Franklin County Civil Court Records

Franklin County civil court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Malone. This North Country county is part of the 4th Judicial District and has court records going back to 1808. You can search for civil case filings, look up judgments, and get copies of court documents through the clerk's office at 355 West Main Street. The clerk serves as the official keeper of Supreme Court and County Court records in Franklin County. Whether you need a recent filing or an old case document, the office can help you find what you are looking for through online search tools or in-person visits.

Franklin County Clerk Court Records

The Franklin County Clerk is the primary source for civil court records in the county. The office serves as Clerk of both the Supreme Court and County Court. All civil case filings, judgments, liens, and related papers are kept here. The clerk also handles land records, business certificates, passport applications, and notary services.

Franklin County's civil court records cover a range of disputes. Contract cases, property claims, and money judgments are the most common types you will find. Under Judiciary Law § 255, the county clerk must maintain these files and make them available to the public. The office at 355 West Main Street in Malone is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can call (518) 481-1681 to check on a specific record before you visit.

The clerk's services page lists available document types and fees. Copy fees are $0.65 per page. Certified copies cost more. Historical records from 1808 are available for research.

Search Franklin County Civil Court Records

Franklin County offers online records access through the SearchIQS portal. The system indexes records from 1808 to the present. You can search by name with free guest access. The portal covers deeds, mortgages, and court records. Basic case information shows up right away, though you may need to contact the clerk for full documents.

The state court system also provides search tools. The 4th Judicial District page for Franklin County gives phone numbers for all the courts. Below is a view of that page.

This page lists the Supreme Court at (518) 481-1685, Family Court at (518) 481-1695, and Surrogate's Court at (518) 481-1705. Each court handles different types of civil matters in Franklin County.

The WebCivil Supreme tool from New York State lets you search Supreme Court civil cases across all counties. Franklin County cases are in that system. You can look up cases by party name or index number from anywhere with internet access.

Franklin County Civil Court Fees

A new civil action in Franklin County Supreme Court requires a $210 index number fee under CPLR § 8018. This is the same in every New York county. Additional charges for motions and other filings may apply.

For copies of existing Franklin County civil court records, the fees are standard across the state. A plain copy costs $0.65 per page, with a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies run $5.00 for up to four pages, then $1.25 per extra page after that. Search fees are $5.00 per name for every two years searched, per CPLR § 8019(f). If you need records going back many years, the search fee can get significant.

Note: You can ask for a fee waiver under CPLR § 1101 if you cannot afford the costs of getting civil court records.

Civil Courts in Franklin County

Franklin County sits in the 4th Judicial District. The Supreme Court handles major civil disputes with claims over $25,000. County Court has some civil authority but mostly handles criminal cases. Town and village courts across Franklin County deal with small claims up to $5,000.

The Franklin County Surrogate's Court is at 355 West Main Street in Malone. Phone (518) 481-1705. This court handles probate, estates, guardianships, and adoptions. Surrogate records sometimes connect with civil court records when disputes arise over estates or trust assets. Family Court at (518) 481-1695 handles custody, support, and juvenile matters, but access to those records is restricted under New York law.

The County Clerk ties all these courts together for record-keeping purposes. Under Judiciary Law § 2, the clerk is part of the state court system. Civil filings from the Supreme Court and County Court are all indexed by the Franklin County Clerk and available for public search.

How to Get Franklin County Court Records

You can get civil court records from Franklin County three ways. Online, through the SearchIQS portal or the state's WebCivil system. In person, at 355 West Main Street in Malone. By mail, with a written request to the clerk's office.

For in-person visits, bring the case name or index number. Staff will search the records and make copies while you wait. The office takes cash and checks. Certified copies take a bit more time to prepare. This is the fastest way to get what you need from the Franklin County civil court records.

Mail requests should go to the Franklin County Clerk at 355 West Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. Include the case details, what documents you need, and a check for the estimated fees. Call (518) 481-1681 first if you are not sure of the cost. The clerk will process your request and send copies back by mail. Allow about one to two weeks for processing, though it may be faster since Franklin County handles fewer requests than the bigger counties in New York.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several North Country and Adirondack counties. Civil court records in each county are handled by that county's own clerk.