CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County Clerk Mary C. Weidman has issued a warning for county residents concerning a “legal deed scam” that is soliciting property owners to obtain a copy of the deed to their property at an exorbitant price.

According to Weidman, the scam circulates throughout the county every three to four years. In November, a county resident received a formal-looking document labeled “Deed Processing Notice,” which carried a “Compliance Response Date,” suggesting a sense of urgency. The solicitation requests a processing fee of $84 to obtain a copy of one’s deed. The scam circumvents legal action by placing at the bottom of the document – in very small print – the disclaimer that, “... you can obtain a copy of your deed from the county recorder in the county where your property is located,” reported Weidman.

“Normally, a certified copy of your deed, if required at all, costs only $5 for a four-page deed when requested from the county clerk,” she added. “Your deed is a permanent record and a copy is always available from your county clerk. A copy without the certification can cost as little as $1.30, depending upon the number of pages of the deed.”