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Norfolk County, Massachusetts public records

In Norfolk County, deeds are recorded by the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds; property values come from Municipal Boards of Assessors; court files are split between the Norfolk County Superior Court, Clerk and the Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Register.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Historical records
  12. Good to know about Norfolk County records
  13. Office addresses, phones and hours
  14. Records that are not online: public records requests
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsNorfolk County Registry of Deeds4Search deeds23Free search$1.00 per page in person; by mail $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional page per document3
Property values and ownersMunicipal Boards of Assessors5——
Property tax billsMunicipal treasurers/collectors6——
Court casesNorfolk County Superior Court, Clerk's Office7
Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office8		Norfolk County Superior Court (Massachusetts Trial Court), Dedham9Trial Court uniform fees: attested copy $2.50 per page; unattested copy $0.05 per page10
Marriage recordsCity and town clerks and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics12—State fee: RVRS: $20 in person; $32 by mail; $54 first copy online/phone (VitalChek), $42 each additional11
Divorce recordsNorfolk Probate and Family Court8——
Birth certificatesCity and town clerks and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics12—RVRS (state): $20 in person, $32 by mail, $54 first copy online or by phone ($42 each additional)11
Death certificatesCity and town clerks and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics12—Same RVRS fees as birth: $20 in person, $32 mail, $54/$42 online11
Probate and willsNorfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office8——
Business names (DBA)Statewide: DBA ("business certificate") filed with the clerk of every city/town where the business has an office13——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Norfolk County are recorded by the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds (also Norfolk Registry District of the Land Court).4

Online search
norfolkresearch.org/ALIS/WW400R.HTM2Free search
Cost
Free to view and print (copies marked "Not An Official Copy")3
Years online
Scanned images of all recorded land documents back to 1793; typed transcriptions for 1793-190014
Copy fee
$1.00 per page in person; by mail $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional page per document3
How to order
In person at the Customer Service Center, 649 High Street, Dedham (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30), or by mail to Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, Copy of Document Request, Dedham, MA 020263
Recording fee
Deed $156.00 (recorded land, includes $1 mailing) / $155.00 (Land Court); mortgage $206.00; declaration of homestead $36.00; most other documents $106.0015
Excise tax
Deed excise tax $2.28 per $500 of consideration, paid by attorney's or bank check at recording15
Fraud alerts
Free Consumer Notification Service (name-based alerts)16
Land court
Registered (Land Court) land is recorded at the same Registry; the Register is Assistant Recorder of the Land Court17

How deeds work in Massachusetts

Property values, owners and tax bills

Municipal Boards of Assessors (each of the 28 cities and towns assesses property) sets property values5; Municipal treasurers/collectors (property tax is billed by each city or town) bills and collects the tax6.

Property search
Each town's assessor database, linked from the Registry's Norfolk County Assessors / GIS Links page5
Parcel map (GIS)
Town GIS viewers (e.g. Brookline, Dedham) and MassMapper, linked by the Registry5

How property tax works in Massachusetts

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Norfolk County Superior Court (Massachusetts Trial Court), DedhamAll crimes (exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder), civil actions over $50,000, equitable relief; serves all cities and towns in Norfolk County18Norfolk County Superior Court, Clerk's Office (Massachusetts Trial Court)masscourts.org/eservices/home.page.2 MassCourts public portal via mass.gov "Search court dockets, calendars, and case information"9
Norfolk Probate and Family Court, CantonWills and estates, guardianship, divorce, custody, name changesNorfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office MassCourts lists Probate and Family Court estate cases; document images are restricted remotely19
Fees
Trial Court uniform fees: attested copy $2.50 per page; unattested copy $0.05 per page10

Criminal records and background checks

Summary
Norfolk County Superior Court Clerk's Office (781) 326-1600; most criminal cases online only by docket number19

How Massachusetts courts keep their files

Marriage records

City/town clerk where the marriage intention was filed; statewide copies from RVRS; records of 1931-1935 have moved to the Massachusetts State Archives ([email protected], 617-727-2816)20

State fee
RVRS: $20 in person; $32 by mail; $54 first copy online/phone (VitalChek), $42 each additional11

Massachusetts marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Norfolk Probate and Family Court, 35 Shawmut Road, Canton; certificate of divorce absolute $20 each21

Massachusetts divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

City/town clerk of the town where the birth occurred, and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS, Dept. of Public Health); records of 1931-1935 have moved to the Massachusetts State Archives ([email protected], 617-727-2816)22

Fee
RVRS (state): $20 in person, $32 by mail, $54 first copy online or by phone ($42 each additional)11

Ordering a Massachusetts birth certificate

Death certificates

City/town clerk where the death occurred (M.G.L. c. 46 s. 1) and RVRS; records of 1931-1935 have moved to the Massachusetts State Archives ([email protected], 617-727-2816); pre-1936 records may also be at the city/town of occurrence1123

Fee
Same RVRS fees as birth: $20 in person, $32 mail, $54/$42 online11

Ordering a Massachusetts death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office.8

Which court
Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office (781) 830-12008

Finding a will or probate case in Massachusetts

Business names (DBA)

Where Massachusetts keeps it: DBA ("business certificate") filed with the clerk of every city/town where the business has an office.13

