Cayuga County Clerk Sue Dwyer is once again urging all Cayuga County residents to be aware of a direct mail solicitation letter offering to provide a certified copy of a homeowner’s deed. Several companies have recently mailed letters to residents in the area recommending that they obtain a certified copy of their deed for a fee of as much as $85. We’ve had several people come into our office with their letter in hand asking if it is a legitimate solicitation.
Clerk Dwyer stated “This is nothing more than a scam and a quick way to make money. These companies are especially targeting people who have just bought or sold property. There is absolutely no reason that a Cayuga County resident would need to reach out to a third party to obtain a certified copy of their deed from my office. We routinely provide copies of deeds for 65 cents a page. A typical deed is only a few pages and would cost less than $2. If a person needs a certified copy, it costs $5. If you are unable to come into the office, another option is to use our online service, searchiqs.com and click on Cayuga County. If you need to see an image or print a copy of the deed, you will be charged $5.”
Dwyer said, “Residents should know that if their deed was recorded in the County Clerks Office it is a permanent record in my office and remains valid whether or not the homeowner has a copy of that deed in their possession.” “Anyone who receives a letter or sees an advertisement for this type of solicitation and has questions about their deed or any other land document maintained in the County Clerks office can call me directly at (315) 253-1271 or email me at sdwyer@cayugacounty.us.”
Dwyer said “There is absolutely no reason to pay a hefty fee or disclose your credit card information to an unfamiliar out of town business when you can easily obtain a copy at our office at the Cayuga County Office Building, 160 Genesee Street in Auburn in a safe and secure manner at a reasonable price.”