N.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 374

§ 374. Deputy registrars' powers and duties. In any county where the\nbusiness under this article so warrants, the registrar may appoint a\nchief deputy and as many other deputies as are needed. But no one unless\nhe is also a deputy register or an assistant deputy register appointed\nunder statutory authority, or a deputy county clerk, shall be appointed\nas such deputy registrar unless he has qualified as an official examiner\nof title as described and required by section three hundred and\nseventy-seven of this chapter.\n Deputies may perform any and all duties of the registrar in the name\nof the registrar, and the acts of such deputies shall be held to be the\nacts of the registrar, and in case of the death of the registrar, or his\nremoval from office, the chief deputy shall thereupon become the acting\nregistrar until such vacancy shall be filled according to law, and he\nshall file a like bond and be vested with the same powers and subject to\nthe same responsibilities and entitled to the same compensation as in\nthe case of the registrar.\n