Broome County
Broome County, established in 1806, is located in Southern New York, with Binghamton serving as its county seat. As of 2022, Broome County has a population of approximately 198,365 and covers about 705.7 square miles of land mass. Broome County operates a court system that plays a significant role in the region's judicial process. It includes the Supreme, County, Family, Surrogate, Town Courts, and Village Courts.
The Broome County Supreme Court has general jurisdiction over both civil and criminal matters. It handles cases involving felonies and civil disputes where the amount in question exceeds $25,000. This court also hears appeals from lower courts and deals with complex litigation like commercial disputes and personal injury cases. Broome County Court handles most criminal cases, especially those involving felonies and lesser-included offenses. It also has jurisdiction over general civil instances in which the amount claimed is less than $25,000 and small claims.
Broome County Family Court has jurisdiction over family-related cases such as child custody disputes regarding the dissolution of a marriage, child support, adoption, guardianship of minors, habeas corpus, protection orders, and juvenile delinquency. On the other hand, Broome County Surrogate's Court handles matters related to the probate of wills, the administration of estates, lifetime trusts, and guardianship of the property of a minor. It ensures that the affairs of decedents are properly managed and disputes over wills are settled. Broome County Town Courts and Village Courts, including those in Binghamton, Chenango, Colesville, Dickinson, and Nanticoke, manage certain criminal cases, such as misdemeanors, municipal ordinances, and traffic violations. They also prosecute, set bail, and conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases. Moreso, eviction cases, landlord-tenant disputes, building and zoning violations, most general civil claims, and small claims generally less than $3,000, exclusive of interest and costs fall under their jurisdictions. Typically, the courts provide judicial services to the towns and municipalities within Broome County.
Court records in Broome County are documents of rulings, orders, judgments, transcripts, and court filings generated from legal proceedings by the courts within the county. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
- Juvenile Records
The Broome County Clerk's Office oversees the processing, filing, scanning, and storing of public records. These records are considered public under the Freedom Of Information Law, except for confidential matters such as juvenile cases and sensitive family court matters. However, fees are associated with obtaining copies of court records. Public records can be accessed online through various platforms, including the New York State Unified Court System's WebCivil Supreme system. Requesters can use the case information section for free by entering details such as case number, name, attorney, judge, or visit to request access to court records or case dockets at the Clerk's Office:
Broome County Office Building
60 Hawley Street
Binghamton
New York, 13901
Phone: (607) 778-2107
