Kings County Deed Records Search

Kings County deed records cover all of Brooklyn, the most populous borough of New York City. Unlike most New York counties where the County Clerk handles deed recordings, Kings County operates under the New York City Register system managed by the NYC Department of Finance. The primary tool for searching Brooklyn property records is ACRIS, the Automated City Register Information System, which provides free online access to deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents going back to 1966. This makes Kings County one of the most accessible places in the state to search deed records without leaving your desk.

NYC Department of Finance and ACRIS

The NYC Department of Finance handles all deed recording for Kings County through the Office of the City Register. This is different from the rest of New York State, where individual County Clerks maintain deed records. In Brooklyn, the City Register receives and records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, and other property instruments. The ACRIS system makes these records available online at no charge.

ACRIS lets you search property records and view document images for Brooklyn going back to 1966. The system covers all four boroughs that use the City Register: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Staten Island is the exception, where the Richmond County Clerk keeps deed records separately. For Brooklyn searches, you can look up records by property address, borough/block/lot number, party name, document type, or document ID. Document images are available to view and print for free. You don't need an account to search, though you do need to register if you want to record new documents electronically. For help with ACRIS, call the help line at (212) 487-6300 or email acrishelp@finance.nyc.gov.

How to Search Kings County Deed Records

Go to ACRIS and choose your search method. The most common approach is to search by property address. Enter the street number, name, and select Brooklyn as the borough. The system pulls up all recorded documents for that address. You can also search by borough, block, and lot (BBL) number, which is the most precise way to find records for a specific parcel. The BBL number appears on tax bills and prior deeds.

Party name searches let you find all documents where a specific person or entity is listed as grantor or grantee. This is useful when you want to see every property transaction a person has been involved in across Brooklyn. Document type searches narrow results to just deeds, just mortgages, or whatever type you pick. Date range filters help when you know roughly when a transaction took place. The Brooklyn Public Library has a House and Building Research Guide that explains how to use ACRIS step by step. For pre-1966 records, you will need to visit in person. Call ahead before making the trip to verify what historical records are available and where they are stored.

Deed Records Fees in Kings County

Recording fees in Kings County follow the New York City fee schedule, which differs in some ways from the rest of the state. NYC properties do not use the standard RP-5217 form. Instead, the city uses ACRIS for electronic filing and its own set of forms. The Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) applies to all NYC property transfers. For residential properties, the RPTT rate is 1% for sales under $500,000 and 1.425% for sales of $500,000 or more. Commercial properties pay 1.425% for sales under $500,000 and 2.625% for higher amounts.

New York State transfer tax still applies at $4 per $1,000 of the sale price. The mansion tax of 1% kicks in at $1 million or more. Mortgage recording tax in NYC includes both state and city components. The combined rate for Brooklyn is higher than most upstate counties because of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge and the city's own mortgage tax. For a one or two-family home, the first $10,000 of mortgage debt is exempt from the additional state tax. Recording through ACRIS involves e-check or credit card payment for taxes and fees at the time of submission.

Recording a Deed in Kings County

Kings County uses electronic recording through ACRIS. Register for an account, then prepare your documents as PDFs. The system requires specific formatting. Document pages cannot be larger than 11 by 17 inches. PDFs must be black and white with no color. Layers must be flattened. Security features that block conversion must be removed. Image scans should be 300 DPI for best results. ACRIS converts all uploaded PDFs to images for archival purposes.

Unlike the rest of the state, Brooklyn does not use Form RP-5217. NYC has its own tax forms that get filed through the ACRIS system. You create cover pages and tax forms within ACRIS. Payment is by e-check or credit card. Note that online payments cannot be split across multiple checking accounts. For flip transactions where property transfers from A to B and then B to C, two separate RPTT forms and two separate cover pages are needed. The transfer to the final owner must be in the second cover page. The City Register will mail a notification when a new document is recorded against your property if you are enrolled in the Notice of Recorded Document Program. You can also have a trusted person like a family member or attorney get these notices.

Getting Copies of Deed Records

ACRIS provides document images online for free. Just search for the property, click on the document you need, and view or print the image. This is the easiest way to get copies of Brooklyn deed records from 1966 to the present. You do not need to register or pay a fee to view document images. For official certified copies, contact the Office of the City Register at the NYC Department of Finance.

For records from before 1966, the situation is different. These older documents may be stored at various locations. The Brooklyn Public Library's research guide suggests calling ahead before visiting to access pre-1966 records. The New York State Archives may also have historical Brooklyn property documents. Digital tax maps for Kings County are available through the Department of Finance, showing every parcel of land identified by borough, block, and lot number.

Property Taxes in Brooklyn

Brooklyn property taxes are administered by the NYC Department of Finance. When a deed is recorded, the transfer data feeds into the city's assessment system. NYC property tax works differently than in the rest of the state. The city uses a class system with different assessment ratios for different property types. New homeowners should check for available exemptions and benefits through the Department of Taxation and Finance. The STAR program provides school tax relief for primary residence owners with income under $500,000. The city also has its own tax benefits including the Coop/Condo Tax Abatement and various exemptions for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Kings County in New York City

Kings County is the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kings County within New York City. Each uses the ACRIS system for deed records except Richmond County, which uses its own County Clerk.