Guide to filing a mechanics lien in Manhattan County

Where is the Manhattan County Recorder's Office that files mechanic liens?

You can file your mechanic liens in person at the New York County Clerk’s Office located at:

New York County Courthouse
60 Centre Street, Room 161
New York, NY 10007

Phone: 646-386-5955

The New York County Clerk’s Office now accepts all documents electronically.

All recordable documents that you submit to the City Register’s Office can be e-recorded using the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).

To record your documents electronically, visit www.nyc.gov/acris.

What is Manhattan County's Recording Backlog?

The New York County Clerk’s Office does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

Should I file my mechanics lien in Manhattan County?

If your construction project is located in Manhattan County, then yes, you should file your lien here.

What are Manhattan County's requirements for recording a mechanics lien?

The New York County Clerk’s general document recording requirements are as follows:

1. The name and address of the parties as written in the document; should match the Endorsement Cover Page
2. The New York State acknowledgement has the current acceptable wording, and includes the
venue, date (should not predate the document) and name
3. The document must be dated and signed
4. The Block and lot shown in the document matches the Endorsement Cover Page
5. Provide an address, a metes and bounds description or the block (s) and lot (s) in the document.
6. All required exhibits, schedules and cross references are included
7. The correct property type is cited in the document.
8. The correct document type is cited on the Endorsement Cover Page.
9. All names reflected in the document, should be listed separately on the Endorsement Cover Page

What are the margin & page size requirements to file a lien in Manhattan County?

How can I make payment to the Manhattan County Recorder's Office?

The fees must be paid in cash, by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit cards, by an attorney’s check made payable to the New York County Clerk, or in the form of a U.S. postal money order made payable to the New York County Clerk.

What are the filing fees to record a mechanics lien in Manhattan County?

The New York County Clerk’s recording fees are as follows:

Recording Fees

Real Estate Documents: $32.00 + $5.00 per page + $5.00 for Cover Page. Minimum for 2 pages = $42.00 ($32.00 + 1 Cover Page + 1 document page). Note: One 2 sided page counts as 2 pages.

Lien Fees

Mechanic’s Lien: $30.00
Affidavit of Service for Mechanic’s Liens: $5.00

Copy Fees

Business Records, Certified Copy: $10.00

How do I get a recorded copy of my lien from the Manhattan County Recorder's Office?

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person at the New York County Clerk’s Office located at:

New York County Courthouse
60 Centre Street, Room 161
New York, NY 10007

Phone: 646-386-5955

Hours: 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

You can now request electronic certified copies of real and personal property documents recorded in ACRIS. Before requesting electronic certified copies, make sure that the recipient of your documents is willing to receive them in an electronic format.

The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) allows you to search property records and view document images for Manhattan from 1966 to the present.

You can access ACRIS here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/taxes/acris.page

Access to a copy of a lien may require paying a fee.