White Plains Civil Court Records Search
White Plains civil court records are available through the White Plains City Court and the Westchester County court system. White Plains is the county seat of Westchester County, about 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. Around 59,000 people live here. The city court takes civil cases up to $15,000, small claims up to $5,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. The Westchester County Supreme Court, also in White Plains at the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse, handles larger civil matters with no dollar cap. You can search records online or go to the courthouse to view files and get copies.
White Plains Overview
White Plains Civil Court System
The White Plains City Court is at 77 South Lexington Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601. The phone number is 914-285-2900. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is a court of record that handles civil cases up to $15,000, small claims up to $5,000, landlord-tenant proceedings, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings.
As a court of record, White Plains City Court keeps verbatim transcripts. Civil court records include all filings, motions, orders, and judgments for each case. Small claims sessions happen weekly. Landlord-tenant cases run on their own schedule. The court follows the NYS Uniform City Court Act, which sets the rules for city courts across the state.
What makes White Plains unique is that the county Supreme Court sits in the same city. So if your case grows beyond the $15,000 city court limit, the next step up is just a few blocks away at the Daronco Courthouse. This is where most of the county's major civil cases are heard.
How to Get White Plains Civil Court Records
To access White Plains City Court records, go to the Clerk of the Court. Records include civil case files, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. In-person inspection is free during business hours. Public photocopiers are at the courthouse. Transcript requests go through the court reporter. You need to describe what you want clearly so the clerk can find it.
For county-level records, the Westchester County Clerk maintains files for the Supreme Court and County Court. The online search at westchesterclerk.com lets you look up judgments, liens, and court filings. Civil records from 1980 to now are in the system. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page at the clerk's office. Certified copies are $5 for up to four pages and $1.25 per extra page. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Document images are viewable online if you register.
Under New York Judiciary Law Section 255, most civil court records are open to the public. Sealed cases and matrimonial records are restricted. For matrimonial files, only the parties or their lawyers can see them with proper ID.
Westchester County Civil Records in White Plains
The Westchester County Supreme Court at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. handles all major civil cases for the county. This is the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse. It takes commercial disputes, personal injury cases, real property matters, and matrimonial actions. E-filing through NYSCEF is required for most civil case types. The Court Help Center is right there in the building for people who need guidance.
The 9th Judicial District is based here in White Plains and covers Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. The Court Navigator Program at the Westchester Supreme and County Courts provides free help to people representing themselves. Virtual court services are available by email. The CourtHelp line offers free guidance on records requests and court procedures.
| City Court | 77 South Lexington Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 914-285-2900 |
| Supreme Court | 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY |
| Family Court | 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY |
Copy fees at the county clerk run $0.65 per page for most court documents. If you need a search done and don't have the case number, there is a fee for the clerk to look through the records. Certified copies carry an extra charge. The county also keeps historical records going back decades, though very old records may need a trip to the County Archives.
Note: White Plains hosts both the city court and the county Supreme Court, making it a hub for civil court records across all of Westchester County.
White Plains Civil Court Online Tools
The WebCivil Supreme portal lets you look up any Supreme Court civil case in the state, including those from Westchester County. Search by party name or index number at no charge. The screenshot below shows the WebCivil Supreme search interface.
This tool shows case details, party names, docket entries, and case status. For the actual documents in e-filed cases, go to NYSCEF and search as a guest. Both are free to use. The Westchester County Clerk's online portal also provides document images for registered users.
Nearby Cities and Westchester County
White Plains serves as the legal center for Westchester County. Nearby cities with their own court pages include New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and Greenburgh. All of these cities route their larger civil cases to the Supreme Court right here in White Plains.
For the full list of Westchester County court details, visit the county page.