Livingston County, NY Property Records

    Per the U.S. Census Bureau's annual population estimates, Livingston is among the least populous counties in New York State, with a population of about 61,500 residents. The county seat is Geneseo, which is also its most populous municipality. A typical Livingston home is valued at about $228,070, which is below the statewide average of $498,438, despite a 1.5% increase from previous years.

    Property listings in the county stay on the market an average of 45 days before purchases are secured under contract, with 58.4% of such homes selling above the list price. This indicates an active real estate market with high demand for homes and relatively moderate prices in line with other upstate New York areas. Affordability challenges persist in Livingston County, despite a median household income of $77,486, with Federal Reserve Economic Data showing that approximately 26.2% of households spend at least 30% of their income on housing expenses.

    In Livingston County, the town and village assessors are responsible for handling property assessments and maintaining parcel data for their respective municipalities. They typically also maintain public portals you can visit to look up assessment records and information they keep. Likewise, the Livingston County Real Property Tax Services Agency provides access to countywide assessment details and other parcel data, including assessment rolls, tax data, exemptions, parcel maps, property descriptions, and ownership details.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Livingston County Clerk is responsible for maintaining land records, such as deeds, mortgages, and judgments. The clerk's office also records land documents and makes them publicly available.

    You can access such official land records in the county by requesting them from the clerk's office. The following includes the clerk's contact information, office address, and a direct link to the online records search portal below:

    • Livingston County Clerk's Office: Livingston County Government Center, 6 Court Street, Room 201, Geneseo, NY 14454

    • Phone: (585) 243-7010/(585) 335-1712, Public Records Search

    • Coverage: All Municipalities

    What Livingston County Property Records Include

    Livingston County property records include official documents that contain information on real estate located within the county, such as land ownership and financial transactions. They include deeds, mortgages, maps, liens, judgments, assignments, foreclosure notices, lis pendens, easements, land contracts, and covenants.

    All land deeds, mortgages, and related property records from 1821 to the present are available online through the County Clerk's Public Records Search portal. You can also view or obtain copies of historical property records in person at the Clerk's Office and locate older materials by contacting the County Historian's Office.

    How to Access Livingston County Property Records

    You can access Livingston County's official property records via channels supported by the County Clerk, including its online search portal, in-person visits, or by mail.

    Online Access (Free)

    The Livingston County Clerk's office provides online access to property records via its Public Records Search portal. To access records through the portal, you must either create an account and log in or sign in using the public login credentials provided on the clerk's website.

    You can search for official land records on the portal by selecting your search criteria, including names, document number, book/page, property address, document type, and the available document indexes. The name search option allows you to locate records by entering either a company name or an individual name (last and first names) to search all documents that include the names. You can also select the municipality to search within and the recorded date range to narrow down the search.

    Users can use the document number search option to locate a specific property record by entering its document number in the search field. Similarly, the book and page search lets people find a record by entering its volume type, book number, and page number. These search options are particularly useful for locating the exact match for a sought record. Alternatively, they can search for documents on the portal by using the property address search criterion.

    The portal also provides several record indexes you can search within. For example, you can look up deeds recorded between 1821 and 1963 by using the grantor/grantee's last name. You can also select the “Miscellaneous” index for specific periods to search for other types of property records by last name.

    The search results will show a list of documents that match your criteria, along with key details such as book and page, names, document type, recorded date, and town. You can also see whether each document is marked as verified or unverified. Opening a document displays a detailed view, which includes additional information, associated instruments, and image previews. You can download document images on the portal for $5 per image or print copies for $2.60 per document.

    In Person

    You can request and obtain copies of property records in person by visiting the Livingston County Clerk's Office at:

    • Livingston County Clerk's Office: Livingston County Government Center, 6 Court Street, Room 201, Geneseo, NY 14454

    • Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

    To facilitate the search, you can provide information about the records you seek, such as party names, document numbers, or book and page references. Copies of recorded documents typically cost $0.65 per page.

    By Phone or Email

    You can contact the County Clerk to obtain Livingston County property records by email or over the phone using the following details:

    By Mail/Overnight

    People can obtain copies of property records in Livingston County by submitting written requests for the documents they seek via mail. Include relevant details about the sought documents in your requests to facilitate the search, such as document number, names, and book/page. Submit your request, applicable fees, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the County Clerk's office.

    The clerk charges a $5 search fee for each record search (per name) covering two years. In addition, plain copies cost $0.65 each, while certified copies are $5 for the first four pages with an additional $0.65 for every subsequent page.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Property documents for recording in Livingston County can be submitted using e-recording vendors approved by the county clerk. These vendors include:

    • Simplifile

    • Corporation Service Company eRecording

    • eRecording Partners Network (ePN)

    • Indecomm

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    While the Livingston County Clerk provides important property records, such as deeds and mortgages, you may need to contact other county departments to complete your property research.

    In Livingston County, property assessments and related parcel information are maintained at the municipal level by local assessors. The Livingston County Real Property Tax Services Agency also maintains countywide assessment and tax records, including parcel information, assessment rolls, and tax maps. In addition, the County Treasurer's Office maintains countywide property tax information, including county tax receipts and other payment records.

    You can also use resources provided by the New York Department of Taxation and Finance to access statewide tax data and real property assessment information.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    You can look up Livingston County deeds online by following these steps:

    • Visit the Livingston County Clerk's Office Public Records Search portal.

