Clinton County Court Records Search

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    Clinton County is located in the northeastern corner of New York State, with Plattsburgh serving as the county seat. The county’s court system operates within the Fourth Judicial District and includes Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, Plattsburgh City Court, and over a dozen town and village justice courts. These courts collectively produce a significant volume of records — from criminal indictments and civil filings to family court orders and probate proceedings — that are maintained by various court clerks and county offices across the jurisdiction.

    New York provides several avenues for locating court records, including in-person visits to clerk offices, public access terminals at courthouses, and electronic search tools operated by the state’s Unified Court System. The New York State Courts website offers access to multiple case search databases, including tools for looking up criminal history, civil filings, and Surrogate’s Court records. NewYorkCourts.us may also be useful for locating publicly available court case information across New York counties, including Clinton County.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Clinton County?

    Court cases in Clinton County can be searched through a combination of online databases and direct inquiries to the offices that maintain case files. The method depends on the type of case.

    Online Search Tools

    The New York State Unified Court System provides free electronic search portals:

    • WebCivil Local: The WebCivil Local portal contains information on active and disposed local civil court cases. Users can search by index number, party name, judge, or attorney.
    • WebCivil Supreme: The WebCivil Supreme eCourts system allows searches of Supreme Court civil cases statewide, including those filed in Clinton County. Searches may be conducted by index number or party name.
    • WebSurrogate:WebSurrogate is a free tool for searching Surrogate’s Court files by party name or file number. It includes estate proceedings, probate filings, and historical index records.
    • Criminal History Record Search (CHRS): The Office of Court Administration maintains a searchable portal for criminal records that requires account registration. This service charges $95 per name search.
    • NYSCEF: The New York State Courts Electronic Filing system provides access to documents filed electronically in Supreme and Surrogate’s Court cases. E-filing is mandatory for certain case types in Clinton County Surrogate’s Court.

    In-Person Searches

    The Clinton County Clerk’s Office has jurisdiction over Supreme Court and County Court records, and is the primary office for in-person civil and criminal case file requests.

    Clinton County Clerk’s Office
    Address: Clinton County Government Center (First Floor), 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
    Phone: (518) 565-4700
    Fax: (518) 565-4718
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Copies of filed documents are available at $0.65 per page, with a minimum charge of $1.30. No recordings or filings are accepted after 3:45 p.m. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards.

    Are Court Records Public in Clinton County?

    Under New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), government records — including many court records — are presumed to be accessible to the public. The law requires agencies to make records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to enumerated exemptions.

    For court records specifically, New York’s Unified Court System maintains its own policies governing public access. In general, the following record types are available for public inspection in Clinton County:

    • Civil case files in Supreme Court, County Court, and City Court
    • Criminal case disposition records
    • Surrogate’s Court estate filings (with some exceptions)
    • Judgments and court orders
    • Land records and liens filed with the County Clerk

    Records That Are Not Public

    Certain categories of court records are restricted from public access under state law and court rules:

    • Sealed records: Cases sealed by court order, including certain criminal records eligible for sealing under CPL 160.50 (dismissed cases), CPL 160.55 (violation/infraction convictions), and CPL 160.59 (eligible convictions). New York’s Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, will eventually result in additional automatic sealing of eligible convictions, though the Office of Court Administration has up to three years to implement these processes.
    • Adoption records: All adoption proceedings are sealed and not available for public inspection.
    • Juvenile proceedings: Records of Family Court proceedings involving minors, including juvenile delinquency cases, are confidential.
    • Divorce files: Divorce actions in Clinton County are sealed files accessible only to the parties involved or their attorneys.
    • Records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or that could interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.

    When requesting confidential documents, court staff may require valid government-issued photo identification and verification of the requester’s relationship to the case.

    Personal Identifier Protections

    Under Section 207.64 of the Uniform Rules for Surrogate’s Courts, parties filing documents are responsible for redacting confidential personal information (CPI). The WebSurrogate system prevents access to files and documents restricted under this rule, though it does not redact documents itself.

    Clinton County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Clinton County are handled at multiple levels. Indictable offenses (felonies) and more serious misdemeanors are prosecuted in County Court, while minor offenses, violations, and traffic matters are adjudicated in Plattsburgh City Court and the various town and village justice courts.

    Searching Criminal Records at the State Level

    Two state agencies provide access to criminal history information:

    The Office of Court Administration (OCA) conducts statewide name-based criminal history record searches. Each search costs $95.00 and covers conviction records reported to OCA by courts across New York State. Requests can be submitted in two ways:

    1. Online: Register for an account on the OCA Criminal History Record Search portal and submit the search electronically.

    2. By mail: Complete the Criminal History Records Search application form, enclose a $95 money order or check payable to “N.Y.S. Office of Court Administration”, and mail the application with a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

      Criminal History Record Search Unit
      NYS Office of Court Administration
      Division of Technology and Court Research
      25 Beaver Street, 8th Floor, Room 830
      New York, NY 10004
      Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov

    The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains New York’s official fingerprint-based criminal history records. Unlike OCA’s name-based search, DCJS requires applicants to submit fingerprints on an FD-258 fingerprint card through an approved vendor. When requesting records through DCJS, applicants should specify the record type code: 15465F for unsuppressed records (includes sealed and suppressed entries) or 15464Z for suppressed records (excludes sealed information). DCJS criminal history records are not public records and cannot be obtained under FOIL. For more information, contact DCJS at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or (518) 457-9847.

    Local Criminal Records

    The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and can provide information on local criminal activity. Requests for arrest records should be directed to:

    Clinton County Sheriff’s Office
    Address: 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
    Phone: (518) 565-4300
    Fax: (518) 565-4333
    Administration Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Criminal case records from Clinton County’s town and village justice courts are maintained by the individual courts. These include courts in Altona, AuSable, Beekmantown, Black Brook, Champlain, Chazy, Clinton (town), Dannemora (town and village), Ellenburg, Mooers, Peru, Plattsburgh (town), Saranac, and Schuyler Falls. Contact information for each court is available through the Clinton County government directory.

    Clinton County Civil Court Records

    The Clinton County Clerk has jurisdiction over Supreme Court and County Court civil records. The Clerk’s Office serves as the filing office for all civil actions commenced in these courts and provides certified copies of court documents.

    Filing Fees for Civil Actions

    To commence a civil action in Supreme or County Court, the following documents must be filed:

    • An Application for an Index Number
    • A Summons with Notice, or a Summons and Complaint, or a Petition (in a special proceeding)

    Key fees at the Clinton County Clerk’s Office include:

    Filing TypeFee
    Index number (general civil action)$210.00
    Index number (foreclosure action)$400.00
    Motion or cross-motion$45.00
    Stipulation of settlement or voluntary discontinuance$35.00
    Document copies$0.65 per page (minimum $1.30)

    After purchasing an index number, filers should consult the County Clerk’s Office for any additional applicable fees. All paperwork must comply with Part 130 signing requirements.

    Searching Civil Records Online

    Clinton County civil court records can be searched through the Unified Court System’s online tools:

    • WebCivil Local — for local civil court cases, searchable by index number, party name, judge, or attorney.
    • WebCivil Supreme eCourts — for Supreme Court cases, searchable by index number or party name.

    The Clinton County Clerk’s Office also provides online document searching for recorded documents, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Plattsburgh City Court

    Small claims and local civil matters within the City of Plattsburgh are handled by:

    Plattsburgh City Court
    Address: 24 US Oval, Plattsburgh, NY 12903
    Phone: (518) 536-3870

    Clinton County Family Court Records

    The Clinton County Family Court hears matters involving children and families, including adoption, guardianship, foster care approval and review, juvenile delinquency, family offenses, custody and visitation, child support, paternity, and persons in need of supervision (PINS) cases. The court is located at:

    Clinton County Family Court
    Address: 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
    Phone: (518) 536-3820

    Access Restrictions

    Family Court records are among the most heavily restricted in New York’s court system. Key access limitations include:

    • Juvenile delinquency proceedings are confidential and not available for public inspection.
    • Child protective cases are sealed from public view.
    • Adoption records are sealed by statute. Only parties to the adoption or persons with a court order may access these files.
    • Orders of protection (family offense proceedings) have specific confidentiality protections.

    Generally, only parties to the case, their attorneys, and certain authorized agencies may access Family Court records. Anyone else seeking access must obtain a court order.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce actions filed in Clinton County are maintained by the County Clerk’s Office as sealed files. Only the parties to the divorce or their attorneys of record may access the case file. To obtain a copy of a divorce decree:

    • In person: Bring a valid photo ID (preferably a driver’s license) to the County Clerk’s Office. The minimum fee is $5.00.
    • By mail: Send a written, signed request with a minimum $5.00 fee and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Clinton County Clerk’s Office at 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Call ahead at (518) 565-4700 to confirm the exact fee before sending your request.

    The New York State Department of Health also issues divorce certificates for divorces granted after January 1, 1963. To request one by mail, send a completed divorce record application form, a valid ID copy, and a $30 check or money order payable to “NYS Department of Health” to:

    New York State Department of Health
    Vital Records Certification Unit
    P.O. Box 2602
    Albany, NY 12220-2602

    Marriage Records

    Marriage certificates may be obtained from the city or town clerk where the marriage took place or from the NYS Department of Health. The state-level request requires a completed marriage record request form, a valid ID, and a $30 fee (check or money order payable to NYS Department of Health), mailed to the Vital Records Certification Unit address above. The Department of Health will only release marriage records to the record subject, a person authorized by court order, or a person with a demonstrated judicial need.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death certificates are maintained by local town or city clerks and the NYS Department of Health. Birth records are released to the record subject, parents, legal guardians, family members, or individuals backed by a court order. Requests to the state agency require a completed birth record application (or death record application), a photocopy of valid ID, and a $30 fee. These should be mailed to the Vital Records Certification Unit at the Albany address above.

    Clinton County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Clinton County are handled by the Surrogate’s Court, which has jurisdiction over the administration of decedents’ estates, probate of wills, guardianships of property for minors, and related filings. The Surrogate is Hon. William A. Favreau.

    Clinton County Surrogate’s Court
    Address: 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
    Phone: (518) 536-3830
    Chief Clerk: Madeline Weidner

    Types of Probate Records

    The Surrogate’s Court maintains records including:

    • Wills admitted to probate
    • Letters testamentary and letters of administration
    • Accountings
    • Guardianship of minors’ property
    • Trust proceedings
    • Small estate affidavits
    • Petitions for estate administration

    Searching Probate Records Online

    The state’s WebSurrogate system provides free access to Clinton County Surrogate’s Court filings. Available search options include:

    • Name Search: Locate estate files by party name, with optional date-of-death filter
    • File Search: Look up files by their assigned file number
    • Old Index Search: Search historical records by file number or file name (availability varies by county)
    • Index Book Pages: Browse available images of pages from Surrogate’s Court index books
    • Will Search: Find records of wills filed for safekeeping by testator name (note: wills filed for safekeeping are not available for public viewing)

    Documents filed on or after February 19, 2014, are accessible through WebSurrogate as document images. Documents filed before that date may need to be viewed using public access computers located inside the Surrogate’s Court.

    E-Filing in Surrogate’s Court

    E-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for certain proceedings in the Clinton County Surrogate’s Court. Documents that must be e-filed include petitions, citations, accountings, and most other papers unless a specific exemption applies. Filers who are exempt from e-filing (such as self-represented parties without internet access) may still file paper documents directly with the Clerk’s Office.

    In-Person Requests

    Members of the public may view probate records in person at the Surrogate’s Court during regular business hours. For verified copies or searches of estate records, contact the Surrogate’s Court Clerk’s Office at (518) 536-3830. The Clinton County Real Property Office is a separate office and handles property assessment records, not probate filings; it is located at 137 Margaret Street, Suite 210, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, and can be reached at (518) 565-4760.

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