Kings County
Kings County is coextensive with and often regarded as the Borough of Brooklyn. Established in 1683, the county has a population of over 2.6 million residents, making it the most populous county in New York State. The county's land area of approximately 69 square miles makes it the fourth smallest county in New York by land.
Kings County has five trial courts, including the Supreme, Family, Surrogate, New York City Civil, and New York City Criminal Courts. The Supreme Court's Criminal Division hears all felony-related cases, while the Civil Term has general jurisdiction over civil claims for more than $25,000. Complex commercial cases involving business torts, commercial class actions, and dissolutions of corporations are handled by the Supreme Court Commercial Division.
The Family Court in Kings County resolves all domestic relations and juvenile cases. This includes marriage dissolution, child custody, paternity, alimony, juvenile dependency, and delinquency. On the other hand, the Surrogate's Court presides over probate matters such as disputed wills and estates. General civil claims for up to $25,000 and small claims involving $5,000 or less are brought before the Kings County Civil Court of New York City. The NYC Criminal Court in Kings County adjudicates misdemeanors and conducts felony pretrial hearings.
The County Clerk maintains the following court records in Kings County:
- Traffic records
- Family records
- Probate records
- Mental health court records
- Juvenile court records
- Criminal court records
- Civil court records
These records are official documents generated during court proceedings. Information provided on Kings County court records includes case filings, pleadings, court dockets, judgments, motions, and court orders. The County Clerk's Office provides public access to all court records except those considered confidential under state and federal laws. Examples of confidential court records include sealed, mental health, juvenile, and adoption records. Only record owners, legal representatives, and other authorized persons can access confidential records in Kings County. To obtain court documents, interested persons can contact the clerk's office via phone, email, or in person at:
Kings County Clerk
360 Adams Street, Room 189
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (347) 404-9772
Email: KCCOInfo@nycourts.gov
Individuals interested in accessing Kings County court records online can use the Case Search platform. They can also search online using the state's eCourts portal. Note that both online platforms provide access to only non-confidential court records. To find court records online, users should input names of involved parties, case index numbers, or filing dates.
