I paid off my mortgage. How do I make sure the lien is cleared in New Hampshire?

What should I watch for after the last payment?

• A paid-in-full letter or written confirmation of the discharge.
• The recorded discharge itself, which you can look up at the registry of deeds for your county.
• Any escrow balance refunded to you; federal rules generally require that within 20 business days of payoff.

Keep your payoff statement and proof of the final payment with your house papers.

Can I be charged for recording the discharge?

Only if you got a written disclosure that you'd be charged the recording fees (RSA 479:7). Check your loan papers or ask your servicer before you send the final payment.

What if the discharge never shows up?

Call and write to the servicer first. If 60 days have passed since it received the full payoff amount, RSA 479:7-a lets you record an affidavit of satisfaction. You must:

• Send the lender at least 15 days' written notice by certified mail, with a copy of the affidavit.
• Have a payoff statement, proof it was paid in full, and evidence the funds were received.
• Include the names and addresses of both parties, the mortgage date and the recording reference.

Once recorded, the affidavit counts as a discharge and releases the lien. Many people have a title company or attorney prepare it, since the details must be exact.

What changes once the mortgage is gone?

If your taxes and insurance were paid through escrow, those bills now come to you. Pay your town's property tax bills on time and keep your homeowners insurance in force. See NH property taxes after you buy and mortgage payoff when selling.