How to Check a Property's Deed History in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, deed history is kept at the Registry of Deeds for the county where the property sits. You search the grantor and grantee index by owner name, then follow each deed back through its book and page reference. Along the way, you read everything else recorded against the property, such as mortgages, discharges, easements, and survey plans.
Step 1: Find the right county registry
New Hampshire has ten counties, and each one has its own Registry of Deeds: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan. Start by confirming which county the town is in. Each of the ten registries offers an online records search, but coverage varies by county. How far back the searchable records go, and whether document images are free or need a paid account, differ from registry to registry. Some older records can only be viewed at the registry, in books or on microfilm.
The town assessor's card is a useful shortcut. It usually lists the current owner and often gives the book and page of the most recent deed.
Step 2: Start with the current owner
The index has two sides. The grantor is the party giving up the property, usually the seller. The grantee is the party receiving it, usually the buyer. Search the grantee side for the current owner's name to find the deed that brought the property to them.
Step 3: Read the deed, then walk backward
Most deeds refer to the deed before them, often in a line like "meaning and intending to convey the same premises" followed by a book and page. Follow that reference to the prior deed, then do it again. Each step back should explain how the next owner got their rights.
How far back to go is a judgment call. Title examiners follow their own standards for this, so treat your own search as preparation, not a final answer.
Step 4: Look at everything recorded against the property
A deed chain is only part of the story. While you search, note:
- Mortgages and discharges. A mortgage borrows against the property. A discharge shows the loan was paid off.
- Liens. These include tax liens and mechanic's liens, which are claims for unpaid work.
- Easements and rights of way. These are rights someone else holds over the land, like a shared driveway or a utility line.
- Covenants and restrictions. These are rules that come with the property.
- Recorded plans. These are surveys that show boundaries, lot lines, and sometimes wetlands.
Step 5: Note what the deed type tells you
The kind of deed says something about the transfer. A warranty deed carries the seller's promises about title. A quitclaim deed passes whatever interest the seller had, without those promises. A fiduciary deed comes from an executor, trustee, or other person acting for someone else, often in an estate. A foreclosure deed follows a lender taking the property back. None of these is good or bad on its own. Each one simply points to different questions.
Step 6: Read the transfer tax carefully
New Hampshire charges a real estate transfer tax on most sales, and the buyer and seller each pay a share of it (RSA 78-B). It's paid at the county Registry of Deeds, and stamps on the recorded deed show it was paid. Those stamps can hint at the price when the deed doesn't state it. Some transfers are exempt, so a zero amount doesn't always mean the property changed hands for nothing.
Red flags worth a question
- A gap where the name on one deed doesn't match the name on the next
- A mortgage with no recorded discharge
- A property description that changes from one deed to the next
- Several transfers in a short time
- An estate or trust transfer with no clear paperwork trail
Any of these may have a simple explanation. Each one is still worth raising early.
When to bring in a professional
Your own deed research helps you ask better questions. It doesn't replace a title search, title insurance, or advice from a real estate attorney.
FAQ
Is deed history public in New Hampshire?
Yes. Documents recorded at the county Registry of Deeds are public records. Each registry sets and posts its own copy fees.
What's the difference between a grantor and a grantee?
The grantor gives up the property, usually the seller. The grantee receives it, usually the buyer.
Does the deed show the sale price?
Not always. Many deeds don't state the price. The transfer tax paid may hint at it, but some transfers are exempt.
Is a deed search the same as a title search?
No. A title search is a professional review of the full record, and it usually leads to title insurance. Your own search is preparation for it.