Union Deed Records

Union deed records are filed and stored by the Broome County Clerk. The Town of Union does not record deeds. New York State places all deed recording duties at the county level, so Broome County is the sole office for property filings in Union. The County Clerk has records going back to 1806, covering deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, and maps. The Union Town Clerk handles local administrative tasks but has no role in property recordings. All deed matters must go through the county.

Broome County Clerk Maintains Union Deed Records

Under New York State law, the Broome County Clerk handles all deed recordings for the Town of Union. The County Clerk's Office oversees the processing, filing, scanning, and storing of property documents for the entire county. This includes deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, and maps.

Union is the largest town in Broome County by population. It sits just west of Binghamton, the county seat. Even though Union is a major community, it does not maintain its own land records. The Town Clerk handles municipal tasks like meeting minutes and local permits. Deed recording has always been a county function in New York.

Broome County's records go back to 1806. That is over two centuries of property transactions. The office has been scanning and digitizing records to make them more accessible, though some of the oldest documents may still need to be viewed in physical form at the county office.

How to Search Union Deed Records

The Broome County Clerk offers online access to land records through its website. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or recording date. The online system covers modern recordings. For older documents, you may need to visit the office and use the physical index books.

In-person searches are available at the County Clerk's Office in Binghamton during business hours. Bring as much detail as you can. A tax parcel number will help narrow things down. The names of the buyer and seller, or an approximate date of the transaction, are also useful. Staff can pull records from the system and provide copies.

For recent sale data, the Municipal Data Portal from the state tax department has a Sales Web tool. It shows 10 years of property transfers in Union based on RP-5217 filings. New sales may take a few weeks to appear after the deed is recorded with the county.

Recording a Deed for Union Property

To file a deed for property in Union, bring the original document to the Broome County Clerk in Binghamton. The deed must be typed, signed by the grantor, and notarized. Include the full legal description, tax map parcel number, and the names and addresses of all parties involved in the transfer.

You must submit Form RP-5217 with every deed. This Real Property Transfer Report has a barcode and must be filled out in Adobe Acrobat. The clerk will reject forms that are handwritten or completed using a different program. Also file the TP-584 transfer tax return at the same time.

The transfer tax is $2 per $500 of the purchase price. Residential sales above $1 million also owe a 1% mansion tax. All fees and taxes are due when the deed is submitted for recording.

Deed Recording Fees and Costs

Broome County follows the New York State recording fee schedule. The base fee covers the first page. Extra pages cost $5 each. There are separate charges for the cover page and the RP-5217 filing. Certified copies of recorded deeds are available for a per-page fee.

The mortgage recording tax applies when a mortgage is filed. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of mortgage debt. County-level taxes add to the total. For residential properties with one or two family units, the first $10,000 of the mortgage is exempt from the additional tax. Broome County is not in the MCTD, so no commuter district surcharge applies.

Legal Resources for Deed Records

New York Real Property Law governs deed recording across the state. Recording a deed with the county clerk gives constructive notice to the world. An unrecorded deed is valid between buyer and seller but may not protect against a later buyer who records first. The Cornell Legal Information Institute has the full text of these property statutes.

The New York State Archives holds historical records that may be useful for tracing older property ownership in the Union and Binghamton area. Track pending property law changes through the New York State Senate website.

About the Town of Union

Union is the most populated town in Broome County. It includes several hamlets, with Endicott and Johnson City among the most well known. Despite its large size, Union follows the same deed recording process as every other community in the county. All property documents go through the Broome County Clerk in Binghamton.

The Union Town Clerk maintains town board minutes, local laws, and issues various licenses. But that office has no authority over deed recordings. If you need a deed, the county is the only place to get one.

Getting Copies of Deeds

Certified copies of recorded deeds are available from the Broome County Clerk. You can get them in person at the office in Binghamton or by mail. Include the liber and page number or the recording date with your request. Staff will pull the document and make a copy. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal. They are accepted by lenders, courts, and title companies.

Broome County has been scanning older records into its system. Some of the documents going back to 1806 may still need to be viewed in their original form. If you are doing deep research on a Union property, plan for a visit to the office. The staff can guide you through the older indexes and book systems. Phone requests for copies may not be accepted, so call (607) 778-2451 first to ask about the process.

The county also keeps maps, judgments, and lien records that can add to your research. A judgment search shows if there are any claims against a property owner. Lien records show unpaid debts tied to the land. These records sit alongside the deeds in the same office.