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)
Recording 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 tax is not charged if the sale or transfer value is $25,000 or less.

Mortgage Recording and Tax Rates
Directions for recording a mortgage in NYC.