N.Y. Real Property Law Section 377
Official examiners of title

The registrar in any county is authorized to appoint one or more official examiners of title who shall be qualified in accordance with the provisions of law and such rules as may be adopted by the court of appeals. The court of appeals shall prescribe such rules as it deems expedient with respect to ascertaining the fitness and qualifications of individuals for appointment as official examiners of title. Such rules may provide that the length of time during which candidates have practiced law and the experience they have had in the examination of titles to real property shall be taken into consideration in determining their qualifications. Every official examiner of title must be an attorney and counselor-at-law of this state. Subject to rules hereafter adopted by the court of appeals, attorneys and counselors-at-law heretofore duly licensed as official examiners of title shall be eligible for appointment as official examiners of title. In case the registrar shall fail to appoint an official examiner of title in any county, the justice of the supreme court to which petition is made to register any land in such county or to which petition is made to withdraw from registration under the provisions of § 404-A (Withdrawal from registration in certain instances)section four hundred and four-a of this chapter, may appoint a competent attorney to act as such official examiner of title upon that petition. Any official examiner of title shall have the power to administer any oath or affidavit, and to hold hearings and investigations necessary to determine questions of fact arising in the course of his examination of any title, may summon and subpoena witnesses and examine them under oath with regard thereto, and may at any time apply to the supreme court for directions, and receive its assistance, in regard to any investigations conducted by him. The appellate division of the supreme court shall have the jurisdiction to control and regulate the conduct and work of official examiners of title and may admonish, discipline, suspend or remove from office or position any official examiner of title, because of any dishonesty, incompetency, neglect of duty or any other improper conduct or omission, either on its own motion, or on the suggestion or recommendation of the justice of the supreme court having general supervision and control of the business coming under this law in the county in which such official examiner of title is appointed; and it shall be the duty of said appellate division to co-operate with such justice in endeavoring to retain the highest possible standard of ability, efficiency and honest service for all official examiners of title acting under and pursuant to this law. No person who is the attorney or counsel or otherwise interested in a proceeding to register title to real property shall act as official examiner of title in such proceeding.

Source: Section 377 — Official examiners of title, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RPP/377 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Jan. 17, 2026).

370
Petition to register title to real property 371
Petitions and proceedings to be in supreme court 372
County clerks and registers to be registrars of title 373
Registrar’s bond 374
Deputy registrars’ powers and duties 375
Compensation of registrars and deputy registrars, official examiners of title, and registration clerks 376
Disposition of fees received by registrar 377
Official examiners of title 378
What owners may apply 379
Contents of petition for registration 380
Official examiner’s report of title 381
Survey, map or plan to be filed 382
Notice of petition and of pendency of proceeding 385
Proceedings upon the petition 386
Form of notice to parties 388
Guardian ad litem 389
Any person interested may appear and defend 390
Title in lands vested 391
Final orders conclusive 392
Fraud 393
Registration of title 394
Certificate of title 395
Title book 396
Duplicate certificate of title 398
Certificate to include dealings pending registration 399
Certificate of title as evidence 400
Rights of owners of registered property 401
Registered property not affected by prescription or adverse possession 402
Fraud 403
Memorial to be carried forward 404
Registered property to remain registered 404–A
Withdrawal from registration in certain instances 405
Registered property subject to same rights and burdens as unregistered property 406
Transfers of registered property 407
Certificate as to part of property remaining after transfer 409
Filing, entering and indexing papers pursuant to this act 409–A
Entries in other indexes 410
Notice of filed papers 411
Addresses of interested parties 412
When a transfer is deemed to be registered 413
New certificates of title 414
Loss of duplicate certificate 415
Mortgages, leases and other liens and charges 416
Proceedings to register mortgage, lease or other lien or charge 417
Judgments, decrees, attachments and other liens to be noted on certificate 418
Assignment of mortgage, lease, or other lien or charge 419
Release, discharge or surrender of charge or incumbrance 420
Enforcement of mortgages, charges, liens and incumbrances 421
Powers of attorney to be filed and registered 422
Reference of doubtful matters to the court 423
Death of owner of registered property 423–A
Form for transfer of property upon death of owner of registered property 424
Transfer on death deed 426
Assurance fund 427
Compensation from assurance fund 428
Action against assurance fund 429
Restrictions on claims against assurance fund 430
Penalties for fraudulent acts or false certificates 431
Forgery and fraudulent stamping 432
Fees to be charged 433
Construction of article 434
Form for official examiner’s report of title 435
Form for certificate of title 436
Termination of title registration procedures
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Verified:
Jan. 17, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 377. Off. examiners of title's source at nysenate​.gov

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