Suffolk County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

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

300 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901-3392

Phone: (631) 852-2000

The Suffolk County Clerk’s Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however, it is strongly recommended that you arrive no later than 4:45 p.m., so they have ample time to assist you.

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

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

The Suffolk County Clerk follows the regulations outlined by New York Lien law. Their recording requirements are as follows:

1. Liens must include your name and other basic information. If an attorney is assisting you, include their information as well.
2. Next, the property owner’s information is required. This can be found in ACRIS, a New York online service that allows you to record and review
property records.
3. You’ll also need to provide the hiring party’s information.
4. Provide a statement of the labor and materials required for the project.
5. Calculate the lien amount using the aforementioned statement. Be careful not to overestimate, a mistake that results in heavy fines.
6. Provide the first and last dates that work on the project was performed. These terms are also known as the first and last dates of
performance.
7. Next, you’ll need to include the property’s legal description. You can find this information by requesting it from the Suffolk County Clerk’s office.
8. Lastly, get your lien notarized, witnessed, and signed.

After the lien is recorded, you have 30 days to serve the property owner with a copy.

The Suffolk County Clerk follows the state’s regulations here too. They are:

1. Paper size must not exceed 8.5 x 14.
2. The minimum font size is 8 point.
3. Ink must be black on a white surface to allow the Optical Imaging System to scan them accurately.

Failing to adhere to any of these formatting requirements could result in the dismissal of you lien claim.

Recording fees may be paid by check, cash or money order. Check or money order should be made payable to the Suffolk County Clerk.

The Suffolk County Clerk’s recording fees are as follows:

Lien Fees

Affidavit of Service on Mechanic’s Lien: $5.00

Mechanic’s Lien: $215.00 includes the Real Property Verification Fee for the 1st lot plus $200.00 for each additional lot.

Federal Tax Lien: $40.00

Release of Federal Tax Lien: $40.00

Copy Fees

Plain Copy: $1.30 for the first two pages
Certified Copy: $1.25 for first four pages (Min. $5.00 Max. $40.00 per document)
Federal Tax Lien (Certified): $10.00
Federal Tax Lien (Plain): $5.00
Release of Federal Tax Lien (Certified): $10.00
Release of Federal Tax Lien (Plain): $5.00

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person, by mail or online.

In Person

You can visit the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office located at:

300 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901-3392

Phone: (631) 852-2000

Copy Fees

Plain Copy: $1.30 for the first two pages
Certified Copy: $1.25 for first four pages (Min. $5.00 Max. $40.00 per document)

Mail

You can also request copies by mail.

Requests by mail require the property tax map identification number located on the property tax bill, (include a photocopy with your request) or you may contact the Town Assessor’s office in which the property is located to obtain the property tax map identification number.

In order to expedite your mail request, include a contact name, telephone number or an email address.

Mail request with payment to:

County Clerk’s Office
Attention: Public Access
310 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901

All requests must be accompanied by a check or money order made payable to the Suffolk County Clerk.

Online

You can also search for land records recorded and imaged into the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office Imaging System from 1987 to present online at: https://kiosk.suffolkcountyny.gov/KioskWeb/Notifications.aspx

When you click on buy subscription your credit card will be charged. If you chose to print you must first fund your account. The fee to print is $0.65 per page.

You can get the property’s legal description from the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office in person.

You can search for land records recorded and imaged into the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office Imaging System from 1987 to present online at: https://kiosk.suffolkcountyny.gov/KioskWeb/Notifications.aspx

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the
Suffolk County Real Property Tax Service at: https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Real-Property-Tax-Service-Agency