Erie County Clerk
Press Releases

10/01/07

Real Estate Closings No Longer Required in Person At County Clerk's Office Under New Initiative

Hochul Unveils Plan to Cut Red Tape, Ushering in New Era for Clerk's Office Customers, Ending Century-Old Practice

Following a meeting with representatives from local law firms and title companies, Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul announced an option for real estate transactions, ending the century long practice of house closings requiring the parties to appear in person at the Clerk's Office.

"As an attorney, I am extremely cognizant of the need to cut the length of time spent in the Clerk's Office. For attorneys and title companies, time is money, and I am constantly striving to find ways to make this Office more user-friendly and efficient for our customers. No longer will home buyers have to wait for closings in the Clerk's Office. Attorneys and title companies will now be able to either mail in or drop off the necessary paperwork, and closings can occur at the attorney's offices, at the title companies, or even at the real estate agent's office," said Hochul.

Daniel Locche, Government Affairs Director for the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors said that this change is "fantastic." "The time saved and the efficiency created by this new option will benefit the entire real estate industry as well as the homeowner. I applaud this kind of innovative thinking in the County Clerk's Office," said Locche.

County Clerk Kathy Hochul said this initiative is part of an overall strategy to modernize the operations of the Clerk's office, making transactions more efficient for both customers and the Office.