Thanks to Norfolk County Registry of Deeds for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell was sworn into a new term on January 1, 2025, during a ceremony at the State House Library in Boston. Conducting the swearing in was Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin. Register O’Donnell, a Norwood resident, has been the Register of Deeds since 2002. He was re-elected during the November 5, 2024 election.
In order to execute a critical part of his official duties as Norfolk County Register of Deeds, Register O’Donnell was also sworn in as Norfolk County’s Assistant Recorder of the Land Court by Chief Justice Gordon Piper of the Massachusetts Land Court at the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse, which is the original location of the Massachusetts Land Court.
“I would like to thank the residents of Norfolk County for the support and trust they have shown me over the years. It has been a privilege and honor to serve as your Register of Deeds. You can rest assured that the Registry of Deeds will continue to be an efficient customer-oriented operation, and that at the Registry of Deeds we are as committed as ever to sound management practices and service to the residents and businesses of Norfolk County,” said Register O’Donnell.
Register O’Donnell, explained the role of Assistant Recorder of the Land Court. “Massachusetts has two classifications of land: recorded land and registered land. The Massachusetts Land Court is responsible for resolving disputes involving land or real property. Once the case is resolved by the Land Court, I, as Register of Deeds, am responsible for overseeing the recording and safe keeping of these registered land records in Norfolk County. The Land Court also sets out rules for the recording of Registered Land documents. This is why the Register of Deeds is required to be sworn in as an Assistant Recorder of the Land Court.”
In the case of Norfolk County, approximately 80% of the property is classified as recorded land and the remaining 20% is considered registered land or “Land Court property.”
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and 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 at (781) 461-6101 or email registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
Moderate snow, with a high of 33 and low of 25 degrees. Overcast for the morning,
Thank you for posting such a useful and helpful article so residents can clearly understand this law.
Appreciate the positive feedback, Brandon. Happy to help build an informed community!
This article makes no sense. Present tense descriptions regarding a grant from twenty years ago seem completely inappropriate.
Thank you for
noting the typo, which has been corrected.
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