How AcrisWatch works
From signup to alert, here's exactly what happens — and why it matters.
You subscribe and add your property
Create an account, choose your plan, and add your property using its NYC address or Borough-Block-Lot (BBL) number. The BBL is the precise legal identifier ACRIS uses. You can find it on your property tax bill or via the NYC Department of Finance website.
You'll also provide authorization confirming you're the owner or an authorized agent — this keeps the service focused on protecting legitimate owners.
We monitor ACRIS continuously
ACRIS — the Automated City Register Information System — is where all property documents in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens are officially recorded. Deeds, mortgages, liens, lis pendens notices, and hundreds of other document types all flow through ACRIS.
AcrisWatch checks ACRIS for new filings throughout every day. When a document referencing your property's BBL appears in the public record, we capture it immediately.
You get alerted, fast
You receive an email notification — and optionally an SMS — with a summary of the new filing: the document type, recording date, and a direct link to view the full document in ACRIS.
High-severity filings (like a deed you didn't sign) are flagged urgent. Lower-severity filings (like a mortgage payoff confirmation) are flagged informational. Either way, you know within hours, not months.
You review and act
Log into your dashboard to see all alerts, open cases, and the full history of filings on your property. If a filing looks suspicious, open a case, document your notes, and upload supporting documents.
If something looks wrong, the most important step is contacting a real estate attorney fast. AcrisWatch does not provide legal advice — but we make sure you have the information and documentation you need to act quickly.
Important coverage notes
- AcrisWatch monitors ACRIS, which covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. Staten Island is not currently covered.
- We can only alert you to documents that are actually recorded in ACRIS. Unrecorded documents are not visible to us or to anyone.
- Alerts are informational only and do not constitute legal advice.
- AcrisWatch is a monitoring service, not title insurance. Title insurance protects against past defects; AcrisWatch monitors for new ones.