N.Y. Real Property Law Section 394
Certificate of title

The registrar shall make, in the form prescribed by § 435 (Form for certificate of title)section four hundred and thirty-five of this chapter, an original certificate of title of every title, right or interest registered by him pursuant to this article. Said certificate shall bear the date of its issue (the day and year), and be under the hand and official seal of the registrar, and be numbered in the order of its issue. If the owner is a minor, it shall state his age; if he is under any other disability, it shall state the nature of such disability. The registrar shall make proper memorials or notations on the certificate, showing in such manner as to set forth and preserve their priorities, the particulars of all the estates, mortgages, trusts, liens and charges, to which such owner’s title is subject. No such memorial or notation shall be more than one folio (one hundred words), in length; but it may refer to covenants, restrictions, trusts and forms recorded in the “book of covenants, restrictions, trusts and forms” provided for by this article. The form of the first certificate of title, as set forth in § 435 (Form for certificate of title)section four hundred and thirty-five of this article, shall be subject to such changes as may be required in any case. All subsequent certificates shall be in like form, except that in place of the words “first certificate,” et cetera, shall be the words “transfer from number ..........” (the number of the next previous certificate); also the words “first registered ..........” (date of first registration). On the back or reverse side of every certificate shall be printed, in plain legible type, the whole of § 400 (Rights of owners of registered property)section four hundred of this chapter.

Source: Section 394 — Certificate of title, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RPP/394 (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
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jan. 17, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 394. Certificate of title's source at nysenate​.gov

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