PETITION OF:

By Mr. Calter of Kingston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1344) of Thomas J. Calter for legislation to further regulate the fees charged by the registries of deeds in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to fees charged by the registry of deeds.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 38 of chapter 262 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:—
For all electronic images of instruments transmitted off-site or through internet media, except copies of plans, 75 cents an image.

SECTION 2. Said section 38 of chapter 262, as appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:—
Payment of the heretofore referenced fees may be made in the form of cash, draft, personal or bank check, money order or credit card. Registers shall be allowed to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of all credit card transactions. However, such fee shall not exceed 3 percent of the total transaction being charged.

   SECTION 3. Section 3 of said chapter 262, as appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 paragraphs:—
   For all electronic images of instruments transmitted off-site or through internet media, except copies of plans. 75 cents an image.
   Payment of the heretofore referenced fees may be made in the form of cash, draft, personal or bank check, money order or credit card. Registers shall be allowed to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of all credit card transactions. However, such fee shall not exceed 3 percent of the total transaction being charged.