Assumed names (DBA)
DBA ("business certificate") filed with the clerk of every city/town where the business has an office; valid 4 years24

Historical records

Official registry
Registry records begin in 1793; scanned images of every recorded land document and transcriptions of 1793-1900 handwritten documents online14
Annexed boston
Norfolk deeds also cover Roxbury, Dorchester, West Roxbury and Hyde Park before their annexation to Boston (Suffolk County)17

Good to know about Norfolk County records

  • For Roxbury, Dorchester, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, deeds from before they joined Boston are at the Norfolk Registry, not Suffolk.17
  • The Registry has typed transcriptions of all its handwritten land documents from 1793 to 1900.14
  • Norfolk County is the birthplace of four U.S. presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy and George H. W. Bush.14
  • The Massachusetts homestead exemption rose from $500,000 to $1,000,000 on August 6, 2024; declarations are recorded at the Registry ($36).2
  • Recording an ordinary deed costs $156 at the Norfolk Registry, which includes a $1 per-document postage charge.15

Office addresses, phones and hours

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds (also Norfolk Registry District of the Land Court)

Address
649 High Street, Dedham, MA 0202625
Mail
649 High Street, Dedham, MA 0202625
Phone
781-461-6101 (Customer Service Center)25
Hours
Recording 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Customer Service 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Monday-Friday25

Norfolk County government (County Commission, County Director)

Address
614 High Street, Dedham, MA 02027-03104

Municipal Boards of Assessors (each of the 28 cities and towns assesses property)

Municipal treasurers/collectors (property tax is billed by each city or town)

Norfolk County Superior Court, Clerk's Office (Massachusetts Trial Court)

Address
650 High Street, Dedham, MA 020267
Phone
(781) 326-1600 (Clerk's Office)7
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.7

Norfolk County Superior Court, Clerk's Office (civil)

Address
650 High Street, Dedham, MA 020267
Phone
(781) 326-1600 (Clerk's Office)7
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.7

Norfolk Probate and Family Court, Register's Office

Address
35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 020218
Phone
(781) 830-1200 (Register's Office)8
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.8

Norfolk Probate and Family Court (divorce, custody, family matters)

Address
35 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 020218
Phone
(781) 830-1200 (Register's Office)8
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.8

City and town clerks (28 communities) and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Norfolk County Commissioners' Records Access Officer, 614 High Street, Suite 201, PO Box 310, Dedham, MA 02027; 781-461-610526

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Norfolk County?

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds (also Norfolk Registry District of the Land Court) keeps deed records. To order copies: In person at the Customer Service Center, 649 High Street, Dedham (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30), or by mail to Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, Copy of Document Request, Dedham, MA 02026. Plain copies: $1.00 per page in person; by mail $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional page per document.43

Can I search Norfolk County land records online for free?

Yes. Free to view and print (copies marked "Not An Official Copy"). The official search: norfolkresearch.org/ALIS/WW400R.HTM32

How much is a birth certificate in Norfolk County?

RVRS (state): $20 in person, $32 by mail, $54 first copy online or by phone ($42 each additional).11

Where do I get a divorce decree in Norfolk County?

Norfolk Probate and Family Court, 35 Shawmut Road, Canton; certificate of divorce absolute $20 each.21

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Norfolk County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Massachusetts with a full guide: Essex County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Middlesex County, Suffolk County, Worcester County. Every county in the state: Massachusetts county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Welcome to the Norfolk County Registry of DeedsNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Obtain a Copy of Your Deed or Other Land DocumentsNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  4. County of Norfolk homepageCounty of Norfolk, Massachusettschecked November 4, 2026
  5. Norfolk County Assessors / GIS LinksNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  6. Norfolk County TreasurerNorfolk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  7. Norfolk County Superior CourtMassachusetts Trial Court (mass.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  8. Norfolk Probate and Family CourtMassachusetts Trial Court (mass.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  9. Search Court Dockets, Calendars and Case InformationMassachusetts Court Systemarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Uniform Schedule of Fees (Trial Court, G.L. c. 262, s. 4B)Executive Office of the Trial Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  11. Order a birth, marriage, or death certificateMassachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statisticsarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Ordering a CertificateMassachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statisticsarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  13. M.G.L. c. 110, § 5 - Certificates of persons conducting businesses; contents; filing; fees; indexMassachusetts General Court (Legislature)archived copychecked November 4, 2026
  14. GenealogyNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  15. Fee Schedule – Excise TaxNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  16. Consumer Notification ServiceNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  17. About the Registry of DeedsNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  18. Superior CourtMassachusetts Trial Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Types of cases available to the public onlineMassachusetts Court Systemarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  20. M.G.L. c. 207, § 19 - Intention of marriage; situs; time; feesMassachusetts General Court (Legislature)archived copychecked November 4, 2026
  21. Get a copy of your divorce recordProbate and Family Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  22. M.G.L. c. 46 s. 1Massachusetts Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  23. Order a birth, marriage, or death certificate | Mass.govMassachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statisticschecked November 8, 2026
  24. M.G.L. c. 110, § 5 - Certificates of persons conducting businesses; contents; filing; fees; indexMassachusetts General Court (Legislature)archived copychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Hours, Directions, Parking & Holiday ScheduleNorfolk County Registry of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  26. Request Public RecordsNorfolk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  27. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026