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September 11, 2009
KEEP YOUR MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
With the economy still in the doldrums, and banks paying interest at all time lows, now is not the time to throw away money. A client of mine recently gave me a letter that she had received. It asked her for $59.50 for something that she could get for free. My advice was that she should keep her money in her pocket! Here’s the story;
A company by the name of, National Deed Service, Inc, based out of Northbrook, Illinois, sent a letter to my client offering her a certified copy of her deed for $59.50. The letter states, “The U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) website recommends that property owners should have an official or certified copy of their deed.” I bet a lot of people started filling out the order form after reading that sentence, after all, this is recommended by the Federal Government! But, I decided to do a little digging.
I sent an email to FCIC asking if they in fact recommend that property owners have a copy of their deed. Surprisingly, in just 29 minutes they responded to my email. They said, yes, you should have a copy of your deed, and that you can obtain it for free or at a low cost from your local Registry of Deeds.
FCIC also made me aware of a Consumer Alert issued in October 2007 and updated it in March 2008, warning consumers about overpaying for certified deeds. This Consumer Alert is a warning about solicitation letters that are being sent out nationwide by private companies urging consumers to buy a certified copy of their deed. The Consumer Alert goes on to say, “You can obtain one (deed) from your local Registry of Deeds for free or at a low cost.”
I then went to the Registry of Deeds website (www.masslandrecords.com) and selected the registry for Southern Essex County, and on their home page I saw the following,” There are companies offering to provide you with a Certified Copy of your Deed for a cost of $69.50.
Please be aware that you may print a copy of your deed online for FREE if you have purchased your home after 1985. FOR DEEDS PRIOR TO 1985, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO contact our Customer Service Department FOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF YOUR DEED. There is no charge for a certified copy of your deed. “
I spoke with Southern Essex County Assistant Register, Kevin Harvey, and he said that they are proud to be able to offer certified copies of your deed for free. All you have to do is call the Essex County Registry of Deeds at 978-542-1704 and ask. Other Registry of Deeds offer certified copies at little or no cost and can be found on the web at www.masslandrecords.com. I called the Middlesex Registry of Deeds and was told that certified copies cost $1 per page, but when people call up, she routinely mails them out for free. Use the website mentioned above to find your Registry.
Now, although it is hard for me to defend a company like National Deed Service, Inc., I must tell you that their letter says that they are not affiliated with any government agency and that “MANY GOVERNMENT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OR AT A NOMINAL COST FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES”.
Before you part with your hard earned money, ask friends and family for help and advice. In this case, you could have saved about $60.
This article gives general information and not specific advice on individual matters. Persons wanting individualized advice on matters discussed should contact an advisor experienced in those matters. To the extent this article provides information on legal matters, it is based on law in effect in Massachusetts on the date of posting (laws in effect in other states are often quite different).
Ronald H. Surabian is a CPA and attorney who works at the Elder Law Center in Saugus, Massachusetts. He also holds Masters in accounting and a Masters in tax law. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Friends of the Saugus Senior Center and is a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. If you have any questions, please call me at the Elder Law Center, One Essex Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781)233-4444. To view this or any prior article, please visit our web site at www.elderlawcenter.org