Chatham transfer tax forms belong in the recording packet

Chatham is a good reminder that not every real-estate transfer question stops at the county clerk. The town publishes a transfer-tax page telling people recording a conveyance of Chatham real property to file the town transfer-tax form as part of the county clerk document package and pay any tax due.

A buyer, seller, attorney, or title company should check that town page before recording, especially if a template packet came from another municipality. The next check is whether the transfer is taxable, exempt, or needs supporting documents.

Keep the Chatham transfer-tax form with the conveyance documents, property address, exemption papers, tax calculation, and county clerk recording package. Confirm the town requirement before the package is submitted.