Common Questions About New York County Court Records
Where do I search New York County Supreme Court civil records?
Use WebCivil Supreme for public case information and NYSCEF or courthouse terminals for documents where available. The New York County Clerk is the official keeper of Supreme Court records. If you know the index number, use it first; the Clerk gives examples like 12345/1985 or 123456/2010. Older or hard-copy files may need an in-person request at the County Clerk Records Department at 60 Centre Street. See the full New York County court records guide for the step-by-step.
Does New York County have a District Court?
No, not in the way many states use the term. In Manhattan, the main trial court of general jurisdiction is the New York Supreme Court. Lower and specialized courts include the NYC Civil Court, the NYC Criminal Court, Family Court, Surrogate's Court, Summons Court, and the Midtown Community Justice Center. The name "District Court" does not fit the New York City court model.
Why is the Supreme Court a trial court in New York?
New York uses "Supreme Court" for its statewide trial court of general jurisdiction. The state's highest appellate court is the Court of Appeals, not the Supreme Court. Manhattan appeals often go to the Appellate Division, First Department, while some lower-court appeals go to the Appellate Term. The naming trips up many people. Read more on the New York County Supreme Court page.
How do I find a criminal court date?
Use WebCriminal if the case is pending and has a future appearance date. You can search by case number or summons number, by defendant name, or by calendar. The NY Courts help page says WebCriminal does not show warrants, finished cases, or sealed cases. So a blank result is not proof that no case ever existed. For arrest and booking details, see arrest records, and for the court itself see criminal court.
Can I search active warrants online?
No public New York County criminal active-warrant list was found. WebCriminal does not show warrants. Call the relevant court clerk or speak with a lawyer if you think you have an open warrant. Civil tax warrants are a separate matter and are searchable through the New York State Tax Department. The warrant page explains the difference and what tools do exist.
Where are divorce records?
Divorce records are Supreme Court records held by the New York County Clerk, but Domestic Relations Law § 235 makes matrimonial files confidential. Parties, attorneys of record, and people with an original notarized authorization letter may access them. Non-parties generally cannot inspect the file and may request only limited certificates. Divorce records become public 100 years after the initial filing date. See marriage and divorce records for the process.
What does a certified copy cost from the County Clerk?
The standard certification fee listed by the County Clerk is $8 plus $0.25 per page. Exemplification is $33 plus copy charges when applicable. You can pay by cash, certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order, or official bank check; personal and company checks are not accepted. Credit cards carry a 2.99% surcharge. The New York County Clerk page lists the full fee schedule.
Where are probate records?
Probate and estate records are handled by the New York County Surrogate's Court at 31 Chambers Street. WebSurrogate is the official online search portal. The Records Search and Certifications Department can be reached at 646-386-5090 for local questions about wills, administration, and accountings. The Surrogate's Court page covers the search steps and fees.
What is WebCivil Local used for?
WebCivil Local searches local civil courts, including the NYC Civil Court, small claims, and housing or landlord-tenant matters. Use case type LT for landlord-tenant, SC for small claims, and CV for general civil cases up to $50,000. It is a different portal from WebCivil Supreme, which covers the larger Supreme Court civil cases. The NYC Civil Court page lists all the case type codes.
Where do I look up someone in NYC jail custody?
Use the NYC Department of Correction Person in Custody Lookup. It covers current DOC custody only, not people in police, state, or federal custody. You can search by NYSID or Book and Case number, or by first and last name. Manhattan arrestees may be housed at Rikers Island or another DOC site outside the borough. The inmate records page walks through the lookup.
Where do I look up someone in state or federal custody?
For state prison, use the NY DOCCS incarcerated lookup, and use the DOCCS community supervision tools for parole. For federal custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Manhattan federal cases are commonly in the Southern District of New York, but custody can be in a BOP, Marshals, or contract facility depending on the stage. See released inmates for release searches and notifications.
Where do I get a Manhattan marriage record?
Marriage records and licenses for Manhattan are handled by the NYC City Clerk, not the New York State Department of Health. The City Clerk requires appointments through Project Cupid for in-person services and does not allow walk-ins. The New York County Clerk does not issue marriage records. The marriage and divorce page explains the City Clerk process and fees.
How do I request old Supreme Court files?
Start with the County Clerk Records Department at 60 Centre Street. The official page says 1910 to 1954 files are ordered from off-site storage every Friday and can take two to three business days after the order. Records from 1955 to 1984 are on microfiche; some later records are on microfilm, in hard copy, or on public terminals. Online absence does not mean a record does not exist. The County Clerk page has the storage chart.
Can I use FOIL to get a court case file?
Usually no. The Freedom of Information Law covers agency records under Public Officers Law Article 6. Court case files follow court access rules, statutes, NYSCEF, eCourts, and clerk procedures instead. FOIL can help with agency records from the NYPD, NYC DOC, or the Department of Finance Sheriff. But a Supreme Court case file should start with WebCivil, NYSCEF, or the County Clerk. The public records page explains FOIL in detail.
Are Family Court and adoption records public?
Not in the ordinary way. Family Court Act § 166 says Family Court records are not open to indiscriminate public inspection, though the court may permit access in its discretion. Adoption records are sealed under Domestic Relations Law § 114 and require a court order to open after sealing. A party to the case can usually access their own file. See the Family Court page for more.
Can I seal an old criminal conviction?
Possibly. CPL § 160.59 allows sealing of certain convictions after statutory conditions are met, and New York Courts provides forms. The court fee is $10 for courts in the five boroughs. Ineligible offenses include sex offenses, violent felonies, Class A felonies, and other exclusions. You apply to the court of conviction and serve the District Attorney. The arrest records page covers sealing and what stays public.
How do I know whether to use Supreme Civil or Civil Court?
Use the Supreme Court for divorce, high-value or general civil cases, Article 78 matters, commercial disputes, and foreclosures. Use the NYC Civil Court for claims up to $50,000, small claims up to $10,000, and housing or landlord-tenant matters. The dollar amount and the subject decide the court. A search in the wrong portal returns nothing, so match the case to WebCivil Local or to the Supreme Court first.
Do eCourts results include all documents?
No. The eCourts portals give case information and calendars, not every document. Full documents may be available through NYSCEF, courthouse public terminals, or a clerk copy request. Some records are sealed, confidential, or only on paper or microfilm. For paper and older files, the County Clerk Records Department at 60 Centre Street is the place to ask. The court records page explains document access in detail.
How do I get a certificate of disposition in Manhattan?
For Supreme Court matters, contact the New York County Clerk certification functions at 60 Centre Street. Criminal Court dispositions may require the Criminal Court clerk at 100 Centre Street or the relevant summons part. Bring a government ID, the defendant name, the docket or case number if you have it, and the approximate year. Fees vary by certificate. See the County Clerk page and the Criminal Court page.
Where are summons cases heard?
New York County summons cases are listed at 1 Centre Street, 16th Floor. The Summons Clerk's Office can be reached at 646-386-4869 and 646-386-4950. WebCriminal has a search field for a summons number and a court selection for the New York Criminal Court summons part. A summons is a written charge for a low-level offense, separate from an arrest case. The Criminal Court page covers the summons track.
Is the New York County Clerk the same as the City Clerk?
No. The New York County Clerk handles Supreme Court records, filings, certifications, jurors, business filings, judgments, and liens. The NYC City Clerk handles marriage licenses, marriage records, ceremonies, and domestic partnership registration. Marriage records for Manhattan are not ordered from the County Clerk. See the County Clerk page and the marriage and divorce page for the split.
Still Have Questions About New York County Records?
For the right filing office, see the New York County Clerk and the court division clerks. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, court dockets, traffic court records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or Surrogate's Court.