Tonawanda Deed Records Lookup
Deed records for properties in Tonawanda are kept by the Erie County Clerk in Buffalo. The City of Tonawanda Clerk does not record deeds, mortgages, or other land documents. Tonawanda sits in the northern part of Erie County, along the Niagara River. All property transfers here must go through the County Clerk's Office at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo. The same office handles deed recordings for every city and town in Erie County.
Tonawanda Quick Facts
Where Tonawanda Deed Records Are Filed
The Erie County Clerk's Office is the sole recorder of deeds for Tonawanda. County Clerk Michael P. Kearns has run the office since December 2017. The office sits at 92 Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo.
The Tonawanda City Clerk provides municipal services like city council record-keeping and licensing. But that office does not record deeds. New York State law puts deed recording at the county level, and this has been the case for the entire history of the state. If you need a deed copy, want to check a lien, or plan to file a new deed, the Erie County Clerk is the right place to go.
Note that the City of Tonawanda and the Town of Tonawanda are separate municipalities. Both are in Erie County, and both use the same County Clerk for deed recordings. If your property is in either one, the process is the same.
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 |
Under New York law, the County Clerk must receive and record deeds, index them for easy retrieval, preserve them for long-term access, and provide certified copies on request. The Erie County Clerk also offers e-recording, so attorneys and title companies can submit deed filings electronically without traveling to the office.
How to Search Tonawanda Deed Records
The Erie County public records search portal is the main online tool. You can search by name, date, and document type. The system has four search options: Basic Search, Advanced Search, Registered User Search, and BrowserView Search. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users should choose BrowserView Search.
To view document images, you need a registered user account. Registration is available through the Clerk's website at no charge. Without an account, you can still search the index and get basic information about recorded documents, like the recording date, book, and page number.
For in-person visits, the Clerk's Office in Buffalo is about a 20-minute drive from Tonawanda. Bring the property address or the owner's name. If you have a liber and page reference from a prior search, staff can pull the document quickly. Walk-in searches are welcome during business hours.
Deed Recording Fees
Erie County follows New York State's fee schedule. The base fee is $45 plus $5 per page. The Clerk generates a cover sheet. Cross-references add $0.50 each. You must also file Form RP-5217 and the TP-584 transfer tax affidavit with the deed.
Transfer tax is $4 per $1,000 of the sale price. The mansion tax of 1% applies to residential sales over $1 million. The mortgage recording tax kicks in when you record a new mortgage. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of the loan amount, with additional components that vary by location. All taxes and fees must be paid at recording time.
Property Assessment Records
The Erie County Real Property Tax Service Agency at 95 Franklin Street, 9th Floor, in Buffalo keeps assessment data and tax maps. Phone: (716) 858-8333. While this office does not hold deeds, assessment records give you parcel numbers and property details that help with deed searches. The state's Municipal Data Portal has Sales Web data showing 10 years of property transfers across Erie County.
Legal Requirements for Deeds
A valid deed in New York must be in writing, signed by the grantor, and notarized. It needs the names of both parties and a legal description of the property. Recording with the County Clerk gives constructive notice that ownership has changed. An unrecorded deed is valid between the parties, but a later buyer who records first could claim priority.
The RP-5217 form must be completed digitally in Adobe Acrobat. Handwritten versions are rejected. This form captures the sale price, property use code, and other data the state uses for tax and assessment tracking. Your closing attorney handles these filings as part of the transaction.
E-Recording for Tonawanda Properties
Erie County supports e-recording for land documents. This lets attorneys and title companies submit deeds and mortgages online without a trip to Buffalo. The system accepts filings through approved vendors. Once the document is processed, the clerk's office sends back a confirmation with the recording details. E-recording is faster than in-person filing and cuts down on paper handling.
If you are working with an attorney on a Tonawanda property sale, ask if they use e-recording. Most title firms in the Buffalo area do. It saves time and gets the deed on file sooner. For individuals who want to file a deed on their own, the in-person option at 92 Franklin Street is still available. Bring the original deed, all required forms, and payment for fees and taxes. The clerk checks everything at the counter before accepting it.
The help desk at clerkhelp.erie.gov can answer questions about e-recording setup and requirements. You can also call (716) 858-8785 for general questions about filing.
Nearby Cities
All four are in Erie County and use the same County Clerk for deed recordings. The process and fees are identical across the county, so if you have properties in more than one of these towns, you deal with the same office for all of them.