Fulton County Court Records
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Fulton County sits in upstate New York within the Fourth Judicial District. Its court system spans several divisions — Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogates Court, and two City Courts. The records these courts generate include dockets, petitions, judgments, transcripts, orders, and other legal filings. Most of those records are held by the various clerk offices at the county courthouse in Johnstown. Whether you're tracking a pending criminal matter, a past civil dispute, a family proceeding, or an estate filing, the Fulton County courts and the County Clerk's Office are where you'll find them.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Fulton County?
Start with the New York State Unified Court System's online tools, which are free to use and cover most courts statewide. NewYorkCourts.us lists the available electronic case search applications alongside directories and filing resources. You can also go directly to the state's eCourts portal, which provides several free search tools depending on the type of case you're looking for:
- WebCivil Supreme — Search Supreme Court civil cases statewide, including Fulton County, by party name, index number, or attorney name.
- WebCivil Local — Look up civil cases from city courts and other lower courts.
- WebCriminal — Find criminal cases with upcoming court appearance dates in selected New York courts.
- WebFamily — Search certain Family Court case data, though confidentiality restrictions apply to many family matters.
- WebSurrogate — A free tool for searching estate proceedings and related filings at any New York State Surrogates Court, including Fulton County.
For in-person searches, all four primary Fulton County courts share the same building:
Fulton County Courthouse
Address: 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
The Fulton County Clerk's Office also provides online access to land records and certain civil court filings through its Search IQS portal. A one-day subscription costs $15; document downloads run $5 per page for non-subscribers and $0.50 per page for subscribers.
Another useful option is the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system. Even without an e-filing account, you can search for and view Supreme Court case documents that were electronically filed through NYSCEF.
If you prefer to request records by mail, write directly to the appropriate Fulton County court clerk. Include as much identifying information as you can — case name, index number, date of filing, and type of record.
Are Court Records Public in Fulton County?
Most court records in Fulton County are open to the public, but there are significant exceptions. Access to court documents isn't covered by the state's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which applies only to executive branch agencies. Instead, court records fall under Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law, which requires court clerks to search files, records, and dockets upon request and certify the results.
New York law and court rules designate several categories of records as confidential and off-limits for public inspection:
- Family Court records — Proceedings are generally confidential under the Family Court Act.
- Adoption records — All records related to adoption proceedings are sealed.
- Matrimonial records — Files from divorce and separation actions are not publicly accessible.
- Sealed criminal records — Cases ending in dismissals or acquittals are automatically sealed. Convictions may also be sealed under CPL 160.59 upon application.
- Juror identification records — Information identifying individual jurors is restricted.
- Sex offense victim records — Records that would identify victims of sex offenses are confidential.
There's also a specific rule for Surrogates Court filings. Under Section 207.64 of the Uniform Rules for Surrogates Courts, effective February 19, 2014, parties must redact confidential personal information from documents they file. The WebSurrogate system restricts online access to files covered by this rule. Documents filed before that date may still contain unredacted personal information, but you can only view them on public-access computers inside the courthouse.
Records that are generally open to the public include most Supreme Court civil filings, County Court cases, and non-sealed criminal dispositions. Certified copies of public court records can be obtained from the Fulton County Clerk's Office for $5 per certified copy; exemplified copies cost $10.
Fulton County Criminal Court Records
Felony cases in Fulton County are heard by the County Court. Misdemeanors and lesser offenses are handled by the two City Courts in Gloversville and Johnstown, along with numerous town and village courts throughout the county. Records from criminal proceedings include indictments, arraignment records, plea documents, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and disposition records.
Courts handling criminal cases:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County Court | 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095 | (518) 736-5662 |
| Gloversville City Court | 3 Frontage Road, Gloversville, NY 12078 | (518) 773-4527 |
| Johnstown City Court | 33-41 East Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095 | (518) 762-0007 |
To search for criminal case information online, the WebCriminal application shows scheduling and appearance data for cases with upcoming court dates. For a broader statewide search, the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) covering open, pending, and convicted cases from all 62 counties. Each search costs $95 and matches records by exact name and date of birth. Results are typically available the next business day. You can submit a CHRS request online through the Direct Access system or by mailing a completed application to:
NYS Office of Court Administration
Division of Technology and Court Research
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street, Room 940
New York, NY 10004
Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov
Keep in mind what the CHRS doesn't cover: sealed records, Family Court or federal cases, non-criminal offenses (violations and infractions), cases under the Misdemeanor Redemption Policy (single misdemeanor convictions older than ten years), Youthful Offender cases, and marijuana convictions vacated under recent New York legislation.
For arrest reports and booking information, contact the Fulton County Sheriff's Office:
Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Address: 2712 State Highway 29, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 736-2100
Incident reports from the Sheriff's Office require a FOIL Records Request form, submitted in person at the Civil Division along with a copy of a valid driver's license. Accident reports can be obtained in person at the Civil Division or online through CrashDocs.org.
If you want to review your own New York State criminal history (RAP sheet), contact the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). That process requires fingerprint submission and is separate from the OCA's court-based CHRS.
