St. Lawrence County Deed Records Search
Deed records in St. Lawrence County are kept by the County Clerk's Office in Canton. The Clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, UCC filings, and other land documents for all properties in the county. St. Lawrence is the largest county in New York by land area, covering over 2,800 square miles along the Canadian border. Property records here span many generations, and the Clerk's Office serves as the official repository for all recorded instruments.
St. Lawrence County Quick Facts
St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office
The St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office is in Canton. It serves as the official repository for all deeds, mortgages, and other documents affecting real property in the county. The office records new documents, maintains historical land records, provides public access to recorded files, issues certified copies, and handles UCC filings.
Because St. Lawrence County is so large, many residents live far from the county seat. Plan your trip to Canton if you need in-person service. Call ahead to confirm office hours and to make sure the records you need are available. Staff can help you locate specific documents, but they cannot give legal advice about your property or your deed.
Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours. Bring all your forms filled out and your payment ready. The Clerk's Office processes filings on a first-come basis, and having everything in order speeds up the process considerably.
How to Search St. Lawrence County Deed Records
The County Clerk's Office provides public access to recorded documents. You can search for deeds by party name, date range, document type, or book and page number. Title companies and attorneys use these tools regularly when they run title searches on properties in the county.
For the most complete search, an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office may be necessary. Older records that have not been digitized can only be viewed in the physical deed books at the courthouse. Staff can direct you to the right volumes based on the date range or party names you are researching.
Deed Recording Requirements
New York Real Property Law governs what every deed must contain. Each deed filed in St. Lawrence County needs the grantor's notarized signature, the names of all parties, a legal description of the property, and the tax map parcel number. Print the document on white 8.5 by 11 inch paper in clear black ink. The text must be legible with at least 8-point font size.
Form RP-5217 must be filed with every deed. This barcoded form records the sale price, assessed value, and property use code. You must complete it in Adobe Acrobat. Handwritten versions are rejected. Form TP-584 is also required, with a $5.00 filing fee.
The real estate transfer tax is $2 per $500 of consideration. Residential sales of $1 million or more also trigger the 1% mansion tax. All taxes are due at the time of recording.
Recording Fees
Recording fees in St. Lawrence County follow the standard New York State fee schedule. Expect to pay a base recording fee plus a per-page charge. Cross-references and additional names may cost extra. The RP-5217 form carries a filing fee of $125 for residential or farm property, or $250 for other types. Confirm exact fee amounts with the Clerk's Office before your visit, since fees can change.
Certified copies of recorded deeds cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.25 for each additional page. Uncertified copies are cheaper. Include the liber and page number when requesting copies so staff can find the right document fast.
Mortgage Recording Tax
When a mortgage is recorded in St. Lawrence County, the borrower pays the mortgage recording tax. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of mortgage debt. There is also an additional tax component. The first $10,000 of a residential mortgage is exempt from the extra portion.
Form MT-15 lists all current rates by jurisdiction. St. Lawrence County is not in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so the MCTD surcharge does not apply here. The tax must be paid to the County Clerk at the time the mortgage is presented for recording.
Property Assessment Records
Real property assessment data and tax maps for St. Lawrence County are maintained by the county's Real Property Tax Service. Assessment rolls list the assessed value, property class, and owner of record for each parcel. This information is helpful when you are trying to identify the right property in the deed records.
The Municipal Data Portal shows property sales data for St. Lawrence County. You can search by town, date range, or property type. Sales data comes from RP-5217 forms filed with each deed and covers the past 10 years.
UCC Filings and Other Services
Beyond deeds, the St. Lawrence County Clerk handles Uniform Commercial Code filings. A UCC filing puts a lien on personal property used as loan collateral. Lenders file these to protect their interest. The clerk also records federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, and business certificates. If you are doing a full property search, check for liens as well as deeds. A clear title means no open liens or claims against the property. The clerk's office can show you how to search for these records alongside your deed search. It is a good practice to look at the full picture before you buy any property in the county.
Cities and Towns in St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County has many towns and villages spread across its vast area, including Canton, Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Massena, and Gouverneur. All deed records for properties in these communities are filed with the St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office in Canton. The Clerk is the sole recording office for the entire county, regardless of which town your property is in.
Nearby Counties
If you need deed records from a neighboring county, these offices are close to St. Lawrence County: