New York Court Records Search

New York Court Records & Case Lookup

About 2 million new cases are filed in courts across New York every year. Civil cases account for approximately 43% of the New York State Unified Court System's caseload, while criminal cases (parking tickets inclusive) account for 31% of the cases filed statewide, and family law cases make up about 19% of the caseload.

New York court records are generally considered public information and may be readily viewed and copied by interested members of the public. However, certain records are deemed confidential/restricted, and access to these records is limited to specific authorized parties. Sealed records, records of adoption proceedings, and family court records are examples of these. It is important to note that access to New York court records is primarily governed by the New York Administrative Rules of the Unified Court System & Uniform Rules of the Trial Courts, not the state's Freedom of Information Law.

To this end, the state's Unified Court System maintains an eCourts platform that can be used to look up case information online. New York court records may also be accessed directly through the clerk at the court that handled the case.

State of New York Court System

New York operates a unified, but extensive court system comprising various levels of courts that each have specific functions. This unified court system is geographically divided into four judicial departments and 13 judicial districts for administrative purposes. New York's courts are also generally grouped into two main tiers – Appellate Courts and Trial Courts.

The Trial Courts are at the lower tier of the New York Unified Court System and handle the bulk of the legal matters in the state. Above them are the Appellate Courts, which review their decisions for potential legal errors. These Appellate Courts are further divided into two levels, intermediate appellate courts comprising lower appellate courts and Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court, and the New York Court of Appeals, which is the ultimate authority on all state legal matters.

New York Trial Courts

The Trial Courts are the starting point for all legal matters in New York. There are several trial courts in the New York State Unified Court System, each with different areas of jurisdiction and cases that they handle:

Supreme Courts in New York

The Supreme Courts are the state's courts of unlimited, original jurisdiction. This means that they have general jurisdiction over all legal matters, whether criminal or civil. However, the Supreme Courts typically only handle cases outside the jurisdiction of the other courts, such as civil cases involving more than $25,000, divorces, separations, annulment proceedings, equity suits, and felony cases (in New York City).

County Courts in New York

County Courts in New York are limited jurisdiction trial courts that typically handle civil matters involving amounts up to $25,000 and felony matters (offenses punishable by imprisonment of more than one year). These courts are established in every county in the state outside New York City.

City Courts in New York

The City Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle civil matters where the amount in dispute is not more than $15,000, misdemeanors, and lesser criminal offenses punishable by a maximum prison term of one year.

District Courts in New York

District Courts in the New York State Unified Court System are limited jurisdiction trial courts located in Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County. These courts handle civil matters up to $15,000, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanors, and lesser offenses (punishable by a maximum term of one year in prison). The District Courts also conduct arraignments in felony cases for their respective jurisdictions.

Family Courts in New York

New York Family Courts have jurisdiction over matters involving children and families. These include child protective proceedings, adoptions, foster care approval, guardianship, domestic violence matters, termination of parental rights, child support matters, custody and visitation proceedings, and juvenile delinquency cases. However, it should be noted that Family Courts do not handle divorce proceedings (the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over these matters).

Surrogate's Court in New York

Surrogate's Courts have jurisdiction over matters involving the affairs of decedents, such as the probate of wills and the administration of estates, and other similar cases; they also handle adoptions.

Town & Village Courts in New York

The Town and Village Courts are collectively referred to as "Justice Courts". There are approximately 1,200 locally-funded Town and Village Courts across New York State, excluding New York City; these courts are usually the first and only court experience for many New Yorkers. The Town and Village courts have jurisdiction over a broad scope of relatively "lesser" criminal and civil matters, ranging from including vehicle and traffic matters, to ordinance violations, misdemeanors, felony arraignments, and small claims cases.

New York City Civil and Criminal Courts

The New York State Unified Court System includes Civil and Criminal Courts exclusive to New York City. The NYC Civil Court has jurisdiction over civil cases of up to $50,000, including small claims of up to $10,000. This court also landlord-tenant matters, housing code violations, and any other matters referred to it by the Supreme Court. Likewise, the NYC Criminal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and violations and also handles arraignments and preliminary hearings in felony cases.

What are the Specialty Courts in New York?

In addition to the Appellate and Trial Courts, the New York State Unified Court System has several specialized courts and parts designed to address specific types of cases and offer tailored solutions for certain matters. These specialty courts are:

• The New York State Court of Claims: this court exclusively handles civil litigations where the plaintiff is seeking damages against the state or certain state-related agencies.
• Problem-Solving Courts: New York's problem-solving courts are specialized courts that focus on the underlying causes of criminal behavior and offer eligible offenders an alternative to incarceration through intensive, closely monitored treatment services and rehabilitation programs. These courts come in various forms based on the specific problem they are designed to address and include:
  • Drug Treatment Courts
  • Mental Health Courts
  • Human Trafficking Courts
  • Opioid Courts
  • Family Treatment Courts
  • Community Courts
  • Veterans Treatment Courts
• Sex Offense Courts: these are specialty courts that emphasize early intervention, accountability, consistency, and post-disposition monitoring to improve public safety and prevent further victimization.
• Commercial Division: this is a specialized part of the Supreme Court that handles complex commercial cases.
• Litigation Coordinating Panel: this panel handles applications to coordinate litigation pending in multiple judicial districts and consolidates pre-trial proceedings in these cases to ensure a consistent and efficient case resolution. Cases that are ready for trial are either returned to the county where it was originally filed or tried in the coordinating justice's judicial district.

New York State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

While court records generally refer to official documents generated during court proceedings and other related activities in New York, there is a distinction between state court records and federal court records. State court records are generated by the various courts within the New York State Unified Court System, while federal court records are generated by the federal courts located in the state. These federal courts handle matters involving constitutional issues and federal laws. There are currently four federal trial courts in New York, namely:

• The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
• The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
• The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• The United States District Court for the Western District of New York

In addition, New York is home to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which hears appeals on federal cases filed in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. The United States Court of International Trade, which handles civil matters arising from U.S. customs and international trade laws, is also headquartered in New York City.

New York state and federal court records are maintained separately and accessed through different methods. State court records are generally available through the clerk's office at the court where the case was filed or online via the state's eCourts platform. Federal court records are also available online; however, access to these records is provided via the federal judiciary's Public Access to Court Records (PACER) database.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in New York?

Even though the New York Freedom of Information Law specifically exempts court records from public disclosure, members of the public still retain a common law right of access to these records (governed by court rules). Nonetheless, access to certain court records is limited, especially in situations where the confidentiality of the parties involved outweighs the need for public disclosure. Below are examples of commonly accessible court records and those restricted from public access in New York:

How To Seal or Expunge New York Court Records

Article 160 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) outlines the conditions under which court records may be sealed. Per this statute, certain records are automatically sealed while others require the offender to file a petition with the court. Once a record is sealed, it is hidden from public view and will no longer be accessible to the general public; however, the record still exists and may be accessed under certain conditions. This differs from expungement, which involves destroying the record and treating it as if it never existed.

It should be noted that certain records are deemed ineligible for sealing in New York. These include:

• Offenses that require registration as a sex offender
• Convictions for serious crimes like felony homicide and child abuse
• Out-of-state arrests and convictions

How To Seal Court Records in New York

New York law provides several options for sealing court records, based on the nature and circumstances surrounding the record in question. These include:

• Automatic Sealing: records of arrests that ended in a dismissal or an acquittal, violations and traffic infractions (excluding DWIs), juvenile delinquent, and youthful offender records are automatically sealed in New York. The person named on the record does not have to take any action to initiate this process.

  Certain offenses are also automatically sealed after a mandatory waiting period following the completion of the sentence (three years for traffic offenses and misdemeanors, and eight years for felonies). However, this is only done if the individual meets certain conditions, such as maintaining a clean record during the waiting period. Class A felonies and sex offenses are ineligible for this option.

• Petition-based Sealing: individuals who do not qualify for automatic record sealing may petition the court to get their records sealed under CPL 160.59. For this option, the offender must not have more than two convictions and only one of these can be a felony conviction (however, individuals with more than two convictions may still be eligible if the convictions are related to the same incidents). Also, at least 10 years must have passed since they completed the imposed sentence, and they must have remained crime-free during this period.

  Eligible parties will be required to obtain a Criminal Certificate of Disposition (from the court), complete and notarize a Sealing Application, notify the District Attorney, and then file all necessary documentation with the court. The court will review these documents before making its decision and will issue a court-signed Seal Order if the application is approved. The petitioner can subsequently confirm that the record has been sealed by mailing a completed Request for Seal Verification Form along with a copy of the court-signed Seal Order to the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services.

• Conditional Sealing: this option is only applicable to certain drug-related convictions. Individuals who wish to apply for this must meet the following conditions
  • They must have completed a court-recognized substance abuse treatment program and any other sentences imposed by the court
  • They must not have any pending charges

There is no statewide application form for conditional sealing. Nonetheless, eligible parties must file a motion with the appropriate court and also appear before a judge to convince them to grant this motion. Note that records sealed under this option are unsealed if the person is ever rearrested. However, the records will be resealed if the new charges end in an acquittal or dismissal.

How To Expunge Court Records in New York

While court records cannot typically be expunged in New York, prior convictions for certain marijuana-related offenses were slated for automatic expungement after the state passed its Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) in 2021. New Yorkers with marijuana-related convictions can check if their records were automatically expunged by requesting a Certificate of Disposition from the court that handled the case.

How Do You Access State of New York Court Records?

New York court records can be accessed online through several platforms provided by the state's Unified Court System. Records may also be accessed in person by contacting the appropriate court or county clerk.

Online Access to New York Court Records

The New York State Unified Court System maintains an eCourts platform that interested parties can use to search case information for most trial courts at no cost. However, users may be required to sign up to track and receive updates on specific cases. It should be noted that record availability on this platform varies by location and court type.

In-Person Access to State of New York Court Records

Individuals looking to access New York court records in person may do so by submitting a request directly to the appropriate record custodian. This is usually the court clerk at the court that handled the case; however, Supreme and County Courts may also archive their records with the county clerk in their respective jurisdictions.

Requesters are generally expected to provide as much information as possible to identify the records that they seek. The payment of a fee is usually required to obtain copies of the record; a search fee may also be charged even if copies are not required. As such, it is advisable to call ahead to find out if the court has any specific protocols for in-person record access.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Judicial administrative records in New York are subject to disclosure under the state's Freedom of Information Law (unlike other court records, which are exempt from this law). To request these administrative records, submit a written request to the state's Office of Court Administration via email or regular mail to:

The request must be specific and reasonably describe the records that need to be accessed.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in New York

Older court records in New York can usually be accessed by submitting a request to the appropriate record custodian. These records are typically archived at the county clerk's office in the jurisdiction where the court is located. Court clerks may also retain copies of some of these records. In addition, the New York State Archives keeps copies of records from some trial (and appeal) courts before 1847, as well as appeal court records from 1847 to date.