    • Create a user account or sign in with the public credentials provided on the clerk's website.

    • Search for deeds by names, document number, book/page, property address, or other available criteria.

    • To limit your search results to only deeds, check the "Deed" box under the document type criteria.

    • The search results will display a list of deeds that match the criteria you entered, with some information about each document on the list.

    • Click a deed to see more details about the document, associated instruments, and image previews.

    • You can download or print deeds from the portal for a fee.

    Cities & Towns in Livingston County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Livingston County Clerk serves all municipalities in the county:

    • Livingston County Municipalities: Avon, Caledonia, Conesus, Geneseo, Groveland, Leicester, Lima, Livonia, Mount Morris, North Dansville, Nunda, Ossian, Portage, Sparta, Springwater, West Sparta, York, Avon Village, Caledonia Village, Dansville Village, Geneseo Village, Leicester Village, Lima Village, Livonia Village, Mount Morris Village, and Nunda Village.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    In Livingston County, property assessments and tax records are primarily managed at the local level by each municipality's assessor and tax collector. These offices may provide searchable databases on their websites, where you can look up key property information such as valuations, tax data, exemptions, and parcel inventories. You can find the directory for local assessors and tax collectors on Livingston County's website:

    In addition, you can visit town or village websites to access links to their online tax and assessment portals, if available.

    The Livingston County Real Property Tax Service Agency offers a Property Record Online System to look up property information for any parcel within the county, including assessment information, property inventories, ownership details, sales history, exemptions, tax maps, and comparable sales. You can search for such details by property address, name, or tax map number.

    You can also access local and statewide tax rates and finance data by visiting the New York Department of Taxation and Finance website.

    Livingston County-Specific Nuances

    The following features are important to note while conducting property research in Livingston County, NY:

    • The County Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining official property records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, for all towns and villages across the county.

    • The assessor and tax collector for each town and village in Livingston County are responsible for maintaining assessment and tax records for their respective jurisdictions.

    • The clerk maintains property records dating back to 1821 in its public records search portal. You can search the county historian's catalog for historical property records before 1821.

    • You can search property records online for free using the County Clerk's Public Records Search portal. However, fees apply for downloading or printing document images.

    Typical Contents of a Livingston County Property Record

    A Livingston County property record is an official document that provides detailed information about a parcel within the county, including ownership history, financial transactions, and any encumbrances affecting the property. You will see the following information when reviewing these records:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer)

      • Party names (grantor and grantee)

      • Legal description

      • Instrument number

      • Sale consideration

      • Recording date

      • Reference details (book/page)

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt)

      • Party names (mortgagor and mortgagee)

      • Loan amount and repayment terms

      • Recording information

      • Discharge or release details

    • Plans (visual maps)

      • Survey or plan number

      • Property location details

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Registered land plans

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Leases

      • Restrictive covenants

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights-of-way or shared access agreements

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    You can record changes to property titles in Livingston County, including new conveyances, deeds, mortgages, and related instruments, with the County Clerk's Office. To make changes to an existing instrument, such as adding or removing a party from a deed, you must prepare a new document that meets the county's recording guidelines and record it with the clerk. You can contact an attorney if you need help preparing these documents, as the clerk cannot legally provide such services.

    In addition to the new documents, you must file certain New York State forms, where applicable. For instance, new deeds generally must be submitted with a completed Real Property Transfer Report form (RP-5217) and the Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return form (TP-584). Documents must also include a complete legal description of the property.

    You can submit documents to the County Clerk's Office via mail or in person from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Be sure to include all required forms, applicable recording fees, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return. You can also submit documents for recording through authorized e-recording vendors.

    For detailed information on recording guidelines, required forms, current fees, office hours, and approved e-recording vendors, visit the Livingston County Clerk's Office section of the county's official website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can follow this checklist for effective property research in Livingston County, NY:

    • Contact/Visit the County Clerk's office: The county clerk is the official custodian of property records and provides research assistance to obtain such records in person and through other channels.

    • Search for the property records on the clerk's online portal: You can visit the public records search portal and locate records by name, document number, book/page, document type, or other criteria.

    • Search and note reference numbers: You can note the unique identifiers of the records you seek, such as book/page numbers or document numbers.

    • Trace the chain of title: You can search for the property on the county's Property Record Online System and check the sales section to access prior sales information, including the history of previous owners, sale dates, and the associated deed book and page numbers.

    • Review plans and encumbrances: Check recorded plans and associated instruments that can limit access to the parcel, such as easements, restrictions, or liens.

    • Verify parcel data with the Assessor's office: You can verify property details with the local assessor's office. The Livingston County Property Record Online System also provides access to such information, including assessment information, parcel inventories, exemptions, and ownership details.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Livingston County

    Livingston County, NY, has 26 municipalities: 17 towns and 9 villages*.

    • Towns: Avon, Caledonia, Conesus, Geneseo, Groveland, Leicester, Lima, Livonia, Mount Morris, North Dansville, Nunda, Ossian, Portage, Sparta, Springwater, West Sparta, and York.

    • Villages: Avon Village, Caledonia Village, Dansville Village, Geneseo Village, Leicester Village, Lima Village, Livonia Village, Mount Morris Village, and Nunda Village.

    *Livingston County also has several hamlets and census-designated places (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals