Jefferson County Memorandum of Contract for Deed Form (New York)

All Jefferson County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:

Memorandum of Contract for Deed Form

Jefferson County Memorandum of Contract for Deed Form

Fill in the blank Memorandum of Contract for Deed form formatted to comply with all New York recording and content requirements.
Included Jefferson County compliant document last validated/updated 4/21/2025

Memorandum of Contract for Deed Guide

Jefferson County Memorandum of Contract for Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Memorandum of Contract for Deed form.
Included Jefferson County compliant document last validated/updated 2/27/2025

Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract for Deed Document

Jefferson County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract for Deed Document

Example of a properly completed New York Memorandum of Contract for Deed document for reference.
Included Jefferson County compliant document last validated/updated 5/30/2025

When using these Memorandum of Contract for Deed forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Jefferson County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:

Jefferson County Clerk

175 Arsenal St, 1st floor, Watertown, New York 13601

Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm / July - Aug: 8:30am to 4:00pm

Phone: (315) 785-3200

Local jurisdictions located in Jefferson County include:

  • Adams
  • Adams Center
  • Alexandria Bay
  • Antwerp
  • Belleville
  • Black River
  • Brownville
  • Calcium
  • Cape Vincent
  • Carthage
  • Chaumont
  • Clayton
  • Deferiet
  • Depauville
  • Dexter
  • Ellisburg
  • Evans Mills
  • Felts Mills
  • Fishers Landing
  • Fort Drum
  • Great Bend
  • Henderson
  • Henderson Harbor
  • La Fargeville
  • Limerick
  • Lorraine
  • Mannsville
  • Natural Bridge
  • Oxbow
  • Philadelphia
  • Pierrepont Manor
  • Plessis
  • Redwood
  • Rodman
  • Sackets Harbor
  • Theresa
  • Thousand Island Park
  • Three Mile Bay
  • Watertown
  • Wellesley Island

How long does it take to get my forms?

Forms are available immediately after submitting payment.

How do I get my forms, are they emailed?

Immediately after you submit payment, the Jefferson County forms you order will be available for download directly from your account. You can then download the forms to your computer. If you do not already have an account, one will be created for you as part of the order process, and your login details will be provided to you. If you encounter any issues accessing your forms, please reach out to our support team for assistance. Forms are NOT emailed to you.

What does "validated/updated" mean?

This indicates the most recent date when at least one of the following occurred:

  • Updated: The document was updated or changed to remain compliant.
  • Validated: The document was examined by an attorney or staff, or it was successfully recorded in Jefferson County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Jefferson County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Jefferson County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can the Memorandum of Contract for Deed forms be re-used?

Yes. You can re-use the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have more than one property in Jefferson County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Jefferson County.

What are supplemental forms?

Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by New York or Jefferson County. These could be tax related, informational, or even as simple as a coversheet. Supplemental forms are provided for free with your order where available.

What type of files are the forms?

All of our Jefferson County Memorandum of Contract for Deed forms are PDFs. You will need to have or get Adobe Reader to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.

Do I need any special software to use these forms?

You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.

Do I have to enter all of my property information online?

No. The blank forms are downloaded to your computer and you fill them out there, at your convenience.

Can I save the completed form, email it to someone?

Yes, you can save your deed form at any point with your information in it. The forms can also be emailed, blank or complete, as attachments.

Are there any recurring fees involved?

No. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

Uses of a Memorandum of Contract for Deed

1. Providing Public Notice:
Recording Interests: The primary purpose of a Memorandum of Contract for Deed is to provide public notice of the buyer’s equitable interest in the property without disclosing the full terms of the contract. Recording this memorandum with the county clerk where the property is located can help protect the buyer’s interest against future claims or encumbrances. A contract for deed, also known as an installment sale agreement, is a real estate transaction where the seller retains legal title to the property until the buyer completes payment of the purchase price.

2. Protecting Buyer’s Interest:
Priority of Claims: By recording the memorandum, the buyer establishes a public record of their interest in the property. This can help prioritize the buyer’s interest over subsequent purchasers or creditors who might try to claim an interest in the property. For instance, if a buyer is making substantial renovations to the property, recording a memorandum ensures that their interest is recognized and protected, even if the seller encounters financial difficulties or other legal issues

3. Simplifying Future Transactions:
Facilitating Title Searches: When a memorandum is recorded, it shows up in title searches, which can simplify future transactions by making it clear that a contract for deed exists. This is particularly important if the buyer plans to sell or refinance the property before the contract for deed is fully executed.

4. Legal and Financial Considerations:
Ensuring Enforceability: Recording a memorandum can enhance the enforceability of the contract by ensuring that there is a documented and publicly accessible record of the buyer’s interest. Lender Requirements: Some lenders may require a memorandum of contract for deed to be recorded as part of their underwriting process. This can be important if either party needs financing based on their interest in the property.

5. Dispute Prevention:
Avoiding Future Disputes: By clearly documenting and recording the existence of the contract for deed, both parties can avoid potential disputes related to the buyer’s interest in the property. This clarity can be crucial in preventing legal conflicts down the line.

Situations When a Memorandum is Specifically Advised:

Long-Term Contracts for Deed: When the contract for deed has a long duration, it is especially important to record a memorandum to protect the buyer’s interest over time.

In cases where the transaction involves multiple parties or complex terms, a memorandum helps clarify the buyer’s interest and can simplify the resolution of any issues that might arise.

File the notarized memorandum with the county clerk’s office where the property is located. Pay any applicable recording fees.

In conclusion, recording a memorandum of contract for deed is a crucial step in protecting the buyer’s interest in the property. It provides public notice, helps prevent disputes, and ensures enforceability. By following the outlined steps, buyers can safeguard their investments and facilitate smoother future transactions.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Jefferson County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.

Save Time and Money

Get your Jefferson County Memorandum of Contract for Deed form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

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July 14th, 2025

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July 10th, 2025

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June 30th, 2025

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June 2nd, 2019

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June 10th, 2022

Thank you! You are so awesome. Its amazing to be able to get everything together in a download packet. You make it so easy for the user.

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Linda D C.

August 26th, 2021

This was so easy to use. I appreciated the finished sample to guide me and the proper attachments necessary to process my Quit Claim Deed. I am gifting it to my nephew as I am too old to run farm and I live in a different state now. I tried other websites but their info was not up to date or accurate. Thank you so much. 71 Y/O Nana.

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Brian H.

May 1st, 2019

Forms are good. But need to be able to fill in information and blanks so these can be filed. Disappointed.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. The forms are fill in the blank, Adobe PDFs. As is noted on the site, make sure you download the documents to your computer and open them with Adobe. Sounds like you may be trying to complete them online in your browser.

Charles G.

August 14th, 2022

Easy to request. Fast response

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Darren G.

December 10th, 2021

Your beneficiary deed sample contains a error of the LDPS designation. I copied the designation of LPDS instead of the correct designation

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Donna r.

September 18th, 2020

Downloads were easy but I am pretty lost in filling out. Thought be more instructions

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Thank you for your feedback Donna. If you are not completely sure of what you are doing we highly recommend seeking the assistance of a legal professional familiar with your specific situation.

Thuc P.

July 20th, 2021

Fast and good service. Very details in instructions.

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James C.

February 5th, 2019

An excellent resource for users.

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April 14th, 2020

Your Service was excellent. Very responsive. Thank you.

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April 5th, 2023

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February 11th, 2022

Super easy and quick. Love the service-

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