Fulton County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Fulton County go to the Supreme Court for cases involving unlimited monetary amounts and equitable relief, the County Court for cases up to $25,000, and the two City Courts for smaller claims and landlord-tenant disputes. Civil court records include complaints, answers, motions, discovery materials, stipulations, judgments, and all other documents that make up a case file.
The Fulton County Clerk serves as the clerk for both the Supreme Court and County Court. You can access civil filings for these courts in person at the clerk's office or search Supreme Court matters online through WebCivil Supreme. Electronically filed documents are also viewable through the NYSCEF e-filing system.
Key civil filing fees at the Fulton County Clerk's Office:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Index Number (new civil case) | $210.00 |
| Foreclosure Index Number | $400.00 |
| Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) | $95.00 |
| Note of Issue | $30.00 |
| Motion or Cross-Motion | $45.00 |
| Demand for Jury Trial | $65.00 |
| Notice of Appeal | $65.00 |
| Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition | $30.00 |
| Stipulation of Settlement / Voluntary Discontinuance | $35.00 |
| Certified Copy | $5.00 |
| Exemplified Copy | $10.00 |
The Clerk's Office also holds property-related records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments — searchable through the Search IQS portal. Deed and mortgage index data goes back to 1948; document images are available from the 1980s and 1990s onward, depending on record type.
Fulton County Clerk's Office
Address: 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 736-5555
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
For civil cases handled by Gloversville City Court or Johnstown City Court, contact those courts directly to ask about record availability. The Sheriff's Office Civil Division handles enforcement of civil judgments — income executions, property executions, orders of seizure, attachments, and eviction warrants — but it does not maintain the case records themselves.
Sheriff's Office Civil Division
Address: 2712 State Highway 29, P.O. Box 20, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 736-2128 or (518) 736-2130
Fax: (518) 762-8392
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Fulton County Family Court Records
The Fulton County Family Court handles child custody, child support, visitation, domestic violence protective orders, juvenile delinquency, persons in need of supervision (PINS) proceedings, paternity cases, guardianship of minors, and family offense petitions. Under the New York Family Court Act, proceedings and records of the Family Court are generally confidential and not open for public inspection.
Fulton County Family Court
Address: 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 762-3840
Fax: (518) 451-8745
Access to Family Court records is limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, and authorized agencies. Third parties generally cannot obtain these records without a court order. Direct any requests for copies of Family Court filings to the Clerk of the Family Court at the address above.
Divorce in New York goes through the Supreme Court, not the Family Court, though custody and support issues arising from a divorce may involve Family Court proceedings. Records from matrimonial actions filed in Supreme Court are also restricted from public access. Divorce certificates — which are vital records distinct from divorce decrees — are available from the Fulton County Clerk's Office or from the New York State Department of Health. The Clerk's Office provides online access to some divorce-related records through its Search IQS portal.
To get a divorce certificate from the NYS Department of Health — available for divorces granted from January 1, 1963 onward — complete the Application for Copy of Divorce Certificate, include a valid photo ID, and submit a $30 fee by personal check, postal money order, or certified check payable to the NYS Department of Health. Mail everything to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Marriage records in Fulton County are not public. Only the parties named on the record, those with a documented legitimate need, or those holding a court order may obtain copies. The County Clerk's Office handles marriage license applications and can assist with record inquiries at (518) 736-5555. The DOH also provides marriage record copies for $30 per copy using its request form, mailed to the same Albany address above.
Birth and death records are held by local municipal registrars and the state DOH. Submit applications for birth certificates and death certificates to the DOH at $30 per copy.
Fulton County Probate Court Records
In New York, probate matters are handled by the Surrogates Court in each county. The Fulton County Surrogates Court oversees the probate of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, estate administration and accounting, trust matters, guardianship of the property of incapacitated persons, and disputes involving the estates of deceased individuals.
Fulton County Surrogates Court
Address: 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: (518) 736-5697
Fax: (518) 762-6372
Probate records in Fulton County are generally public. They include filed wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, accountings, petitions, and court orders from estate proceedings. The Chief Clerk of the Surrogates Court maintains these files and can assist with record requests. You can also reach the Surrogates Court at (518) 706-3280.
The easiest way to search Fulton County probate records online is through WebSurrogate, a free service run by the New York State Unified Court System. It offers several search options:
- Name Search — Find Surrogates Court files by party name, with the option to filter by date of death.
- File Search — Look up cases by file number to view case history and associated documents.
- Old Index Search — Access historical records by file number or name (availability varies by county).
- Index Book Pages — Browse digitized images from Surrogates Court index books where available.
- Will Search — Find records of wills filed for safekeeping by testator name. Note that the actual will documents filed for safekeeping are not available for public viewing.
Documents filed on or after February 19, 2014 are accessible online through WebSurrogate, subject to the confidential personal information restrictions of Section 207.64 of the Uniform Rules for Surrogates Courts. Documents filed before that date can only be viewed at the courthouse on public-access computers. Parties filing probate documents are responsible for redacting confidential personal information — such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers — before submission.
The Fulton County Surrogates Court participates in electronic filing through NYSCEF. For genealogical research using historical probate records — wills have been filed with New York Surrogates Courts since 1787 — you may need to make an appointment to view older records at the courthouse, and copy fees may apply.