New York Civil Court Records
New York civil court records are public documents kept by the Unified Court System across all 62 counties. You can search for civil case filings, judgments, and court documents online through several free state portals or by visiting the County Clerk's office where a case was filed. The system covers Supreme Court and County Court civil matters statewide. Each county has its own clerk who maintains case files and handles records requests. Whether you need to look up a pending lawsuit, check a past judgment, or get copies of civil court records for any reason, this page walks you through the tools and steps to find what you need in New York.
New York Civil Court Records Overview
Where to Find New York Civil Court Records
Civil court records in New York are kept by the County Clerk in each of the 62 counties. The County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court. Both courts archive their case files with the County Clerk's office, so that is the first place to check for any civil court record. Under Judiciary Law § 255, a court clerk must search the files and dockets in their office when you ask and pay the set fees. This law gives the public a clear right to get copies of civil court records.
The NYS Unified Court System runs multiple online portals for civil court records. You can use WebCivil Supreme to search Supreme Court cases from all 62 counties. WebCivil Local covers city courts and district courts. The NYSCEF system lets you look at documents in e-filed cases. All of these tools are free. They show party names, case status, docket entries, and some scanned decisions. For the full case file or certified copies, you still need to go to the County Clerk or Clerk of the Court.
Court records in New York are not subject to the Freedom of Information Law. FOIL applies to administrative records from the Office of Court Administration, not to actual court files. Instead, Judiciary Law § 255 controls access. This is an important thing to know because it means you direct your request to the court clerk, not through a FOIL process.
Note: Requests for civil court records go to the County Clerk or Clerk of the Court that holds those records, not through a FOIL request.
The NYS Unified Court System provides a central page explaining how to access civil court records across New York State.
This page covers the rules for requesting records and the fees that apply under state law.
How to Search Civil Court Records in New York
New York gives you several free tools to search civil court records online. The main one for Supreme Court cases is WebCivil Supreme. It has full info on both active and disposed civil cases from all 62 counties. You can search by index number, party name, attorney name, or justice. The system shows case status, docket entries, and some scanned decisions. A case will not show up here unless the plaintiff filed a Request for Judicial Intervention, which is what assigns a case to a judge. A mobile version is also available.
For local court cases, use WebCivil Local. This portal covers 61 city courts, district courts in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the New York City Civil Courts. You can search by index number, party name, attorney name, or judge. Records for older disposed cases stay in the system, though some case types leave the database after a set time.
The NYSCEF system is where you find documents in electronically filed cases. It has a "Search as Guest" option that lets anyone look up Supreme Court case documents without an account. E-filing is now mandatory for many civil case types in most counties. The NYSCEF platform works across all courts, so you do not need to learn different systems for different locations.
The NY CourtHelp site at nycourts.gov walks you through each option step by step. It is a good starting point if you are not sure which portal to use for your search.
WebCivil Supreme lets you search civil court records from all 62 New York counties.
You can look up cases by name, case number, or attorney and view docket entries for free.
New York Civil Court Records Fees
Searching civil court records online is free. Getting copies costs money. Under CPLR § 8019(f), a county clerk can charge 50 cents per page for a copy of any court record, with a $1 minimum. To certify a copy, the clerk charges another 50 cents per page, with a $4 minimum. These fees apply across all 62 counties.
Under CPLR § 8020(g), the clerk can charge $5 to certify a search of records in a court for a two-year period. If your search spans more than two years, the fee goes up in two-year blocks. You can inspect publicly available civil court records in person at the County Clerk's office for free during business hours. Most offices have public photocopiers that cost less per page than the clerk's official copy fee.
Court reporter transcripts of civil proceedings have their own fee schedule under 22 NYCRR § 108. Regular delivery runs $3.30 to $4.30 per page for the original when a private party pays. Expedited delivery costs $4.40 to $5.40 per page. Daily delivery runs $5.50 to $6.50 per page. Each copy is $1.00 to $1.25 per page on top of that.
