Clinton County
Clinton County was formed out of Washington County in 1788 and named after New York's First Governor, George Clinton. As of 2022, Clinton County has a population of 79,839 residents, and its land area is about 1,039 square miles. The county's most populous city and government seat is Plattsburgh.
Clinton County trial courts comprise the Supreme, County, City, Family, Surrogate, and Town/Village/Justice Courts. The Supreme Court in Clinton County, a part of New York's 4th Judicial District, handles all divorce cases, property disputes, declaratory judgment cases, and other civil equity cases. On the other hand, the County Court decides felonies and civil actions involving financial disputes exceeding $25,000. As an appellate court, the County Court typically reviews judgments from the Town/Villages and City Courts. The City Court in Plattsburgh rules on civil lawsuits involving contract disputes, personal injuries, and other financial claims under $15,000. It also hears felony preliminary hearings, traffic offenses, and misdemeanor cases with jail terms of up to one year. The Clinton County Family Court has authority over juvenile and family law cases such as domestic violence, child custody, juvenile delinquency, and alimony. Probate matters are exclusive to the county's Surrogate's Court. There are Justice Courts in local municipalities like Saranac, Au Sable, and Beekmantown. These courts hear eviction disputes, small claims cases, and municipal violations.
Clinton County public court records, maintained by the County Clerk, contain information on all judicial processes in the county's trial courts. These documents showcase filings, party names, attorney names, hearing dates, transcripts, dockets, depositions, and court judgments. Court records are publicly accessible to ensure transparent court processes. Researchers and lawyers often use Clinton County court records for media investigations and legal precedents. Anyone can view or get paper copies of the following court documents:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Traffic records
- Family records
Sealed and confidential court records containing juvenile, adoption, and mental health cases are exempted from the New York Freedom of Information Law. Therefore, only record owners and their legal representatives can access confidential records. Clinton County public court records are usually accessible online via New York's eCourts portal. To view court records online, users must input litigants' names, offenders' names, case index numbers, or filing dates. Individuals interested in copies of public court records can contact the County Clerk by phone or in person at:
Clinton County Office Building
137 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 565-4700
