Which Newspapers Can I Use for Westchester LLC Publication?

The Short Answer

For a Westchester-designated LLC, you must publish your formation notice in one daily newspaper and one weekly newspaper — and both must be on the Westchester County Clerk's official designated list. The clerk currently designates 4 daily newspapers and 21 weekly newspapers, giving you 84 valid combinations. You choose; the clerk does not assign.

Picking outside the designated list is the single most expensive mistake a Westchester LLC owner can make. The Department of State will reject your Certificate of Publication, you'll lose the newspaper fees you already paid, and the 120-day publication deadline keeps running while you scramble to start over in the right papers.

This guide walks through every designated newspaper, why some Westchester papers are not eligible, how to confirm the current list before paying anyone, and the trade-offs between picking the cheapest combination and the most-recognizable one. We'll also cover the question that usually comes next: do you have to change your LLC's county to publish somewhere cheaper? (Short answer: no — and we explain why below.)

What the Law Requires: Section 206

Section 206 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law tells you exactly which newspapers count. The relevant language:

"...a copy of the articles of organization or a notice containing the substance thereof shall be published once each week for six successive weeks in two newspapers of the county in which the office of the limited liability company is located, one to be a daily newspaper and one to be a weekly newspaper, to be designated by the county clerk..." — NY LLC Law §206

Three requirements compress out of that paragraph:

1. Two newspapers — not one, not three. One daily plus one weekly.
2. Of the county where your LLC's office is located — for Westchester-designated LLCs, that's Westchester.
3. Designated by the county clerk — the clerk's published list is the only source that counts. A newspaper telling you "we handle Westchester LLC notices" is not the same as the clerk having designated them.

NY LLC publication is a one-time statutory requirement under §206, not an ongoing service. Once your Certificate of Publication is filed, the obligation is permanently satisfied. There are no annual renewals tied to publication.

The "designated by the county clerk" phrase is the critical one. Section 206 doesn't list specific newspapers — it delegates that decision to each county clerk. The Westchester County Clerk maintains the official list, updates it periodically, and posts it publicly. If your notice runs in a paper not on that list, the publication does not satisfy §206 — even if the paper is otherwise reputable, even if it covers Westchester, even if your neighbor's LLC published there last year.

The 4 Designated Daily Newspapers

The Westchester County Clerk currently designates four daily newspapers for LLC publication. You must select exactly one.

How to Pick a Daily

For most Westchester LLCs, The Journal News is the default daily. It's local to the county, has the largest readership of the four, and offers competitive legal-notice rates (typically $200–$300 for a six-week notice). It's also the daily that small-claims litigants, banks, and county officials are most likely to recognize, which has minor practical value if anyone ever asks where you published.

The Hamodia Daily and National Herald are valid choices if you have an audience-specific reason to prefer them — for example, if your business serves the Orthodox Jewish or Greek-American community and you want the public-notice presence to align with where your customers actually read.

The New York Law Journal is designated but expensive. A six-week LLC notice typically runs $1,200–$2,000+. There is no legal benefit to choosing it over The Journal News for ordinary publication. The only reason to use it is a specific personal or strategic preference — and at that price point, the preference should be deliberate.

The 21 Designated Weekly Newspapers

The weekly side of the list is much wider — 21 newspapers. This is where most cost-control happens for a Westchester LLC, because weeklies range from ~$112 to $400+ depending on which paper you pick.

For the complete designated list with full addresses and additional context on each paper, see our comprehensive Westchester County designated newspapers guide.

How to Pick a Weekly

The weekly list groups roughly into four tiers by price:

• Most affordable (~$100–$200 for six weeks): Community weeklies — The Gazette, City Review New Rochelle, Eastchester Review, Harrison Review, Mamaroneck Review, Rye City Review, Westchester County Press
• Mid-range (~$200–$300): Halston Media papers (North Salem News, Somers Record, Yorktown News), Westchester Rising, Yonkers Rising
• Higher (~$250–$400): Westchester County Business Journal, Westchester Law Journal — both reputable but priced for trade audiences
• Audience-specific: Hamodia, The Jewish Press, The Jewish Week, The Irish Echo, National Herald, Yated Ne'eman — choose only if you have a specific reason

Why Some Westchester Newspapers Are NOT on the List

This question comes up constantly: "There's a perfectly good local newspaper in my town — why can't I use it?" Three reasons:

1. The Clerk Has to Designate It

Even widely-read papers covering Westchester aren't automatically designated. The clerk evaluates each newspaper based on publication frequency, verifiable circulation, distribution within or near the county, and whether it meets the statutory definition of a newspaper of general circulation. A paper that hasn't gone through the clerk's designation process is not eligible — even if its circulation dwarfs some that are on the list.

2. Newspapers Can Be Removed

The list is not static. Newspapers that close, merge, change publication frequency, or fail to meet the criteria can be removed. A paper that was designated three years ago may not be designated today. Always verify the current list before placing notices.

3. Online-Only Outlets Don't Qualify

Section 206 was written long before online news existed, and the courts and clerks have consistently interpreted "newspaper" to mean a printed publication with regular circulation. Online-only news sites — even reputable ones with large readerships — are not designated for LLC publication anywhere in New York. The notice must run in print.

The flip side is true too: several papers on Westchester's designated list are physically located outside the county — in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island City, even New Jersey. The clerk can designate any paper that meets the criteria regardless of where its office is. What matters is the clerk's designation, not the paper's address.

How to Verify the Current Designation List

Before paying any newspaper for a six-week notice, confirm they are currently designated. Designations change. A paper that handled your colleague's LLC notice last year may have been removed from the list since.

There are three reliable ways to check:

1. Online (fastest): Visit the official list at westchesterclerk.com/about/designated-newspapers. The clerk maintains this page directly.
2. By phone: Call the Westchester County Clerk's office at (914) 995-3070 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).
3. In person: Visit the County Clerk's office at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, White Plains, NY 10601 (enter through the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse at 111 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd).

The clerk's published list is the only authoritative source. A newspaper sales rep telling you they handle Westchester LLC publications is not a substitute for the clerk's confirmation. If there's any conflict, the clerk wins.

Why This Matters: Rejected Filings and Lost Time

If you publish in the wrong newspaper — even one that looks legitimate, even one based right in Westchester — the consequences cascade quickly:

• The Department of State rejects your Certificate of Publication. The DOS reviewer cross-checks the affidavits against the county clerk's designated list. Affidavits from non-designated newspapers don't satisfy §206, and the filing comes back rejected.
• You lose the newspaper fees. The papers were paid; the publication ran; the money is gone. There's no refund mechanism for "the law required someone else."
• You restart the six-week publication clock. Six more weeks of running the notice in the correct papers. More newspaper fees. More waiting.
• The 120-day deadline keeps running. Section 206 gives you 120 days from your LLC's effective date of formation to complete publication. The clock doesn't pause while you fix your mistake. If you started late or burned weeks on a bad paper, you may push past the deadline — at which point your LLC's authority to conduct business in New York is suspended until you complete publication. (Read what happens if you don't publish your LLC for the full consequences.)
• Time and stress. What should have been a quiet eight-to-ten-week background process becomes a multi-month problem.

The rejected-filing scenario is preventable with one phone call. It's the most common avoidable mistake in DIY Westchester publication.

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The Department of State doesn't care how reputable a newspaper looks. They care whether the Westchester County Clerk designated it. If the clerk didn't, the publication doesn't count.

Already in Westchester? You Don't Need to Change Counties

If your LLC's Articles of Organization already designate Westchester County as the county where your office is located, you don't need to change anything to publish. We publish in Westchester County, where your LLC is already designated. We don't change your county, registered agent, or service-of-process address.

This is worth saying explicitly because the alternative — switching your LLC's county to publish somewhere with cheaper newspaper rates — is heavily marketed by some national publication services. The pitch usually sounds like: "Publish in Albany for $199!" The mechanics behind that price look like this:

• A Certificate of Change is filed under §211-A to update your LLC's county designation from Westchester to Albany (or Rockland) — $30 state fee, plus the service's filing fee
• Your registered agent is updated to the provider's RA service
• Your service-of-process mailing address is updated to the provider's office
• You enter an ongoing registered-agent relationship at $125–$249/year

Some bundled services change your LLC's county designation as part of a registered-agent signup — those changes are not required to satisfy the publication requirement. Section 206 requires publication in the county on the LLC's record. Nothing in the statute requires the LLC's registered agent, SOP address, or county to be updated as a precondition.

The bundled-RA model exists because those providers are built around publication in a single predetermined county where their infrastructure operates — typically Albany or Rockland. To deliver publication at that county's rates, the customer's LLC has to first be moved there. That's a feature of how their business is set up, not a requirement of the publication law.

For a Westchester-designated LLC whose business is actually in Westchester (or Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, or any other Westchester community), publishing in Westchester is the direct match for what was asked. Our publication service is self-contained — using us doesn't require appointing us as your registered agent or modifying your LLC's record with NY DOS. The LLC is identical before and after our service: same registered agent, same service-of-process address, same designated county.

A publication-only service completes the requirement and the engagement ends. We cover the broader trade-off in detail in why publication services change your county.

Westchester vs. NYC Borough Rules

If you've researched LLC publication for a Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or Bronx LLC — or if your accountant did — you may have heard about a much more constrained newspaper-selection process. That's accurate, and it's worth understanding why Westchester is different.

This is one of the structural reasons Westchester publication is so much cheaper than NYC publication. In Manhattan, you can't shop around — the clerk hands you two specific newspapers, often small ethnic or trade publications with high per-line rates. In Westchester, you have 84 valid combinations and meaningful price competition between them.

If you're a Westchester-designated LLC, you have the easier and predetermined county to publish in. Use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any newspaper that covers Westchester County?

No. Section 206 requires you to use newspapers designated by the Westchester County Clerk, not any newspaper that happens to cover the county. There are well-read Westchester papers that are not on the designated list, and using one of those means your Certificate of Publication will be rejected by the Department of State. Always verify against the clerk's list at westchesterclerk.com/about/designated-newspapers or by calling (914) 995-3070 (Timothy C. Idoni’s office).

Can I use two daily newspapers or two weekly newspapers?

No. Section 206 specifically requires one daily newspaper and one weekly newspaper. You cannot substitute two dailies for the daily-plus-weekly combination, even if both are designated by the clerk. The "one daily + one weekly" structure is statutory — the Department of State will reject filings that don't meet it.

What's the cheapest valid newspaper combination in Westchester?

The most cost-effective combination is typically The Journal News (daily) + one of the community weeklies — most often The Gazette, one of the Hometown Media papers (City Review New Rochelle, Eastchester Review, Harrison Review, Mamaroneck Review, Rye City Review), or Westchester County Press. Total newspaper fees in this configuration typically run $250–$400 for the full six weeks. See our Westchester LLC publication cost breakdown for detailed pricing.

Why is the New York Law Journal so much more expensive?

The New York Law Journal is a statewide legal trade publication serving attorneys and law firms — its rate card is built around that audience, not around basic LLC notice publication. A six-week LLC notice typically runs $1,200–$2,000+ in the Law Journal versus $200–$300 in The Journal News. There is no legal benefit to using the more expensive option; both satisfy §206 identically. Unless you have a specific preference, choose another daily.

Can I publish in a newspaper from a neighboring county?

Only if that newspaper is on the Westchester County Clerk's designated list. Several designated newspapers are physically located outside Westchester — in Brooklyn (Hamodia, Jewish Press), Manhattan (Irish Echo, Jewish Week), Long Island City (National Herald), and even New Jersey (Yated Ne'eman). What matters is the clerk's designation, not the newspaper's office address. You cannot use a Rockland or Putnam newspaper unless the Westchester clerk has specifically designated it.

How often does the Westchester County Clerk update the designated list?

There is no fixed update schedule. The clerk can add or remove newspapers at any time as designations are reviewed, papers go in and out of business, or publication frequencies change. Always check the current list immediately before placing notices — a paper that was designated last year may have been removed since. The official source is westchesterclerk.com/about/designated-newspapers.

Do I have to use The Journal News as my daily?

No. The Journal News is the most commonly used daily because it offers competitive rates and the largest local circulation, but you can choose any of the four designated dailies. All four satisfy Section 206 identically. If you prefer Hamodia Daily, National Herald, or even the New York Law Journal for audience or personal reasons, that's a valid choice — just be aware of the price differences (especially with the Law Journal).

What if a newspaper is removed from the list during my six-week run?

This is rare but possible. If a designated paper loses its designation midway through your publication, the situation gets complicated and the safest course is to switch to another designated paper and restart the six-week count there. This is one of the practical reasons to choose well-established papers that have been on the designated list consistently for years rather than newer additions. Verifying designations immediately before placing notices reduces the risk dramatically.

Can I publish online instead of in print newspapers?

No. Section 206 requires publication in print newspapers designated by the county clerk. Online-only news sites are not designated for LLC publication anywhere in New York, regardless of how widely read they are. The notice must run in printed editions of the designated papers.

If I'm in Westchester, do I need to change my LLC's county to publish more cheaply?

No. Your LLC stays in Westchester. Publication runs in the county on your LLC's DOS record at the time of publication — and Westchester is already a moderately priced county. Switching counties via Certificate of Change to chase cheaper newspaper rates trades a one-time $100–$200 in publication-fee savings for permanent changes to your LLC's record (county, registered agent, SOP address) plus typically $125–$249/year in recurring registered-agent fees. For most Westchester LLCs the math doesn't work past year one. See why some publication services change your LLC's county for the full analysis.

What happens if a newspaper agrees to run my notice but isn't actually designated?

The newspaper will run your notice and cash your check, but the affidavit they issue will not satisfy Section 206. When you submit your Certificate of Publication to the Department of State, the DOS reviewer will reject it because the affidavit comes from a non-designated paper. You lose the fees you paid, you have to restart in a designated paper for another six weeks, and your 120-day deadline keeps running. This is why verifying with the County Clerk — not the newspaper — is non-negotiable.

How We Help

We are a specialist Westchester County LLC publication service. We publish in Westchester County, where your LLC is already designated. Our entire business is publication — we publish your LLC's required legal notice in Westchester, where your LLC is already designated, for a flat $385 all-inclusive.

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Our service is self-contained. Using us doesn't require appointing us as your registered agent, changing your service-of-process mailing address, or modifying your LLC's record with NY DOS. We publish; we're done.

Newspaper Selection Is the Hardest Part — We Handle It

Newspaper designation is the single most consequential decision in DIY Westchester LLC publication, and it's the one most likely to go wrong. Our service removes the question entirely:

• We verify the current designated list with the Westchester County Clerk before placing any notice — every order, every time
• We select a cost-effective combination from the designated list (typically The Journal News plus a community weekly)
• We place the notice with both newspapers and pay them directly
• We monitor the publication for all six consecutive weeks
• We collect both notarized affidavits of publication
• We prepare and file the Certificate of Publication (Form DOS-1708) with the NY Department of State
• We pay the $50 state filing fee out of the $385

The LLC is identical before and after our service: same registered agent, same service-of-process address, same designated county. The publication requirement is satisfied, and the engagement ends.

What We Don't Do

• We don't change your LLC's county designation
• We don't become your registered agent
• We don't change your service-of-process address
• We don't enroll you in any subscription, recurring fee, or ongoing service
• We don't make any other changes to your DOS record

What We Need From You

1. Your LLC's exact legal name (as it appears on your Articles of Organization)
2. Your DOS filing receipt or confirmation
3. Your LLC's principal business address

That's it. We handle newspaper selection, publication, affidavits, and the state filing.

Key Takeaways

• You must use one daily and one weekly newspaper, both designated by the Westchester County Clerk — not just any newspaper that covers Westchester
• The clerk currently designates 4 dailies and 21 weeklies — 84 valid combinations
• You choose, unlike NYC boroughs where the clerk assigns specific papers
• The Journal News is the default daily for most Westchester LLCs — local, competitive rates, well-recognized
• Avoid the New York Law Journal unless you have a specific reason — designated, but $1,200–$2,000+ for what other dailies do for $150–$350
• Community weeklies are the cheapest weekly option — typically $100–$200 for six weeks
• Always verify the current list at westchesterclerk.com/about/designated-newspapers or call (914) 995-3070 before paying any newspaper
• Publishing in a non-designated paper means rejected filings, lost fees, and lost time — the most expensive avoidable mistake in DIY publication
• NY LLC publication is a one-time statutory requirement under §206, not an ongoing service
• Your Westchester-designated LLC doesn't need a county change to publish — Westchester is already a moderately priced county, and switching counties trades modest publication savings for permanent restructuring of your LLC plus recurring RA fees

Related Resources

• Westchester County Designated Newspapers — Complete List — Full reference with all addresses and phone numbers
• How Much Does Westchester LLC Publication Cost? — Detailed cost breakdown by newspaper combination
• How to Publish Your LLC in Westchester County — Step-by-step process from start to finish
• Filing the Certificate of Publication in Westchester — What happens after the six weeks of publication
• DIY vs. Publication Service in Westchester — Detailed comparison
• Why Some Services Change Your LLC's County — The county-switch model explained

Learn how the process works | Start your publication | Contact us with questions

Disclaimer

The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we strive for accuracy, laws and procedures may change. The Westchester County Clerk's designated newspaper list is updated periodically — always verify the current list directly with the clerk before placing any notices. Newspaper rates are estimates based on publicly available information and recent customer experience and should be confirmed directly with each newspaper. For specific legal questions about your LLC, consult with a qualified attorney. Westchester County LLC Publication provides publication services and administrative filing assistance — we are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.