A recording fee is the fee charged by the county Registry of Deeds to place certain real estate documents into the official public record.
New Hampshire has 10 counties, each with its own Registry of Deeds. The Registry is responsible for maintaining documents that affect ownership and interests in real estate, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents.
What Gets Recorded When You Buy a Home?
In a typical financed purchase, two of the most important documents recorded are:
- The deed — transfers ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer.
- The mortgage — places the lender’s mortgage interest against the property as security for the loan.
Once these documents are accepted for recording, they become part of the permanent public land records for that county.
Traditionally, recorded documents are identified by a book and page number, which provides a permanent reference showing where the document can be found in the Registry’s records.
Why Does Recording Matter?
Recording creates a public record of important rights and interests affecting the property.
The Registry of Deeds maintains records that can be searched to research property ownership, mortgages, liens, releases, and other documents affecting real estate. Many Registry records can also be searched online.
This public record is an important part of establishing the history of ownership of a property and allows title companies, lenders, homeowners, real estate professionals, and others to research documents that have been recorded against it.
Who Handles the Recording?
After closing, the title or settlement company typically sends the deed, mortgage, and any other required documents to the appropriate county Registry of Deeds for recording.
The recording fees collected at closing are used to pay the Registry for recording those documents.
The exact amount can vary depending on which documents must be recorded and the number of pages involved.
Once recorded, the deed and mortgage become part of the property’s permanent public record.