Are you budgeting for your Braintree closing and wondering what those recording fees on your Closing Disclosure actually cover? You are not alone. These small line items can feel confusing, yet they add up and affect your final cash to close. In this guide, you will learn what recording fees are, who typically pays them in Massachusetts, where to find them on your Closing Disclosure, and how to estimate your total with a simple worksheet. Let’s dive in.

What recording fees cover in Braintree closings

Recording fees are charges collected to officially record documents that affect your home’s title with the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. This may include the deed, your new mortgage, a mortgage discharge or release, and any assignments or assumptions. Recording makes these documents part of the public record, which protects your ownership and your lender’s security interest.

You may also see related charges tied to the recording process, such as certified copies, plan or map fees, and courier or overnight delivery if physical documents are transported to the registry. These are separate from title, attorney, or lender administration fees.

Common fees in Norfolk County

Below are the categories you will most often see on a Braintree closing. Exact amounts depend on current registry rates and the number of pages in each document, so confirm with your closing attorney.

Deed recording fee

• What it is: The fee to record the deed that transfers ownership from the seller to you.
• Who usually pays: The party who handles the recording. In many Massachusetts closings, the buyer’s attorney records the deed and the buyer pays, but practices vary.
• How it’s calculated: A base fee per document plus a per-page charge.

Mortgage recording fee

• What it is: The fee to record your new mortgage instrument.
• Who usually pays: The buyer, because the buyer is the borrower.
• How it’s calculated: A base fee per instrument plus a per-page charge.

Mortgage discharge or release fee

• What it is: The fee to record the release of a prior mortgage that is being paid off.
• Who usually pays: Often the seller if the seller is paying off an existing loan, though it depends on how your attorneys handle recording.
• How it’s calculated: Same general schedule as other document recordings.

Assignment or assumption recording

• What it is: A fee to record an assignment of a mortgage or any assumption paperwork.
• Who usually pays: The party that needs the recording, often tied to lender requirements.
• How it’s calculated: Usually the same base fee plus per-page structure.

Transfer or conveyance excise

• What it is: A state or municipal transfer excise that may apply to real estate transfers. This is separate from the registry’s per-document fees.
• Who usually pays: Many markets assign transfer or conveyance excise to the seller, but it is governed by law and custom. Your purchase and sale agreement can also determine allocation.
• What to do: Confirm the exact rate and payer custom with your closing attorney and the relevant taxing authority before you finalize your budget.

Certified copies, plans, and courier

• What they are: Optional or supportive charges like certified copies of recorded documents, plan or map recordings, notary fees, postage, and overnight delivery.
• Who usually pays: The party who needs the item, or the party handling recording logistics.

Title exam and administrative fees

• What they are: Lien searches, title exams, settlement or attorney administrative fees. These are not registry fees but often appear on your settlement statement.
• Why this matters: It helps to separate registry recording charges from professional service fees so you understand each line clearly.

Who usually pays in Massachusetts

Massachusetts practice is guided by custom and your purchase contract. The settlement agent or closing attorney will follow your agreement.

• Buyer typically pays:

  • Mortgage recording fee(s), since the buyer is taking out the loan.
  • Any lender-required recording charges, such as assignments.
  • In some cases, the deed recording if the buyer’s attorney handles the recording. Confirm at the start of the process.

• Seller typically pays:

  • Mortgage payoff amounts and often the recording fee to file the release or discharge for the seller’s existing mortgage, depending on who records it.
  • Transfer or conveyance excise where local custom or law assigns it to the seller. Confirm exact rules for your town.

• Variations to expect:

  • Your purchase and sale agreement can shift who pays each fee.
  • Attorneys and title companies may bundle certain admin costs differently. The Closing Disclosure should itemize what is collected and who pays.

Where fees show on your Closing Disclosure

Your Closing Disclosure separates buyer and seller charges into two columns and totals everything into Cash to Close. Recording fees typically appear under the Other Costs section, not under Loan Costs.

• Buyer side: You will usually see mortgage recording fees labeled as “Recording fees,” “Recording — mortgage,” or similar.
• Seller side: Deed recording, discharge recording, and any transfer or conveyance excise may appear in the seller’s column as “Recording fees,” “Deed recording,” or “Transfer Taxes.”
• Best practice: Ask your closing attorney to point out each specific recording and transfer line so you can verify payer and amounts.

Simple worksheet to estimate your fees

Use this structure to build a quick estimate for a Braintree closing. Replace placeholders with the most current Norfolk County Registry of Deeds figures and your document page counts. Your closing attorney can help you complete it.

