Westfield Office Open in the Midst of Tornado Aftermath Makes Headlines in Banker & Tradesman

Click on the article above to read the complete piece published in Banker & Tradesman.

Register Ashe's visit to the Greenleaf Community Center

On Tuesday, May 17th, Register Ashe was invited by Springfield City Councilor Clodo Concepcion to speak before the Sixteen Acres Civic Association. Register Ashe gave a brief history of the Hampden County Registry of Deeds and explained the operational functions of the Registry to those in attendance. At the event, Sixteen Acres residents were able to have some of their real estate questions answered, as well as learn a little bit about what we do at the Registry of Deeds. Register Ashe would like to thank Councilor Concepcion for inviting him to the Greenleaf Community Center and offering him the opportunity to meet with such a pleasant group!

Watch Register Ashe on 22 News warning homeowners of the State Record Retrieval Board's attempt to charge residents $87.00 for a copy of their deed

Officials warn of property deed scam: wwlp.com

Private Company with Government Sounding Name Soliciting Hampden County Homeowners

Donald E. Ashe, Hampden County Register of Deeds, reported today that a California-based company, State Record Retrieval Board, with a Boston, Massachusetts mailing address is offering to provide homeowners with a copy of their property deed and a property profile for a processing fee of $87.00.

Most, if not all, of the information in the property profile can be obtained free of charge from the local assessor’s office. The Hampden County Registry of Deeds charges a dollar a page for a certified copy of a property deed and since most deeds are only three pages, the total charge is $3.00.

Click here to read Register Ashe's complete Press Release...

Public Service Announcement - Deed Service

Donald E. Ashe, Hampden County Register of Deeds, announced today that a Deed Service is offering to provide a certified copy of a deed for the price of either $59.50 or $69.50. The Registry of Deeds is the only source for providing certified copies of deeds and it charges $1.00 per page which for most deeds amounts to a total of $2.00.

Click here to read the entire PSA...

Legislative Changes to the Homestead Act

As of March 16, 2011, legislative changes made to the Homestead Act will take effect. An estate of homestead is a type of protection for a person’s principal residence. There is an automatic homestead protection of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) with respect to a home that does not declare a homestead exemption with the Registry of Deeds. It is not likely to be sufficient coverage to protect the full value of your home. In order for homeowners in Massachusetts to protect the value of their property for five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), you must file a new document called a “Declaration of Homestead”.

This form can be downloaded from the Hampden County Registry of Deeds website, picked up at our office or mailed upon request. The form can be filled out individually and can then be filed at the Registry of Deeds in the county or district where the property is located, referencing the title/deed to the property. A sole owner, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, tenant in common, life estate holder, or holder of a beneficial interest in a trust may all be regarded as owners. Additionally, manufactured or mobile home owners are also eligible to declare homestead protection under the provisions of the new statute.

*This information is not designated to provide any legal advice or address the practical effect of an estate of Homestead. As in all areas of the law, to fully understand your rights, you should consult an attorney of your choice.*

Register Ashe shares his secret for keeping up with Registry employee and VFW Post 3236 Ladies Auxiliary President, Mary Gurski

At the recent banquet hosted by the Polish American Citizen's Club, Register Ashe quipped that in order to keep up with Registry employee, Mary Gurski, he needed to take a double dose of Citizen of the Year and former pharmacist Ed Szela's "energy pills" (M&M candies). Mary, who will be turning 100 in November, is not only an asset to this office, but also to her community. Her tireless efforts to raise money for America's veterans, as well as her church, are very much needed and appreciated. Thank you, Mary!