Listed in Alphabetical Order by Topic

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2007
2006 ALTA Policies

Read the memo (PDF)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006
Attorney General Prohibits or Denies Proposal to Give Financial Incentives to Customers Who Obtain Title Insurance from Title Agent or Homeowner Insurance from Affiliate

Read the memo (PDF)

MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2007
Disclosure Prior to the Sale of Real Property Statute
RPL section 242, Amended

Read the memo (MS Word)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2007
Federal Reporting Update: Modified 1099-S Reporting on Sales of Principal Residences

Read the memo (PDF)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007
Home Equity Theft Prevention Act - Title Advisory

Read the memo (PDF)

SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
IRS Issues Tax Lien Releases in Error

This bulletin is to advise you of a critical matter involving erroneous Releases of Federal Tax Liens. A systems error on August 5, 2007, caused a yet unknown number of Releases of Federal Tax Liens to be sent to taxpayers. The tax obligations on those liens have not been satisfied and the liens are not to be released.


The IRS was able to stop the releases that would have been sent directly to the recording offices from the office in Cincinnati. However, the “Taxpayer Copy” of the release was mailed to taxpayers from the Detroit Print Site. The IRS is following up with a letter to those taxpayers indicating that the Release they received in the mail was erroneous, that the release does not affect the balance due that they owe, and that they should not try to record the document.


Should anyone try to present a “Taxpayer Copy” of a Release of Federal Tax Lien dated August 5, 2007, please do not record the document.


Please call the IRS Small Business/Self-Employed Division’s special line for recording offices (800 913-4170) and inform them of the attempt. The taxpayer may also call and a representative will handle their questions.

The IRS is in the process of identifying those erroneous releases that were sent to taxpayers for liens filed in your county. Any additional information that is received concerning this matter will be passed along as appropriate.


If you have any questions, or if you need any additional information concerning this matter, please call the recorder line at 800 913-4170. Should you have questions regarding the Erroneous Tax Lien Release, please do not hesitate to contact Benchmark Title.

Issued September 27, 2007 by Harold Boxer, Vice President and Senior Agency Counsel, Stewart Title Agency

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007
Legal Issues Relating to Home Improvements: The Attorney's Role

Read the memo (PDF)

NEW FORMS FOR 2007

IT-2663

Link to the form

Link to the instructions

TP-584 (NYS) Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return, Credit Line Mortgage Certificate, and Certification of Exemption from the Payment of Estimated Personal Income Tax

Link to the form

Link to the REIT form

Town of Warwick Transfer Tax

Link to the form

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2006
NYS Real Property Tax Amendment
from LandAmerica Lawyers Title

Read the memo (PDF)

Read the Sponsors memo (PDF)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2007
Town of Red Hook
Real Estate Transfer Tax

Read the Code (PDF)

View the Red Hook Transfer Tax Form (PDF)

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2007
TIRSA Rate Manual - New Title Policies

Read the memo (PDF)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2007
Village of Mamaroneck Local Law 09-2007:
Removal of Illegal Sewer Connections and
Elimination of Illegal Discharge of Liquids

The Village of Mamaroneck, in response to admonishment by the County of Westchester regarding the failure of the Village to extinguish illegal connections to the public storm and sanitary sewer systems, has passed Local Law 09-2007. Local Law 09-2007 requires that no building on real property situate in the Village of Mamaroneck be occupied unless a discharge compliance certificate has been issued. Upon the sale of real property, a discharge compliance certificate must be obtained before the property subject to the sale is occupied, in whole or in part.

Discharge compliance certificates must be issued before the purchaser of real property may occupy the premises. Certificates are in force until the next transfer of title in connection with the sale of that real property.

A discharge compliance certificate may be issued prior to a transfer of title in connection with the sale of real property. The certificate may also be issued subsequent to the sale of the real property, but the purchaser may not occupy the premises until after the certificate is issued. When a discharge compliance certificate is issued prior to a transfer of title in connection to a sale of real property, the transfer of title must occur within 60 days of the issuing of the certificate. If the transfer of title does not occur within the 60 day period, the certificate will lapse and become null and void.

Multiple dwelling units (apartment buildings, cooperatives or condominium complexes) may appoint an authorized representative who is a certified plumber licensed to do business in the County to conduct an inspection in order to obtain a discharge compliance certificate. Such multiple dwellings must get renewal certificates every five (5) years, but not for every transfer of title of a single unit therein. All multiple dwellings must obtain a discharge compliance certificate on or before August 1, 2007.

This law will become effective immediately upon filing in the Office of the Secretary of State. Filing is expected to occur in July of 2007.

Read the full text of the statute here (PDF).

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2007
Warwick (Orange County)
Real Estate Transfer Tax

Read the memo (PDF)

Read the law (PDF)

Link to the form