Land records · Parcel maps · October 6, 2026
What Is an Assignment of Mortgage? Who Holds Your Loan
What is an assignment of mortgage? A recorded document that moves a lender's interest in a mortgage to another party. Why it matters and where to find it.
What is an assignment of mortgage? It is a document that transfers the lender’s interest in a mortgage, or a deed of trust, from one party to another. Mortgages are bought and sold frequently, and assignments are often recorded in the county land records to show who now holds the security interest. The homeowner’s obligations do not change, but the assignment tells the public, and later title examiners, who has the right to enforce the mortgage and who must release it when the loan is paid. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Assignment vs servicing transfer
| Change | What it means | Usually recorded? |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment of mortgage | Ownership of the mortgage interest moves | Often, yes |
| Servicing transfer | A different company collects payments | No |
You may get a notice that your servicer changed without any assignment being recorded, and an assignment can be recorded without your servicer changing. Federal rules require notices to borrowers about servicing transfers and, in many cases, ownership changes.
What an assignment includes
- The assignor (current holder) and assignee (new holder).
- The original mortgage or deed of trust, with recording book and page or instrument number.
- The property’s legal description or address.
- Date, signature, and notary acknowledgment.
MERS
Many loans name Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) as a nominee for the lender in the recorded mortgage. Transfers among MERS members are tracked in a private registry instead of being recorded each time. When MERS loans go to foreclosure or payoff, an assignment out of MERS is often recorded.
Why assignments matter
- Releases: when you pay off the loan, the current holder must sign the satisfaction or reconveyance. See what is a satisfaction of mortgage and what is a deed of reconveyance.
- Foreclosure: the party foreclosing usually must show it holds the mortgage and note.
- Title clarity: gaps in assignments can make releases hard to obtain years later.
Finding assignments in records
Search the grantor-grantee index under the lender’s name, or look up the original mortgage by instrument number and check for later documents referencing it. Many county indexes cross-reference related instruments. See how to do a title search.
When a paid-off loan has no release
If a mortgage was paid but never released, the title company will want the current holder to record a release. If the original lender merged or failed, the successor or the receiver may need to sign. A chain of assignments helps identify who can do that. Some states have procedures for releasing old mortgages through affidavits or title company releases after payoff.
Bottom line
An assignment of mortgage transfers the lender’s interest in a recorded mortgage to another party. It does not change the borrower’s obligations but determines who can enforce or release the lien. Servicing transfers are separate and usually not recorded. Look for assignments in county records when tracking down releases. Find county recorders via the Platbookmapper map.
What is an assignment of mortgage FAQ
Does an assignment of mortgage change my loan terms?
No. The terms stay the same; only the holder of the mortgage changes.
Is a servicer change the same as an assignment?
No. A servicer collects payments; an assignment transfers ownership of the mortgage interest.
Where are mortgage assignments recorded?
In the county land records where the property and original mortgage are recorded.
What is MERS?
A private registry that tracks mortgage transfers among member companies, often named as nominee in the mortgage.
Why does an assignment matter when I pay off my loan?
The current holder must sign the release, so the assignment chain shows who that is.