Schoharie County Deed Records
Deed records in Schoharie County are managed by the County Clerk's Office in the Village of Schoharie. The Clerk maintains records dating back to 1795, when the county was formed. Online searches through the IQS system go back to 1876 for deeds. The office serves as the official custodian of all land records and legal documents filed in the county, and it is a vital resource for property owners, title searchers, and the general public.
Schoharie County Quick Facts
Schoharie County Clerk's Office
The Schoharie County Clerk's Office sits within the Schoharie County Courthouse complex at 290 Main Street. The Land Records Room is at 284 Main Street, Room 118. You can call (518) 295-8310 or fax (518) 295-8394. The email is county.clerk@schohariecounty-ny.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Clerk holds a constitutional position as an elected official. The office is responsible for maintaining the integrity and accessibility of all public records filed in the county. Records here go back to the county's formation in 1795. Over its long history, the office has moved from paper-based record keeping to modern electronic systems while still preserving the original documents.
How to Search Schoharie County Deed Records Online
Schoharie County uses the Info Quick Solutions (IQS) online search system for land records. The system gives you access to deed records going back to March 14, 1876. Mortgage index data starts from March 20, 1947. Mortgage satisfactions go back to November 14, 1914. You can search by party name, document type, date range, book and page number, or instrument number.
A paid subscription is needed to print or download documents through IQS. Several subscription plans are available depending on how often you use the system. Basic searching to identify records is free, but getting copies requires a payment plan. For records not scanned into the system, a $20 search fee applies and you may need to contact the Records Management Office.
Deed Recording Fees in Schoharie County
The Schoharie County fee schedule lays out what you will pay to record a deed. The recording fee is $45.00. Add $5.00 per page, and the cover page counts. The TP-584 form costs $5.00 to file. The RP-5217 form fee is $125.00 for residential or farm property, or $250.00 for all other property types. A Residential Deed Notice fee of $10.00 also applies.
Copy fees vary by method. In-office copies are $0.50 per page. Copies by mail or not in person cost $1.25 per page. Certified copies run $5.20 for the first 8 pages, plus $0.65 per additional page. If records have not been scanned into the system, a $20.00 search fee applies. The Records Management Office at P.O. Box 549, Schoharie, NY 12157 maintains the archives for older records.
Recording Requirements for Deeds
All documents submitted for recording in Schoharie County must meet strict formatting and content requirements. Documents must be on white paper, 8.5 by 11 inches, with clear legible text in at least 8-point font. All text must be in black ink. Margins need to be wide enough for the clerk to add recording information and barcodes without covering the document content.
White-out is not allowed on any document. If you make an error, you need to start over or use a proper correction method. Each deed must include the grantor's notarized signature, names of all parties, a legal description, and the tax map parcel number.
You must file a completed RP-5217 (completed online, barcoded) and a signed TP-584 with every deed. The real estate transfer tax of $2 per $500 of consideration is due at recording. The 1% mansion tax applies to residential sales of $1 million or more.
Mortgage Recording Tax
The mortgage recording tax must be paid when a mortgage is recorded in Schoharie County. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of debt. An additional tax portion also applies. The first $10,000 of a residential mortgage is exempt from the extra tax.
Schoharie County is not in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so the MCTD surcharge does not apply. Form MT-15 has the exact rates. The tax must be paid to the County Clerk at the time the mortgage is presented for recording.
Property Assessment Data
Assessment records and tax maps for Schoharie County are kept by the Real Property Tax Service. Assessment rolls show the assessed value, property class, and owner of record for each parcel. The Municipal Data Portal from the state Department of Taxation and Finance provides 10 years of sales data for Schoharie County.
In-Person Research at the Clerk's Office
The Land Records Room at 284 Main Street, Room 118, has the physical deed books and index volumes. Some records go back to 1795, the year Schoharie County was first formed. These early deed books cover the original land grants and farm sales from the post-colonial era. That is more than two centuries of land records in one place. The IQS system only covers deeds from 1876 forward. If you need anything older, you must visit in person. Staff can point you to the right book and page once you give them a name or date range. Bring a notepad. The $20 search fee applies when staff have to look through records that are not in the digital system. You can avoid that fee by doing the search yourself in the office during business hours.
Cities and Towns in Schoharie County
Schoharie County includes the Village of Schoharie, Cobleskill, Middleburgh, and several other small towns and villages. All deed records for properties in these communities are filed with the Schoharie County Clerk's Office. The Clerk is the sole recording office for the entire county.
Nearby Counties
If you need deed records from a neighboring county, these offices are nearby: