2010 New York Code
EXC - Executive
Article 6 - (90 - 144) DEPARTMENT OF STATE
141 - Commissioners of deeds in other states, territories and foreign countries.

§ 141. Commissioners of deeds in other states, territories and foreign
  countries.  The  secretary  of state may, in his discretion, appoint and
  commission in any other  state,  territory  or  dependency,  or  in  any
  foreign  country,  such number of commissioners of deeds as he may think
  proper, each of whom shall be  a  resident  of  or  have  his  place  of
  business   in   the   city,  county,  municipality  or  other  political
  subdivision from which chosen, and shall hold office  for  the  term  of
  four  years,  unless  such  appointment  shall  be sooner revoked by the
  secretary of state, who shall have power to revoke the  same.  A  person
  applying  for  appointment as a commissioner of deeds shall state in his
  application  the  city,  county,   municipality   or   other   political
  subdivision for which he desires to be appointed, and shall enclose with
  his  application  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars,  which  sum,  if a
  commission shall be granted, shall be paid by  the  secretary  of  state
  into  the  state  treasury, and if such commission shall not be granted,
  then the same shall be returned to the person  making  the  application.
  Each commissioner, before performing any of the duties or exercising any
  of  the  powers  of  his  office,  shall take the constitutional oath of
  office, if appointed for a city or  county  within  the  United  States,
  before  a  justice of the peace or some other magistrate in such city or
  county; and if for a territory or dependency, before a judge of a  court
  of  record  in  such  territory  or  dependency;  and  if  for  a  city,
  municipality or other political subdivision in a foreign country, before
  a person authorized by the laws of this state to administer an  oath  in
  such  country,  or  before a clerk or judge of a court of record in such
  foreign country; and shall cause to be  prepared  an  official  seal  on
  which  shall  be  designated his name, the words, "commissioner of deeds
  for the state of New York," and the name of the city or county, and  the
  state,  country,  municipality or other political subdivision from which
  appointed, and shall file a clear impression of such seal,  his  written
  signature  and  his  oath  certified  by  the officer before whom it was
  taken, in the office of the department of state. The secretary of  state
  upon  receipt  of  such impression, signature and oath, shall forward to
  such commissioner instructions and forms, and a copy of the  appropriate
  sections of this chapter.