I received a letter offering me a certified copy of my deed for $120, should I buy it?
Umm, no.
Last month I got two copies of this letter, one telling me that I could buy a copy of “this important document” for $120, one offering me the relatively low price of $65. (I liked the idea that I could “save” $55″ by answering the second letter; great scam technique, huh?)
But keep your wallet in your pocket; this letter is half right and half wrong.
A deed is an important document; it proves that you own your house or condo.
However, once a deed exists, it is recorded — essentially, put into the County Clerk’s records. By the time the County Clerk has your deed, you
a) probably also have a copy, because after your attorney recorded it, he or she put your copy into that giant package of paperwork you got sent after closing;
and b) can get another copy, if you need it, by dealing with the County Clerk. In Westchester, deeds cost $5; in Nassau, 65 cents (not 65 dollars) per page; in New York City, according to assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer , $4 per page.