Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 9 - Department of the State Secretary
Section 31 - Surcharge on Fees of Registers of Deeds and Assistant Recorders; Registries Under Control of State Secretary; Surcharge to Fund Improvements at Registries; Disposition of Surcharge

Section 31. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the fees of the registers of deeds and of the assistant recorders, except as otherwise provided, to be paid when the instrument is left for recording, filing or deposit shall be subject to a surcharge of $5. The surcharge shall be imposed for the purpose of automation, modernization, operation and technological improvements at the registries of deeds. Only those registries under the control of the state secretary shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this section. From March 15, 2003, until June 30, 2025, all surcharges on fees collected pursuant to this section shall be forwarded to the Registers Technological Fund, established in section 2JJJ of chapter 29. From July 1, 2025, all of the surcharges shall be forwarded to the General Fund as provided in section 2 of said chapter 29.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth

Chapter 9 - Department of the State Secretary

Section 1 - State Secretary; Duties; Bond; Salary; Other Sources of Income

Section 2 - Deputies; Assistants; Civil Service

Section 2a - Archives Advisory Commission; Establishment; Members and Alternates, Appointment; Powers and Duties; Receipt and Disposition of Funds; Expenses

Section 2b - Annual Personnel Report

Section 2c - Funding for Archives Museum

Section 3 - Deputies; Power to Act in Absence of Secretary

Section 4 - Supervisor of Public Records

Section 4a - Acts, Resolves and Constitutional Amendments; Publication

Section 4b - Pamphlet Edition of Laws; Distribution of Copies of Individual Laws

Section 4c - Cumulative Table of Changes in General Statutes

Section 4d - Distribution of Printed Copies of Official Reports

Section 4e - Reports of War Veterans' Organizations

Section 4f - Distribution of Judicial Decisions and General Laws to Cities and Towns

Section 4g - Subsequent Distribution to City or Town; Insurance

Section 4h - Distribution of Laws and Documents to Members of General Court

Section 5 - Traveling, Clerical and Other Expenses of Supervisor

Section 8 - Information Available to Federal Census Authorities

Section 9a - Local Election Districts Review Commission; Membership; Compensation; Duties

Section 10a - Administration and Enforcement of Chapter 110a; Staff

Section 11 - Great Seal; Custody; Certified Copies of Records as Evidence

Section 12 - Books and Records of Maine Lands; Custody

Section 13 - Stereotype and Other Plates; Custody and Disposition

Section 15 - Justices and Notaries; Notice of Expiration of Commissions

Section 15a - Justices and Notaries; Acting After Expiration of Commission; Validation Certificate

Section 16 - Annual List of Designated Justices of the Peace

Section 17 - Annual Report

Section 19 - Destruction or Sale of Documents of No Value; Reproduction of Records of Corporations.

Section 20a - Central Register of Contracting Opportunities Offered by Governmental Agencies

Section 20b - Government Activities; Citizen Education Programs; Acceptance of Gifts, Contributions, Bequests, Etc.

Section 21 - Commission on Interstate Cooperation; Membership; Term

Section 22 - Commission on Interstate Cooperation; Committees and Advisory Boards; Rules

Section 23 - Commission on Interstate Cooperation; Primary Function; Powers and Duties

Section 24 - Commission on Interstate Cooperation; Reporting

Section 26 - Massachusetts Historical Commission; Establishment

Section 26a - State Archeologist; Duties; Reservation of Lands From Sale; Cooperation of Governmental Agencies

Section 26b - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 26a, 26c, and 27 to 27c

Section 26c - State Register of Historic Places

Section 26d - Property Listings; Regulations

Section 27 - Certification of Historic or Archeological Landmarks; Standards for Care and Management; Alteration of Landmarks; Field Investigation of Sites

Section 27a - Hearings, Contracts, Acceptance of Gifts, etc., Authorized; Assistance and Data of Other Agencies

Section 27b - Federal Historic Preservation Act; Surveys and Plans; Custody and Expenditure of Funds

Section 27c - Projects; Notice; Adverse Effect; Review

Section 27d - Historic Homesteads

Section 28 - Portraits and Art Objects in State House; Photographs

Section 29 - State Ballot Law Commission; Records Conservation Board

Section 30 - Voting Equipment Loan Program

Section 31 - Surcharge on Fees of Registers of Deeds and Assistant Recorders; Registries Under Control of State Secretary; Surcharge to Fund Improvements at Registries; Disposition of Surcharge