AN ACT FURTHER REGULATING CERTAIN RECORD KEEPING AT THE REGISTRIES OF DEEDS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 63 of chapter 185 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Each assistant recorder shall keep a legible entry book, in book or electronic form, in which the assistant recorder shall enter all deeds and voluntary instruments, in the order they are received, and copies of writs or other processes filed with the assistant recorder relating to registered land.
SECTION 2. Said section 63 of said chapter 185, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
Every deed or other instrument, voluntary or involuntary, filed with the recorder or assistant recorder, shall be numbered and indexed and endorsed with a reference to the proper certificate of title. All records and papers relative to registered land in the office of the recorder shall be open to the public in the same manner as probate records, subject to such reasonable regulations as the recorder, under the direction of the court, may make. All records and papers relative to registered land in the office of an assistant recorder shall be open to the public by having copies or electronic images of such records and papers available for public inspection.
SECTION 3. Nothing in this act shall relieve a recorder or an assistant recorder of the obligation pursuant to sections 7 and 10 of chapter 185 of the General Laws to preserve and maintain custody and control of all papers and documents in the possession of or received by a recorder or an assistant recorder on or before June 30, 2016.
Approved, January 11, 2017