Search New Rochelle Civil Court Records
New Rochelle civil court records are held at the New Rochelle City Court and through the Westchester County court system. The city sits in Westchester County and is part of the 9th Judicial District. About 79,000 people live here, and the city court handles civil cases up to $15,000 along with small claims and other local disputes. For larger civil matters, the Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains takes over. You can look up case info online through the state court system or visit the courthouse in person to view files and get copies of court documents.
New Rochelle Overview
New Rochelle Civil Court System
The New Rochelle City Court is a court of record that sits at 475 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801. It has broader reach than a town court. The court hears civil cases with claims up to $15,000, small claims up to $5,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. It also handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic law matters, and preliminary felony hearings. The phone number is 914-813-5300, and the court is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Because it is a court of record, the New Rochelle City Court keeps verbatim transcripts of all proceedings. This is a key difference from town and village courts in New York. Civil court records here include all filings, motions, orders, and judgments tied to each case. The court follows the NYS Uniform City Court Act, which sets the rules for how civil cases move through city courts across the state. Small claims sessions are held on a weekly basis, and landlord-tenant matters are set on a regular schedule as well.
Court interpreter services are on hand for those who need them. The courthouse has parking close by and meets accessibility standards. You should bring a valid photo ID when you go.
Westchester County Civil Court Records for New Rochelle
Civil cases that go past the $15,000 city court cap end up in Westchester County Supreme Court. That court sits at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains. The Supreme Court has no cap on the dollar amount of civil claims it can take. It handles commercial disputes, personal injury cases, real property matters, and matrimonial actions. E-filing through NYSCEF is required for most civil case types filed in Supreme Court.
The Westchester County Clerk keeps all records for the Supreme Court and County Court. Civil records from 1980 to now are on file. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Standard copies cost $0.65 per page. Certified copies run $5 for the first four pages, then $1.25 for each page after that. You can also view case files in person at the clerk's office during business hours at no cost. A Court Help Center at the White Plains courthouse is there to help people who don't have a lawyer.
| City Court | 475 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 914-813-5300 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Supreme Court | 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY |
Appeals from the New Rochelle City Court go to the Westchester County Court. That means if you lose a civil case in city court and want to challenge the ruling, the county court is where you take it. The county court also has its own civil jurisdiction for mid-range cases, though most civil work above the city court level goes straight to Supreme Court.
How to Search New Rochelle Civil Court Records
There are a few ways to search for civil court records in New Rochelle. The fastest way is online. The state runs the WebCivil Supreme portal, which lets you look up Supreme Court civil cases by party name or index number. For e-filed cases, check NYSCEF. Both are free to use.
For New Rochelle City Court records, you need to contact the Clerk of the Court directly. Records include civil case files, small claims filings, and landlord-tenant case documents. You can go in person during business hours to inspect files. Public photocopiers are on site at a low cost. If you need a transcript of a hearing, that request goes through the court reporter. You must describe the records you want well enough for staff to find them. Vague or overly broad requests may be turned down.
New York Judiciary Law Section 255 governs public access to court records. Most civil court files are open to anyone. Some sealed or confidential cases are not. Matrimonial records are restricted and only available to the parties involved or their lawyers with proper ID.
Note: The NY CourtHelp website has step-by-step guides for getting court records if you are doing this on your own for the first time.
New Rochelle Civil Court Fees and Costs
Filing a new civil action in New Rochelle City Court requires a fee. The exact amount depends on the type of case and the claim amount. Small claims filings cost less than full civil actions. Landlord-tenant filings have their own fee schedule. Check with the court clerk for the latest rates since they can change.
At the county level, starting a civil case in Westchester County Supreme Court requires an index number. That fee is $210. Once you have an index number, you can file your summons, complaint, and other papers. The Westchester County Clerk charges $0.65 per page for copies of filed documents. Certified copies start at $5 for documents up to four pages, with each extra page at $1.25. If you don't know the index number and need a search done, there is a $5 fee for each two-year period searched.
People who can't pay court fees may ask for a fee waiver. The court reviews your income and expenses to decide if you qualify. Forms for this are at the courthouse and on the NYS courts website.
New Rochelle Civil Court Records Resources
The 9th Judicial District, which covers New Rochelle and the rest of Westchester County, provides several tools for finding civil court records. The district also covers Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. Virtual court services are available, and you can reach the CourtHelp line for free guidance on records requests.
The screenshot below shows the NYS Unified Court System records access page, which explains how to get civil court records from any court in the state, including New Rochelle City Court.
That page covers the basics for making records requests, including what you need to provide and how to handle fees. It applies to all courts in the New York State Unified Court System. The Westchester County Clerk's Legal Division also offers online search tools where you can look up judgments, liens, and other court filings with a free registration.
The Court Navigator Program at the Westchester Supreme and County Courts in White Plains gives free help to people representing themselves. This can be useful if you need to file a civil case or respond to one in New Rochelle and don't have a lawyer. The program helps with forms, procedures, and understanding court rules.
Nearby Cities and Westchester County Records
New Rochelle is in Westchester County, and all civil cases above the city court level go through the county system. Several other cities in Westchester County also have their own court pages. Mount Vernon is just to the west and has its own city court. White Plains, the county seat, is where the Supreme Court sits. Yonkers, the largest city in the county, is also nearby.
For the full list of Westchester County civil court resources, including the county clerk's office and all court locations, visit the Westchester County page.