Search Clarkstown Civil Court Records
Clarkstown civil court records are filed through the Rockland County court system in the lower Hudson Valley. The town sits in the 9th Judicial District and has a population of about 86,000 residents. New City serves as both the Clarkstown town center and the Rockland County seat, which means the main courthouse and the Town Court are close to each other. Civil case files from Clarkstown go through either the Rockland County Supreme Court or the Clarkstown Town Court, depending on the type of case and the amount in dispute. You can search many of these records online or visit the clerk in person.
Clarkstown Overview
Clarkstown Civil Court Records and Court System
Clarkstown is in Rockland County, part of the 9th Judicial District. The Rockland County Supreme Court at 1 South Main Street in New City handles all major civil cases for the area. This is where you file a civil suit if the claim is over the Town Court limit. The Rockland County Clerk manages Supreme Court files and keeps them on record.
The Clarkstown Town Court is at 20 Maple Avenue in New City. It deals with small claims up to $3,000 and some civil matters within the town. The Town Court is a local court with its own set of rules and procedures. Its records are kept at the court, not with the County Clerk. If your case falls under the $3,000 cap, the Town Court is where you go.
| Town Court | 20 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956 |
|---|---|
| Town Court Phone | (845) 639-5100 |
| Supreme Court | 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956 |
| Supreme Court Phone | (845) 483-8310 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The Rockland County Supreme Court also has a Surrogate's Court that handles estate and probate cases. Family Court is in the same courthouse complex. Those records are sealed under state law and not open to the public.
How to Search Clarkstown Civil Court Records Online
The best free tool for Supreme Court civil cases is WebCivil Supreme. You can search by name, index number, or attorney. Set the county to Rockland to find Clarkstown cases. The tool shows both open and closed cases. It is free to use and does not need an account.
The Rockland County court records portal gives access to local case data. This site has records from the County Clerk and lets you look up civil filings, judgments, and liens. Use it to find cases that went through the Rockland County system.
For e-filed cases, NYSCEF is the state system. E-filing is mandatory in many Supreme Court case types in Rockland County. Anyone can search NYSCEF as a guest. You do not need to log in. Just pick Rockland County and type in a name or case number. Documents filed through the system show up right away.
The NY CourtHelp page has a guide on how to get court records in New York. It walks you through each court type and tells you where to go. Court records in New York are not covered by the Freedom of Information Law. They fall under Judiciary Law Section 255, which says the clerk must let you look at records and get copies when you pay the fee.
Clarkstown Town Court Civil Records
The Clarkstown Town Court at 20 Maple Avenue handles small claims and some civil cases. Small claims have a cap of $3,000 in town courts. If your claim is more than that, you need to file in the Supreme Court or the County Court instead.
Town Court records are kept at the court itself. Call (845) 639-5100 to ask about a case or to get copies. The staff can tell you what records are on file and how to get them. You may need to visit in person for some requests. Bring the case name or a docket number if you have one.
Small claims in town court follow a simpler process. You fill out a form, pay a filing fee, and get a hearing date. The court sends notice to the other party. Most small claims are heard within a few weeks. If you win, the judgment is part of the public record. Under 22 NYCRR Section 216.1, court records are open to the public unless a judge seals them.
Clarkstown Court Record Fees and Copies
The Rockland County Clerk charges $0.65 per page for copies. There is a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies cost $5 for up to four pages, plus $1.25 for each page after that. These rates come from CPLR Section 8019(f), which sets the state fee schedule for court record copies.
Search fees are $5 per two-year block that the clerk has to check. This is set by CPLR Section 8020(g). If you want the clerk to search ten years of records, that would cost $25. You can narrow your request to save on fees. Give the clerk as much detail as you can, like the full names of the parties and the year the case was filed.
Filing a new civil case in Supreme Court costs $210 for the index number. This is a one-time fee paid when you start the case. The Town Court has its own fee schedule for small claims and civil filings, which is usually less. Call the court to confirm current rates before you go.
In-person inspection of court files is free during business hours. You can view the file at the clerk's office at no charge. You only pay when you need copies or certified documents. The Rockland County Clerk's office accepts cash and checks for payments. Check with the office about credit card options before your visit.
E-Filing Civil Cases in Clarkstown
NYSCEF handles e-filing for Rockland County Supreme Court cases. Many civil case types now require e-filing. You create an account, upload your documents, and pay the filing fee online. The system sends notice to all parties by email. Once filed, documents are part of the public case record and anyone can view them through the guest search.
E-filed documents show up fast. There is no wait. The clerk reviews them and they become part of the official file. This is much quicker than paper filing, where you have to mail or hand-deliver documents. If you are not sure whether your case type needs e-filing, check the NYSCEF site for a list of mandatory case types by county.
Note: Matrimonial case files in Rockland County are sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 235 and can only be viewed by the parties or their attorneys.
Statewide Court Record Access for Clarkstown Cases
The NYS Court Records Access page explains how court records work across the state. New York courts are not state agencies, so FOIL does not apply. Instead, Judiciary Law Section 255 controls public access. The chief administrator of the courts has set rules under 22 NYCRR Section 216.1 that spell out what is public and what is sealed.
Most civil case records are public. You can see the case file, read the filings, and get copies. Some records are sealed by court order or by law. Sealed records include most family court files, certain mental health proceedings, and cases where a judge has granted a sealing motion. If a record is sealed, the clerk will tell you when you ask for it.
For older cases that are not in the online system, you may need to request a file search from the Rockland County Clerk. The clerk stores closed case files and can pull them for you. There may be a wait time for older files, especially if they have been moved to off-site storage. The search fee of $5 per two-year period still applies for these requests.
Nearby Cities
Other towns near Clarkstown also have civil court records pages. These are in Rockland County or nearby areas of the 9th Judicial District.
Rockland County Civil Court Records
Clarkstown is in Rockland County, and all major civil filings go through the Rockland County court system. New City is both the county seat and a hamlet within Clarkstown, so the courthouse is right in town. For the full list of courts, offices, and resources in the county, visit the county page.