St. Lawrence County Civil Court Records Search
St. Lawrence County civil court records are kept at the County Clerk's office at 48 Court Street in Canton. This is the largest county by land area in the state. The clerk keeps files going back to 1802 and handles all Supreme Court and County Court records. You can search for civil cases online through the WebCivil Supreme tool or through the county's IQS records portal. The 4th Judicial District court system also has an Ogdensburg City Court. If you need to find a judgment, check a pending case, or get copies of court papers, Canton is where the records live.
St. Lawrence County Overview
St. Lawrence County Clerk Office
The St. Lawrence County Clerk keeps all civil court records for the county. The office is at 48 Court Street in Canton. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The phone number is (315) 379-2202.
The clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. Records go back to 1802. The office stores land records, court filings, business certificates, and notary filings. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk has to search files and give out copies to anyone who pays the fees. Public search terminals are set up at the office. You can also ask the staff to pull a file by name or case number.
E-filing through NYSCEF is now the standard for most Supreme Court case types in St. Lawrence County. Newer cases show up online. Older records are on paper and microfilm at the clerk's office in Canton.
| Office | St. Lawrence County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
48 Court Street Canton, NY 13617 |
| Phone | (315) 379-2202 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
How to Search St. Lawrence County Civil Cases
The WebCivil Supreme tool covers all Supreme Court civil cases in St. Lawrence County. It is free. Search by name, index number, or attorney. The system shows party names, case type, and filing dates.
St. Lawrence County also has its own portal through SearchIQS. This system covers deeds, mortgages, and court records from 1802 to the present. Guest access lets you do basic searches at no charge. Subscription accounts are there for people who need to search a lot. You can filter by name and date range.
The 4th Judicial District court page has contact info for all St. Lawrence County courts. Supreme and County Court are at (315) 379-2202. The Family Court is at (315) 379-2205. The Surrogate's Court is at (315) 379-2210.
St. Lawrence County Civil Record Fees
Copies cost $0.65 per page at the St. Lawrence County Clerk. Certified copies cost extra. The St. Lawrence County Clerk Services page has a full fee list.
Under CPLR Section 8020(g), a records search costs five dollars per name for each two-year period. Court transcripts follow 22 NYCRR Section 108 rates. Standard copies cost less than rush orders. Most people view records online for free and only pay when they need hard copies or certified documents from the clerk.
Note: St. Lawrence County is large and rural, so mail requests may take longer than in busier counties closer to Albany or New York City.
Access Rules for St. Lawrence County Civil Records
Public access to civil court records in St. Lawrence County follows Judiciary Law Section 255. Docket books are open under Judiciary Law Section 255-b. These rules let anyone look at most civil case files at the clerk's office.
Some records have limits. Matrimonial files stay sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 235 for 100 years. Adoption records are sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 114. Family Court records are private under Family Court Act Section 166. A judge can seal other records under 22 NYCRR Section 216.1 if there is good cause, but the reasons must be written down. E-filed documents on NYSCEF follow the same rules.
St. Lawrence County Court Access
The Court of Appeals Public Access System at courtpass.nycourts.gov provides access to appellate decisions that may involve St. Lawrence County civil cases.
This tool lets you search for decisions from the Court of Appeals and Appellate Divisions. Cases from St. Lawrence County that are appealed end up in this system.
Cities in St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County includes the cities of Ogdensburg and Canton along with many smaller towns. All civil court records go through the County Clerk in Canton.
There are no cities in St. Lawrence County that meet the population threshold for their own page. All civil cases file through the County Clerk at 48 Court Street in Canton. Ogdensburg City Court handles some local civil matters but county-level records stay with the clerk.
Nearby Counties
These counties border St. Lawrence County. Make sure you are looking in the right county by checking the address on the filing.