Erie County Clerk
Press Releases

10/16/08

New Law Seeks to Thwart "Deed Scam"

County Clerk Hochul Encourages Homeowners to Report Violators

Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul is reminding Erie County Property holders that mail solicitations and Websites offering to sell you a "Certified Copy of Your Deed" are dramatically overcharging what it costs for the service at the County Clerk's Office. A new law that took effect only days ago requires that solicitations include that fact that customers can obtain a certified copy of their deed from the County Clerk for less than $20. This law is in response to concerns raised last year when many Erie County and New York State residents received these "offers" in the mail and contacted their local County Clerk's offices.

Hochul again wants to assure homeowners that most of them probably have the original recorded deed in their possession. The normal processing procedures of the Clerk's office return the original deed to the property owner or their attorney, so those who do not have their deed should contact their attorney or the Clerk's office. "The cost of having a certified copy produced here at our office is in the $6 range," Hochul said. "We continue to see web services charging more than 10 times that amount for the same service and encourage Erie County residents to check first with our office for any deed related questions. Copies of deeds for every parcel of land in Erie County are stored here in our offices."

According to Hochul, the local media played a major role in getting the word out about the original scam, which resulted in the passage of the new law, and she thanked them for giving attention to this issue.

For more information or other questions regarding services available through the Erie County Clerk's Office, call 858-8865, e-mail at ErieCountyClerk@erie.gov or on the web at www.erie.gov/clerk.