At one time or another either directly or indirectly, every resident of Suffolk County deals with our office. So if you are buying a home, satisfying your mortgage, filing a lien or judgment, grieving your taxes or interacting with the judicial system, we look forward to working with you.
SCARP FILING TOWN DEADLINES
The electronic filing of litigation documents in Suffolk County Supreme Court through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (“NYSCEF”) is mandatory for all Small Claims Assessment Review Petition (SCARP) filings. The Suffolk County Clerk’s Office will not accept hard (paper) copy documents. Individual homeowners representing themselves MAY file electronically OR in hard copy.
A Small Claims Assessment Review Petition allows owner occupants of residential property to file a court case should the tax grievance be turned down by your Town's Board of Assessment Review. Each Town Assessor establishes the deadline to file a Small Claims Assessment Review Petition.
It is important to note that each town has a different filing deadline. Therefore, contact your Town Assessor to confirm the filing deadline in your town.
Any person aggrieved by an assessment of a one, two or three family, owner-occupied residential structure used exclusively for residential purposes, who has filed a written complaint with the Board of Assessment Review in regard to that assessment. Condominiums are not eligible for small claims review, EXCEPT condominiums, which have been designated in the "homestead" class in any approved assessing unit, are eligible.
You may complete the petition yourself, or have a representative do it for you. If you choose to have a representative file for you, you must complete the "Designation of Representative" section of the petition.
The only assessment that can be reviewed is that on the current final assessment roll completed and filed by your Assessor. The right to review is based upon the timely filing of a written petition. A separate petition must be filed for each separately Assessed parcel. You may not request an assessment lower than you requested before the Board of Assessment Review. The assessment of a property having an equalized value of $450,000 or less may be reviewed without further limitation. If the equalized value of the property exceeds $450,000, the total assessment reduction requested may not exceed 25 percent of the assessed value.
Complete, print and sign the Small Claims Assessment Review Petition form (you are required to mail paper copies) use links listed below. Please refer to the court's instructions on completing the petition and other general information, here.
Small Claims Assessment Review Petition form
Formatting Requirements (Field Descriptions)
View a Sample Petition Key
Ensure that you have a complete and fully executed Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition for each homeowner/property.
If you do not already have a NYSCEF User ID and Password to file as an authorized agent, contact the E-filing Resource Center at (646) 386-3033 or by e-mail at efile@nycourts.gov to obtain an application..
Suffolk County Clerk’s Office personnel will review your Small Claims Assessment Review Petition and assign an Index Number. You will receive an e-mail notification that your Index Number has been assigned (By the end of the next business day) and you will be able to access a File Stamped copy of your SCAR Petition immediately in NYSCEF.
You must keep the original in a safe place until the conclusion of all proceedings, including appeals. The court or the respondent may ask for it to be produced.
You must mail a copy of your completed and signed Small Claims Assessment Review Petition within ten days of Electronic Filing to the following:
Mail one (1) copy to the Clerk of your school district.
Mail one (1) copy to your Town Assessor.
Mail one (1) copy to the Suffolk County Comptroller, 330 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901
An additional copy is required for Incorporated Villages.
The County Clerk's Office is not involved in scheduling the hearing or providing you with the decision. A copy of your decision will be sent to you directly from Supreme Court.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you are eligible to opt-out of e filing pursuant to Section 202.5-bb of the Uniform Rules for the Trial Courts, complete the Notice of opt out form here as well as the Notice of Hard Copy Submission here, and submit your Small Claims Assessment Petition (SCARP) to the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office in hardcopy, with the required $30.00 fee payable in cash, check, or money order made out to Suffolk County Clerk.
“PLEASE NOTE that unrepresented property owners filing in hardcopy on their own behalf do not have to submit either of the Notices but must submit the required fee.”
The Suffolk County Clerk's Office continues to develop strategies and systems that promote real-time services and facilitate communication and access.
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