Recording Documents
The Office of the City Register, in Finance’s Division
of Land Records keeps real property and other legal records for New York City. The
office covers Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The Richmond County Clerk serves
this function in Staten Island.
Division of
Land Records Guide to Document Recording
Download
Brochure
(838k)
ACRIS Online Document Recording
Recording
Property Related Documents
The City Register records are used to
prove legal ownership to individuals and companies. Banks also use this information
for mortgages.
Deed
/ Mortgage Recording
Deeds and mortgages showing the ownership of real property (houses, condominiums,
apartment buildings, land, etc.) should be recorded with the City Register. This helps
in title searches by banks and other institutions for granting mortgages,
and other legal and financial transactions.
Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (UCC)
Recorded a UCC shows a
security interest. These are considered to be "personal property" transactions, not "real estate" or
"real property." Examples are cooperative apartment ownership/mortgages and dentist fixture
filings.
Real Property Transfer Tax
(RPTT)
This is a tax on the sale of real
property. It is also used for a change or transfers of least a
50% ownership by individuals, a corporation, partnership, trust, etc. The sale
or transfer value must exceed $25,000.
Mortgage Recording and
Tax Rates
Directions for recording a mortgage in NYC.