Are Civil Court Records Public in New York
Yes. The public has a common law right to look at and copy most documents filed in New York courts. In the absence of a specific statute that limits access, court records are presumptively open to everyone. You do not have to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Under Judiciary Law § 255-b, docket books kept by court clerks must stay open during business hours for anyone to search and examine.
Some civil court records are restricted by law. Under Domestic Relations Law § 235, matrimonial case files are confidential and only available to the parties or their attorneys. These records become public after 100 years. Under Family Court Act § 166, Family Court records are not open to the public. A judge can also order any file sealed under 22 NYCRR § 216.1, but only with a written finding of good cause that weighs public interest against privacy concerns.
Note: Most civil court records in New York are open to the public. Matrimonial files and Family Court records are the main exceptions.
The Court of Appeals Public Access and Search System gives free access to briefs, decisions, and oral argument videos.
Court-PASS covers all cases filed on or after January 1, 2013 and is updated daily.
New York Civil Court Records and Appeals
The Court-PASS system handles records for the Court of Appeals, which is New York's highest court. Anyone can search or browse this database free of charge. You can view or download briefs, records, appendices, videos of oral argument, transcripts, and court decisions in civil appeals. The system includes all cases pending on or filed after January 1, 2013. For older material, the Court's archive of records and briefs going back to 1847 is at the New York State Archives.
The Court of Claims Decision Database has full text of trial and motion decisions from March 2000 to the present. The Court of Claims handles all claims made against state agencies. Its judgments rarely show up in traditional law reporters, so this database is the main way to read them. The decisions have not been edited by the State Reporter and may be revised if they are later published in the Official Reports.
The WebSurrogate portal is a free search tool for Surrogate's Court records across New York. It covers estate proceedings, probate filings, and wills. You can search by party name, file number, or old index. Document images are available for filings made on or after February 19, 2014. Older documents can be viewed on public access computers inside the courthouse. Adoption and guardianship records are not available on WebSurrogate because those proceedings stay confidential under law.
How to Get Copies of New York Civil Court Records
To get copies, contact the County Clerk or Clerk of the Court in the county where the case was filed. You can visit in person during business hours to look through case files. Bring a case number or party name so staff can find the right file. Most County Clerk offices are open Monday through Friday. Hours vary from county to county but generally fall between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
Your request must be specific. Describe the records you want and give as much detail as you can. Include the case index number, names of the parties, and the court where the case was filed. The clerk needs enough info to find the records in their system. Vague or broad requests may be turned down. Payment must come as a certified check or money order made out to the County Clerk or Clerk of the Court.
Some counties accept requests by mail. Send a written request with the case details and a check for the fees. Include a self-addressed envelope. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Mail requests can take a week or more depending on the office workload. For e-filed cases, you can often view and print documents directly from NYSCEF without needing to contact the clerk at all.
NY CourtHelp explains how to get court records and which portal to use for different case types.
The site covers eCourts, NYSCEF, WebSurrogate, and other free tools for civil court record searches.
Find an Attorney for Civil Court Records in New York
If you need help with a civil case or records request, the NYS Attorney Search tool lets you look up any attorney admitted to practice in New York. Enter a name to find their registration info and status. The search is free and provided by the Unified Court System.
For legal aid, the CourtHelp site can connect you with free assistance if you do not have a lawyer. Many courts also run a Court Navigator Program that helps people who represent themselves in civil matters. Check with your local County Clerk or court office to see what self-help options are available in your area.
WebSurrogate gives free access to estate and probate records across all New York Surrogate's Courts.
Search by name, file number, or browse old index books for historical records.
The New York Court of Appeals publishes decisions on the day they are released to the public.
All decisions are in PDF format. The site also offers live webcasts and archived transcripts of oral arguments going back to 2010.
Browse New York Civil Court Records by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has a County Clerk who maintains civil court records for the Supreme Court and County Court. Pick a county below to find local contact info, office hours, and resources for searching civil court records in that area.
Civil Court Records in Major New York Cities
Civil cases in New York cities go through the county court system. Pick a city below to find which county handles civil court records for that location.