Tioga County
Tioga County is located in the Southern Tier region of New York. It was established from parts of Montgomery County in 1791 and occupies approximately 518.8 square miles, with a population of about 48,344. Owego serves as the county seat and is also Tioga County's largest village.
Tioga County's court system comprises the Supreme, County, Family, Surrogate, and Town and Village Justice Courts. The Supreme Court functions as the general jurisdiction trial court for Tioga County. It handles general civil cases exceeding $25,000, complex commercial cases, family law matters such as divorce, annulment, and orders of protection, as well as appeals from lower courts. The County Court exercises jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil cases with claims not exceeding $25,000. It also handles general civil counterclaims without financial limits, foreclosures, and evictions. The Family Court addresses family-related issues such as custody, child support, adoption, and domestic violence. Meanwhile, the Surrogate's Court manages probate cases, estate administration, guardianships, and adoption matters. On the other hand, the Town and Village Justice Courts, including those in Candor, Newark, and Waverly, handle minor criminal cases, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil cases involving amounts under $3,000.
Tioga County public court records are maintained by the County Clerk and provide details on various legal proceedings such as dockets, judgments, summonses, pleadings, writs, case dispositions, subpoenas, and case filings. These records are critical for legal research and reference for precedent-setting cases. They include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Family case records
- Traffic records
Access to juvenile, adoption, and other sensitive cases is restricted per New York State Law. Tioga County court records can be viewed online through the New York eCourts Portal or Tioga Record Search service. Requesters can also send a written request, along with copies of their ID, or visit the County Clerk's Office at
56 Main Street
Owego, NY 13827
Phone: (607) 687-8660
