Access Cheektowaga Deed Records
Deed records for properties in Cheektowaga are handled by the Erie County Clerk in Buffalo. The Town of Cheektowaga does not record deeds, mortgages, or any land documents. Cheektowaga sits just east of Buffalo and is one of the larger suburban towns in Erie County. Whether you need to look up who owns a property, check for liens, or file a new deed after a sale, the Erie County Clerk's Office is where you go.
Cheektowaga Quick Facts
Where Cheektowaga Deed Records Are Filed
The Erie County Clerk's Office records deeds for all properties in Cheektowaga. County Clerk Michael P. Kearns has led the office since December 2017. The office is at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, about a 15-minute drive from most parts of Cheektowaga. All deed recordings, mortgage filings, and lien filings go through this one office.
The Cheektowaga Town Clerk handles local matters like marriage licenses, dog licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and Town Board minutes. New York State assigns deed recording to county clerks, not town or city clerks. This is standard across all 62 counties in the state.
Erie County Clerk Office Details
| Office | Erie County Clerk |
| Clerk | Michael P. Kearns |
| Location | 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| Phone | (716) 858-8785 |
| Help Desk | clerkhelp.erie.gov |
| Services | Deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, UCC filings, e-recording |
The Erie County Clerk is required by New York law to receive and record deeds, mortgages, and related documents. The office indexes all recorded documents for easy retrieval and preserves them to ensure authenticity. Certified copies are available to the public on request. The office also provides e-recording for land records, which lets attorneys and title companies file documents electronically.
How to Search Cheektowaga Deed Records
The Erie County public records search portal is the main online tool for finding deed records. You can search by name, date, and document type. The system offers Basic Search, Advanced Search, Registered User Search, and BrowserView Search options.
Viewing document images requires a registered user account. Registration is free and available through the Registered Users page on the Clerk's website. Without registration, you can still search the index and find basic information about recorded documents. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users should pick the BrowserView Search option for the best results.
In-person searches are welcome at the Clerk's Office in Buffalo. Bring the property address or the name of a past owner. Staff can help you locate the right records. If you know the liber and page number, that speeds things up even more.
Fees for Deed Records
Recording fees in Erie County follow New York State standards. The base fee is $45 plus $5 per page. A cover sheet is generated by the Clerk's Office. Cross-references add $0.50 each. You must also submit Form RP-5217 and Form TP-584 with any deed filing.
Transfer tax is $4 per $1,000 of the sale price. The mansion tax of 1% hits residential sales over $1 million. Mortgage recording tax is also due when you file a new mortgage. All taxes must be paid at the time of recording, or the Clerk will not accept the documents. Cash, check, and other payment methods may be accepted, but call to confirm.
Town Clerk vs. County Clerk
It is a common mistake to visit the Cheektowaga Town Clerk for deed records. Town clerks in New York handle marriage licenses, dog licenses, hunting and fishing permits, and meeting minutes. They do not record deeds. If you need to find out who owns a property, check for a mortgage lien, or get a copy of a deed in Cheektowaga, the Erie County Clerk is the right office.
Property Tax and Assessment Data
The Erie County Real Property Tax Service Agency at 95 Franklin Street, 9th Floor, in Buffalo provides assessment data and tax maps. Phone: (716) 858-8333. This office does not have deed records, but their assessment data helps when you need a parcel number for a deed search. The Municipal Data Portal also shows recent property sales using data from RP-5217 forms.
Legal Requirements
New York Real Property Law requires that deeds include the names of the grantor and grantee, a legal description of the property, the grantor's signature, and proper notarization. Recording with the County Clerk provides constructive notice to the world that property ownership has changed. The RP-5217 form must be prepared in Adobe Acrobat. The state rejects handwritten versions. Your closing attorney typically files these documents as part of the sale.
E-Recording for Cheektowaga Properties
Erie County supports e-recording for land records. This lets attorneys and title companies file deeds without a trip to the office. Documents are submitted through an approved electronic recording vendor. The clerk reviews them and records them the same way as paper filings. E-recording is faster. It cuts out the wait time at the counter and the drive to downtown Buffalo.
Not all documents can be e-recorded. The Erie County Clerk's website lists which document types are accepted through the electronic system. Deeds, mortgages, and satisfactions are among the most common. If you are working with a closing attorney, ask if they use e-recording. Most firms in the Buffalo area do. County Clerk Michael P. Kearns has made expanding online services a priority since taking office in 2017. The public records search and e-recording platform both reflect that push. Erie County is not part of the MCTD, so mortgage recording costs here are lower than in downstate counties. That gap can save you real money at closing.
Nearby Cities
Buffalo, Amherst, and Tonawanda are all in Erie County. They file deeds with the same County Clerk. The fees and process are the same for every municipality in the county.