Clinton County Deed Records Search
Clinton County deed records encompass all deeds, mortgages, liens, and property instruments filed with the County Clerk. Located in the northernmost part of New York State, Clinton County borders Canada and Lake Champlain. The county seat is Plattsburgh, where the Clerk's Office provides both in-person and online access to recorded land documents. Records from 1972 forward are available online, making Clinton County one of the more accessible counties for remote deed research.
Clinton County Overview
Clinton County Clerk's Office
The Clinton County Clerk's Office is the official recording office for all land documents in the county. County Clerk Brandi B. Lloyd oversees the operation, with Giselle Hamms serving as Records Deputy. The office is on the First Floor of the Clinton County Government Center at 137 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh. You can call (518) 565-4700 or fax (518) 565-4718 for questions about deed records.
Office hours are 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. An important rule to know: no recordings or filings are accepted after 3:45 PM. Any papers received after that time will be processed the next business day. The office accepts cash, check, and credit cards for payment. The Clerk's objectives include safeguarding legal documents, maintaining up-to-date real estate records, and facilitating orderly transfers of property throughout the county.
Search Clinton County Deed Records Online
Clinton County provides 24/7 online access to land records through the Cott Hosting system. Records from 1972 to the present are available on this platform. You can search from your office, home, or even from another state. The system lets you look up recorded documents by name, document type, or date range without having to visit the courthouse in Plattsburgh.
This online access is one of the better systems among New York's smaller counties. It is available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. For records before 1972, you will need to visit the Clerk's Office in person or contact staff by phone to arrange a search of older index books and microfilm records.
Recording Deeds in Clinton County
The Clinton County document recording page explains the requirements for filing a deed. Every deed must be signed, notarized, and accompanied by the proper tax forms. New York Real Property Law requires the names of both parties, a legal property description, and proper acknowledgment. Include the tax map parcel number on the deed.
Since January 2015, the 4-part paper RP-5217 form is no longer accepted in Clinton County. All deed recordings must include the RP-5217 PDF, which is a barcoded form completed in Adobe Acrobat. The bar-coded form is not meant to be filled in by hand or typewriter. The County Clerk will reject any deed submitted with an improperly formatted RP-5217. Download the official form from the Department of Taxation and Finance website to ensure the barcodes work correctly.
Remember the 3:45 PM cutoff. Get your documents in before then or they will be processed the next business day.
Fees and Transfer Taxes
Clinton County recording fees follow the state schedule. The standard charge is $5 for the first page and $5 per additional page. A $125 filing fee applies to deeds with metes and bounds descriptions. The real estate transfer tax of $2 per $500 of the sale price is due at recording. Residential properties selling for $1 million or more also owe the 1% mansion tax. Have your payment ready in cash, check, or credit card.
Certified copies of deed records are $5 for the first page and $1.25 for each additional page. You can get them at the counter or mail in a request with the liber and page number.
Mortgage Recording Tax
Mortgages filed in Clinton County are subject to the New York State mortgage recording tax. The base rate is 50 cents per $100 of mortgage debt. Additional state and county taxes increase the total. One- and two-family homes get an exemption on the first $10,000 for the additional tax portion. Review Form MT-15 to find the exact combined rate for Clinton County before your closing date.
Property Fraud Protection
Clinton County offers a free PropertyCheck service to help protect residents from deed fraud. This monitoring tool alerts property owners when new documents are recorded against their property. Signing up takes just a few minutes and can give you peace of mind. If someone tries to file a fraudulent deed or mortgage on your property, you will get a notification so you can take action quickly.
State Resources for Property Research
The New York State Municipal Data Portal shows property sales and assessment data for Clinton County. The New York State Archives holds historical records that may help with older property research. For legal questions about deed requirements, the Cornell Legal Information Institute provides free access to New York Real Property Law. The New York State Senate tracks legislation that could affect recording procedures.
New homeowners should register for STAR if eligible. The Department of Taxation and Finance has all the details about the program, including income limits and how to apply through the Homeowner Benefit Portal.
Cott Records Search System
The Cott Records Search system that Clinton County uses is run by a third-party vendor. It hosts index data and document images on a web-based platform. You do not need to install software. Just go to the site, pick a search type, and type in your query. Results come up fast, and you can click through to view the full document. The system is stable and works on most web browsers.
Towns in Clinton County
Clinton County has no cities above the 100,000 population threshold. Plattsburgh is the largest city and the county seat. Other communities include Peru, Chazy, Beekmantown, and Dannemora. All deed records for properties throughout Clinton County are filed with the County Clerk's Office at 137 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh.
Nearby Counties
Deed records in neighboring counties are kept by separate clerk offices: