Ontario County Civil Court Records

Ontario County civil court records are held at the County Clerk's office in Canandaigua. This office has records going back to 1789, making it one of the oldest county archives in New York. The Clerk serves as the filing clerk for the Supreme Court and County Court in the 7th Judicial District. You can search civil cases online or go to the courthouse at 20 Ontario Street. Geneva City Court also operates in the county for smaller civil matters. This page explains how to find, search, and get copies of civil court records in Ontario County.

Ontario County Clerk and Records

The Ontario County Clerk is the primary keeper of civil court records. The office manages land records from 1789, court filings, business certificates, and notary documents. Public search terminals let you browse indexed records at the office. Online searches are also available through the SearchIQS portal.

E-filing through NYSCEF is required for most Supreme Court civil case types in Ontario County. When cases are filed electronically, the documents become available online almost right away. The Ontario County Clerk services page details everything from court filing to passport processing. Copy fees are $0.65 per page, and the name search fee is $5 per name per two-year period under CPLR Section 8018.

Search Ontario County Civil Records Online

The WebCivil Supreme system is free and covers all Supreme Court civil cases in New York. Pick Ontario County, enter the name or case number, and view the results. You get party names, case type, docket entries, and current status. The tool works for both open and closed cases.

The SearchIQS portal for Ontario County offers another way to search. It indexes deeds, mortgages, and court records from 1789 to the present. Guest access handles basic lookups at no cost. Subscription accounts give access to document images and broader search features. This is a good option for title searches and property-related civil court records in Ontario County.

Below is the WebCivil Supreme search interface that covers Ontario County civil court records.

Select Ontario County from the drop-down menu on this page to search for civil cases filed in the Supreme Court.

Courts Handling Ontario County Civil Cases

Ontario County is in the 7th Judicial District. The Supreme Court at 27 N. Main Street in Canandaigua handles major civil cases with no dollar cap. Phone: (585) 396-4200. It covers personal injury, contract disputes, real estate fights, and other civil claims. E-filing is mandatory for most case types.

The Family Court sits at 27 N. Main Street. Phone: (585) 396-4205. It handles custody, support, and child welfare cases. Those records are confidential under Family Court Act Section 166. The Surrogate's Court is at the same location. Phone: (585) 396-4210. Probate records go back to 1789. Estate cases can be searched online through the WebSurrogate portal.

Geneva City Court also operates within Ontario County for smaller civil cases and local matters. Records from that court are kept separately.

Getting Ontario County Court Record Copies

Visit the Clerk at 20 Ontario Street in Canandaigua to view civil court records for free. Copies are $0.65 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more depending on the document. The name search fee is $5 per name per two-year period. You can also mail a request to the Ontario County Clerk at 20 Ontario Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 with a check or money order for the fees.

Historical records from 1789 are available for research at the Clerk's office. Not all older records are digitized, so some may require an in-person visit. For newer cases filed through NYSCEF, you may be able to view and download documents online without visiting the courthouse at all.

Nearby Counties

Ontario County borders several other counties in the Finger Lakes region. Check the right county for your civil court records.