Dutchess County
Located in the southern parts of New York State and named for Mary of Modena, the Duchess of York, Dutchess County was one of the first 12 counties established in the Province of New York in 1683. The county has an approximate population of over 295,000 and covers 795.6 square miles of land area. The largest city and the county seat is Poughkeepsie.
The court system in the county consists of family courts, supreme courts, surrogate courts, county courts, city courts, and both village and town court systems. Justice courts (another name for village and town courts) handle a variety of civil and criminal cases. They have jurisdiction over misdemeanors, local ordinances, traffic violations, and certain civil claims up to $3,000. These courts also conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases and handle matters like evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, building code violations, and dog complaints. City Courts handle civil cases like property disputes and consumer claims up to $5,000. In criminal matters, they deal with misdemeanors, minor offenses, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Additionally, City Courts share jurisdiction over domestic violence protection orders with other courts.
The Dutchess County Surrogate's Court handles legal matters related to deceased individuals, such as wills, estates, and guardianship. They can transfer cases to or from other courts, except for Supreme Courts, if necessary. The Family Court in Dutchess County handles a variety of cases related to families, including juvenile matters, domestic relations, and abuse prevention. They have exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency, child protection, and certain paternity cases. Other areas of jurisdiction include child custody, child support, adoption, and spousal conciliation.
The County Court handles a range of both criminal and civil cases, particularly those exceeding the lower court's jurisdiction. They deal with felonies, civil claims up to $25,000, real estate matters, and certain other cases. The Supreme Court is the highest county, holding superior jurisdiction over other courts. It handles complex civil and criminal cases, often those exceeding the jurisdiction of lower courts. The Supreme Court also handles most basic civil claims over $25,000, annulment, divorce, complex cases in commercial, tax assessments, and certain domestic violence cases.
The Dutchess County Clerk's Office is responsible for maintaining court records for the courts in Dutchess County. You may contact the office of the county clerk to access public court records. The office is located at:
Dutchess County Office Building
County Clerk
22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
If you want online access to Dutchess County court records, visit the New York State Unified Court System portal to perform a search. The portal provides online access to some court records for all counties in the state, including Dutchess County.