Inputs to gather

• Registry base fee per recorded document: [BaseFeeDocument]
• Registry per-page fee: [PerPageFee]
• Certified copy fee per copy (if needed): [CertifiedCopyFee]
• Conveyance or transfer excise: [TransferTaxRate or TransferTaxPerAmount]
• Courier or overnight fee (if applicable): [CourierFee]
• Number of pages for Deed: [DeedPages]
• Number of pages for Mortgage: [MortgagePages]
• Number of pages for Mortgage Release: [ReleasePages]
• Number of certified copies needed: [NumCertifiedCopies]
• Purchase price (for transfer excise calculation): [PurchasePrice]

Calculations

• DeedRecording = BaseFeeDocument + (DeedPages × PerPageFee)
• MortgageRecording = BaseFeeDocument + (MortgagePages × PerPageFee)
• ReleaseRecording = BaseFeeDocument + (ReleasePages × PerPageFee)
• CertifiedCopiesTotal = NumCertifiedCopies × CertifiedCopyFee
• TransferTax = (PurchasePrice × TransferTaxRate) or (PurchasePrice ÷ 1000 × TransferTaxPerAmount)
• OtherCharges = CourierFee + any other admin fees
• TotalRegistryAndTransferFees = DeedRecording + MortgageRecording + ReleaseRecording + CertifiedCopiesTotal + TransferTax + OtherCharges

Example estimate (hypothetical only)

This demonstration uses made-up numbers. Replace all figures with current Norfolk County rates before relying on the total.

• Example inputs (HYPOTHETICAL ONLY):

  • BaseFeeDocument = $50
  • PerPageFee = $10
  • CertifiedCopyFee = $5 per copy
  • CourierFee = $25
  • DeedPages = 3
  • MortgagePages = 9
  • ReleasePages = 2
  • NumCertifiedCopies = 2
  • TransferTaxRate = 0.002 (equal to $2 per $1,000)
  • PurchasePrice = $600,000

• Example calculations (HYPOTHETICAL ONLY):

  • DeedRecording = $50 + (3 × $10) = $80
  • MortgageRecording = $50 + (9 × $10) = $140
  • ReleaseRecording = $50 + (2 × $10) = $70
  • CertifiedCopiesTotal = 2 × $5 = $10
  • TransferTax = $600,000 × 0.002 = $1,200
  • CourierFee = $25
  • Total = $80 + $140 + $70 + $10 + $1,200 + $25 = $1,525

Note: Ask your closing attorney to confirm the registry’s current base and per-page fees, your exact page counts, and any local transfer excise before finalizing your budget.

Quick checklist before you close

Use this short list to keep your recording-related costs clear and predictable:

• Confirm the current Norfolk County Registry of Deeds base fee per document, per-page fee, and certified copy charges.
• Ask your attorney if electronic recording is available for your documents. This can affect courier or overnight fees.
• Clarify which party will record each document and who is paying each fee in your purchase and sale agreement.
• Request an itemized list of expected recording fees, transfer or excise charges, and any related admin costs at least a few days before closing.
• On your Closing Disclosure, find the “Other Costs” section and verify that each recording or transfer line is labeled and allocated correctly.

FAQs

What are recording fees in a Braintree, MA home closing?

• Recording fees are charges collected to officially record documents like the deed, mortgage, and mortgage discharge with the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, making them part of the public record.

On the Closing Disclosure, where do Braintree recording fees appear?

• They usually show under the “Other Costs” section, with items labeled such as “Recording — mortgage,” “Deed recording,” or “Transfer Taxes,” on the buyer or seller side depending on who pays.

Who typically pays recording fees in Massachusetts home sales?

• Buyers often pay mortgage-related recording fees, while sellers typically cover mortgage payoffs and may cover the discharge recording and transfer excise, subject to local custom and the purchase agreement.

How do I estimate Norfolk County recording fees before closing?

• Gather the registry’s current base and per-page fees, your document page counts, any certified copy needs, and the purchase price for transfer excise, then run the worksheet calculations provided above.

Does Norfolk County accept electronic recording, and does it affect costs?

• Some registries allow electronic recording, which can reduce courier charges. Confirm current options and any related fees with your closing attorney and the Norfolk County Registry.

What is the transfer or conveyance excise, and who pays it in Braintree?

• It is a tax or excise tied to the property transfer and is separate from per-document recording fees. Many markets assign it to the seller, but confirm the exact rate and payer custom for your specific transaction.

If you want a calm, organized walkthrough of your Braintree closing costs, including a customized recording-fee estimate and a review of your Closing Disclosure, reach out to Abby Valencia-Gooding to schedule a consultation.