Find Deed Records in Clarkstown

Deed records for Clarkstown are maintained by the Rockland County Clerk in New City. The Clarkstown Town Clerk keeps minutes, vital statistics, and local documents, but does not record deeds. All property transfers in the town must go through the County Clerk's Office. Rockland County has digitized deed transcriptions going back to 1798, giving researchers access to more than two centuries of land records through the online search portal.

Where Clarkstown Deed Records Are Filed

The Rockland County Clerk's Office is the sole recorder of deeds for Clarkstown. The office is in the Rockland County Courthouse at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, in New City. You can reach them at (845) 638-5070. Their hours are generous compared to many county offices, running from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday.

The Clarkstown Town Clerk at the town hall handles marriage licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, dog licenses, handicap parking permits, and Town Board records. The town's own website states that the Town Clerk keeps minutes of all Town Board meetings, agreements, resolutions, and local laws. But deed recording is outside the Town Clerk's duties. That job sits with the County Clerk.

Rockland County Clerk Office Details

The Rockland County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, judgments, and liens. The office also handles court records and various other services. For deed questions, call the main number or visit during business hours.

How to Search Clarkstown Deed Records Online

Rockland County offers online access to land records through the Cott Hosting E-Search system. You can view documents for free by clicking "Sign in as a Guest." This lets you search the index and see basic information about recorded documents. To print documents, you need to create an account.

Registered users can print documents at $0.50 per page. The search system covers deed transcriptions indexed back to 1798. You can search by name, document type, date range, and other criteria. For a Clarkstown property, enter the owner's name or look up the specific book and page number if you already have it.

For in-person searches, the County Clerk's Office in New City is just a short drive from most parts of Clarkstown. Staff can assist you with finding records and pulling documents. Bring whatever information you have about the property, even if it is just an address.

Deed Recording Fees

Rockland County charges a standard recording fee of $45.00 plus $5.00 per page. The County Clerk's Office generates a cover sheet. Cross-references cost $0.50 each. These fees are in line with most New York counties.

Copy fees depend on the type you need. Uncertified copies have a $5.00 search fee plus $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost a $5.00 search fee per copy plus $1.25 per page. Registered E-Search users pay less, with electronic copies at $0.50 per page printed.

Transfer tax is $4 per $1,000 of the sale price. The mansion tax of 1% applies to residential properties selling for $1 million or more. You also need to file Form RP-5217 and the TP-584 affidavit when recording a deed. These forms capture the sale details the state needs for tax and assessment purposes.

Rockland County Archives

The Rockland County Archives at Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona holds historical land records. The collection includes Rockland County Deeds from 1798 to 1921, though the original books are at the County Clerk's Office in New City. Mortgages from 1798 to 1931 are also in the archive. You can reach the Archives at (845) 364-3670.

Genealogists and property historians use the Archives to trace ownership patterns going back to the late 18th century. If you need records older than what the online system covers, this is the place to look.

Legal Requirements for Filing Deeds

New York Real Property Law requires a deed to be in writing, signed by the grantor, and acknowledged before a notary. The deed must include a legal description and the names of both parties. Recording the deed gives constructive notice of the ownership change. Without recording, the deed is still valid between buyer and seller, but a later buyer who records first could have a stronger claim.

The mortgage recording tax is also due when you file a new mortgage. Rates vary by property type and location. The RP-5217 form must be completed digitally using Adobe Acrobat. The county will reject handwritten versions of this form.

Town Clerk vs. County Clerk in Clarkstown

The Clarkstown Town Clerk keeps minutes of all Town Board meetings, agreements, resolutions, and local laws. The office also handles marriage licenses, dog licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and handicap parking permits. It serves as the local registrar for vital statistics. But none of these tasks involve deeds.

People sometimes confuse the two offices. The town clerk handles town business. The county clerk handles land records. If you call the Clarkstown Town Clerk about a deed, they will direct you to the Rockland County Clerk at 1 South Main Street in New City. The office sits in the Rockland County Courthouse, which is easy to find once you reach the county seat. The County Clerk's hours run from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, which is more generous than most New York county offices. That early start time helps people who work during normal business hours. Walk-in visits are welcome. The staff can pull up records by name, book and page, or parcel number.

Nearby Cities

• Ramapo
• Orangetown

Ramapo and Orangetown are also in Rockland County. They use the same County Clerk's Office for deed recording. The fees and procedures are the same across the county.