New York County Clerk's Office Judgment Docket and Lien Section

Obtaining a Property or Income Execution

Once your judgment has been filed with the County Clerk, you may obtain either a Property or an Income Execution from our office if there is no Attorney of record representing you. The fee for a Property or Income Execution is $5.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks. The Sheriff will attempt to collect your judgment with information about assets, bank accounts or employment supplied by you. Please contact the Sheriff directly to obtain further information and fees. The New York County Sheriff’s office is located at 66 John Street, (Between Dutch and Williams Streets) New York, NY 10038 and their phone number is 212-487-9734.

Federal Tax Liens

In New York County, Federal (IRS) Tax Liens are filed with the Office of the City Register located at 66 John Street, (Between Dutch and Williams Streets) New York, NY 10038. You may also contact the IRS directly with any questions concerning Federal Tax Liens at 1-800-913-6050.

Mortgage and Deed Recordings

In New York County, Mortgages and Deeds are recorded in the Office of the City Register located at 66 John Street, 13th Floor, (Between Dutch and Williams Streets) New York, NY 10038.

UCC Filings

The Office of the City Register records Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statements for co-ops. All other UCCs must be filed with the New York State Department of State. UCC Financing Statements for co-ops are filed through the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS)

Block and Lot Lien Filings

Please note that liens filed against real property require a Block and Lot. You can search the New York City Department of Finance website below to obtain a block and lot for your subject property.

Block and Lot Search

Notice of Pendency

A Notice of Pendency is public notice that an action has been commenced that may affect the title to, possession of, use or enjoyment of real property. A Notice of Pendency shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk in the county where the property exists. It may be filed before or after service of the summons at any time prior to judgment. Unless it has already been filed, the complaint must be filed with the Notice of Pendency. A Notice of Pendency must include the Index number, must state the block and lot/s of the subject property and be accompanied by a property description. If the case is commenced through NYSCEF, the Notice of Pendency must also be e-filed. If the case was commenced in a court other than New York County Supreme Court, the Notice of Pendency must be filed in hard copy with a copy of the complaint attached to it. The fee to file a Notice of Pendency is $35.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.

Mechanic’s Liens

A Notice of Mechanic’s Lien may be filed against real property for the non-payment of labor performed or material provided for the improvement of that property. It must contain the block and lot of the subject property and must conform to requirements outlined in New York State Lien Law Article 2, sections 9 and 10. The New York County Clerk only accepts Liens for private improvement. You may obtain a New York Notice of Mechanic’s Lien with Affidavit form from most legal stationary stores.

The fee to file a Notice of Mechanic’s Lien is $30.00 and the fee to file the required Affidavit of Service is $5.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks. Currently, the New York County Clerk only accepts hard copy, original Mechanic’s Liens by mail or in person. If you are filing your Mechanic’s Lien by mail, please include a money order, certified check or attorney’s check made payable to the New York County Clerk. Please also include a self-addressed-stamped envelope with your request.

Please note that a Mechanic’s Lien and Affidavit of Service are time sensitive filings. See New York State Lien Law Article 2, sections 10 and 11 for more information.

Discharging a Mechanic’s Lien by Bond

Filing a Bond to Discharge a Mechanic’s Lien pursuant to New York State Lien Law Section 19(4) must be filed in person; it cannot be filed through NYSCEF. 

First, present a Mechanic’s Lien that is to be discharged to the Judgment Docket and Lien clerk in room 109B. This lien must be conformed and stamped “Data Correct.” 

Then, the following items must be presented to the Judgment Clerk in room 141B when discharging a Mechanic’s Lien by Bond:

1. A copy of the Mechanic’s Lien that is to be discharged. This needs to be conformed by the clerk in room 109B and stamped “Data Correct”.
2. A Surety Bond in the amount of 110% of the lien. The Bond should contain the following:
   • Acknowledged signatures of the Principle and Surety. *The names must be printed below each signature.
   • The Block and Lot of the subject property.
   • The address of the subject property and name of the owner.
   • The date the lien was filed.
   • A Power of Attorney for the Surety Signatory.
   • A statement that the surety is authorized to do business in the State of New York -or- “A Certificate of Solvency under Section 1111 of the New York State Insurance Law”
3. An originally signed Affidavit of Service of the Bond, with a blue back, on the Lienor (or the lienors Attorney if an attorney of record is stated in the lien) * the Bond MUST be served prior to discharging it.
4. An Affirmation, with a blue back, requesting that the County Clerk discharge the lien pursuant to section 19(4) of the lien law, identifying the lien to be discharged.
5. When steps 1- 4 have been completed, please proceed to the cashier in room 141B for the purchase of an index number in the amount of $210.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.
6. You must then obtain a No Fee Certified Copy of the Bond from the Certification Department in room 141B. The No Fee Certified Copy of the Bond should be filed with the Judgment Docket and Lien department in room 109B

Note that the Lien is not discharged until a No Fee Certified Copy of the Bond is filed with the Judgment Docket and Lien clerk in Room 109B

Discharging a Mechanic’s Lien by Payment of Money into Court

A Mechanic’s Lien filed with the New York County Clerk may be discharged by making a deposit of money, equal to the amount claimed in the Notice of Lien, plus interest, in the amount of 16%, calculated from the date the lien was filed up to and including the day after the money is deposited with the New York County Clerk. 

The deposit, made pursuant to Section 20 of New York State Lien law, must be made by certified bank check made payable to the New York County Clerk. It must be accompanied by an Affirmation requesting that the New York County Clerk discharge the lien pursuant to Section 20 of New York State Lien Law. 

A copy of the Receipt must be presented to the clerk in Room 109B to be recorded against the subject lien.

Satisfaction or Release of Mechanic’s Lien

Satisfaction of New York Mechanic’s Lien forms can be found online for free or from a legal stationary for a fee. Please note that a Satisfaction must state that the lien is paid and satisfied, and the claimant’s signature must be fully acknowledged before a notary.

A Release of Mechanic’s Lien must be titled as such and must state that the lien is released, not satisfied. There is no fee to file a Satisfaction or a Release.

Sidewalk Liens

A sidewalk violation is an official notice issued by New York City Department of Transportation to a property owner that their sidewalk is defective. A copy of the notice of violation is filed with the County Clerk and remains on file until the repairs have been made and an inspection is performed by the Department of Transportation. A sidewalk violation may complicate selling the property. Visit the link below for information about having a sidewalk repaired and the violation cancelled. 

New York City Department of Transportation

Building Loans

The filing requirements for a Building Loan Contract can be found in section 22 of New York State Lien Law. Please provide a cover page containing the names of the Borrower and Lender, the Block and Lot/s and physical address of the subject property and the amount of the loan. The building loan must include a Lien Law Section 22 statement.

A Building Loan may be filed by mail or in person. The fee to file a Building Loan, Building Loan Modification or Amendment is $50.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. If you are filing your Building Loan by mail, please include a money order, certified check or attorney’s check made payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks. Please also include a self-addressed-stamped envelope with your request.

Notice of Lending

The filing requirements for a Notice of Lending can be found in section 73 of New York State Lien Law. It may be filed in person or by mail.

The fee to file a Notice of Lending is $30.00. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, certified check, attorney check, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk. If you are filing your Notice of Lending by mail, please include a money order, certified check or attorney’s check made payable to the New York County Clerk. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks. Please also include a self-addressed-stamped envelope with your request.