) will be in place until such time that we are directed to cease operations.  Access will be by appointment only and can be made by calling

 (508)993-2605 (ext. 28)

The following is an amendment to the admission policy outlined in Pandemic Issue #2 and will be effective for Friday 3/20/2020.  Individuals requesting access to the on-site records will make appointments with the staff for either an 8am to 11:30am shift or 12:30pm to 4:00 pm (or any part of that shift not to exceed the shift end time).  This is done in order to comply with the recommendations for social distancing and the increased calls we have received for access to the building/records.  Please understand that this is subject to further change depending upon the number of requests made or directives to close the facility by the government.

 We will be accepting in-person recordings at the front entrance – public access into and within the offices will be restricted and it is recommended that you call in advance of arriving at the Registry.  Documents will need to be presented in such a format that will facilitate ease in recording. When planning to come to the registry the staff will make every effort to instruct you on the filing process in order to minimize any frustration or complications that may occur.  

 Please call (508) 993-2605 (ext. 13) Sherri

We urge those who are recording documents that are not time-sensitive to please submit via the US Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS to 25 No. Sixth Street New Bedford, MA 02740.

Electronic recording will continue without interruption.  We encourage you to use this method rather than bringing the documents to the Registry.  Links to the two electronic recording vendors who submit to the Registry are available on our website for those who are interested.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement these changes.  Please visit our website at www.newbedforddeeds.com frequently for research and up to date notices regarding this national emergency.  I appreciate your patience and cooperation as we navigate through this crisis with the common goal of limiting the damage to our fellow citizens.

Dr. Frederick M. Kalisz, Jr.

Register of Deeds

Fkalisz@newbedford.deeds.com (508) 993-2605 ext. 16

NOTICE –  THE MASSACHUSETTS DEEDS INDEXING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN UPDATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2018.  YOU CAN ACCESS THESE STANDARDS BY SELECTING INFORMATION ON OUR TOP TOOL BAR AND THEN CLICKING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS INDEXING STANDARDS ENTRY.