A friend of mine told me that you don't need a lawyer to get information from the registries or file documents because you can get that information from online companies.  Is that true?

The Registrar of Deeds in Salem sends out a copy of an article published in the Lawyers Weekly which describes their experience with online companies.  A resident in that county apparently sent a form of Homestead to the registry for recording and it turned out it was the wrong form.  Upon further investigation the registrar determined that the company obtained credit card information and then sent out the form for $15.95.

The registrar and the first assistant of the Salem Registry of Deeds have in fact been on TV and are attempting to notify as many people as possible about this because they consider it to be a scam.  Considerable information is available at each of the registries of deeds as to forms, recording charges and, of course, obtaining information from the registry of deeds free of charge and online.  If you go to www.masslandrecords.com you can find most of the registries of deeds in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  You need to simply click on the registry that you want to check on information from.  In Boston of course it's the Suffolk Registry of Deeds. You can check the records of the registry of deeds online and obtained a copy of your deed or any other information that is public.  You can also find the form for a Homestead and you can print it off, sign it, have it notarized and send it back to the registry for recording with the appropriate recording charge all of which information is available at the registry online site.  Many of the registries also have FAQs online so you can obtain a good deal of information as well as to how the registries work and how you can use the registries for information that you want or need.  Of course that also applies to many of your city, state and federal agencies where they have a tremendous amount of information online at their sites.  So if the information you seek deals with a city, state, or federal agency you should always try online with that governmental agency before you try to deal with them through another online service in which you will be charged a fee.

If you have questions about this or any other real estate matter, please contact Tom Bennett at (617) 531-6574 or tvb@barronstad.com.