Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185, § 54 (2026)

Evidentiary effect of original certificate or copies thereof

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 54. The original certificate in the registration book and any copy thereof duly certified under the signature of the recorder or an assistant recorder and the seal of the court shall be received as evidence in all courts of the commonwealth, and shall be conclusive as to all matters contained therein, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1928–2021 · leading case: Sullivan v. Kondaur Capital Corp., 7 N.E.3d 1113 (Mass. App. Ct. 2014).

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Sullivan v. Kondaur Capital Corp., 7 N.E.3d 1113 (Mass. App. Ct. 2014). · cites it 2× “9 *207 See G. L. c. 185, § 54. 10 To be sure, “the underlying purpose of title registration is to protect the transferee of a registered title.”

Mbazira v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (In re Mbazira), 518 B.R. 11 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2014). · cites it 3× “2d 1074 (quoting Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185, § 54 ). . Burks v.”

Doyle v. Commonwealth, 830 N.E.2d 1074 (Mass. 2005). “G. L. c. 185, § 54. Michaelson v. Silver Beach Improvement Ass’n, 342 Mass.”

Marks v. Braunstein, 439 B.R. 248 (D. Mass. 2010). “Although the Land Court recording is conclusive evidence of the assignment of the mortgage to Stuart, see M.G.L. c. 185 § 54, the mortgage merely provides security for the underlying obligation.”

Malaguti v. Rosen, 160 N.E. 532 (Mass. 1928). “The essential provision that the owner’s duplicate certificate of title should be presented when mortgages on his land are presented for registration, was complied with, G.”

US Bank, NA v. Desmond, 15 F.4th 106 (1st Cir. 2021). “Bank notes that Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185, § 54 , provides that "[t]he original certificate" of title "shall be conclusive as to all matters contained therein, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.”

Lassman v. HSBC Bank USA., N.A. (In re DeMore), 530 B.R. 519 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2015). “185, § 46 (“[A] purchaser of registered land taking a certificate of title for value and in good faith, shall hold the same free from all encumbrances except those noted on the certificate [and others not relevant here].”

United States v. 733 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in the Town of Truro, 552 F. Supp. 1 (D. Mass. 1982). “The subject property has been registered with the Land Court for 51 years. Certificate No. 39732 dated April 6, 1967 reflects true state of the title to be in the name of the United States.”

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