Greene County Court Records Search
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Greene County, New York is situated in the Hudson Valley, with Catskill serving as the county seat. The county’s courts generate a broad array of official legal documents throughout the lifecycle of each case, from initial filing through final judgment. These records encompass case information, originating processes, motions, court filings, judicial orders, rulings, judgments, and hearing transcripts. They serve as the authoritative account of how legal matters are resolved within the county’s jurisdiction.
For those seeking court case information in New York, records can be located through official clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, state-administered online portals, and written records requests. NewYorkCourts.us may assist users in identifying publicly available court case information within the New York State Unified Court System, including cases arising in Greene County.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Greene County?
The Greene County Clerk is the primary custodian of Supreme Court and County Court records for the county. The office is led by Marilyn Farrell and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
Greene County Clerk
Address: 411 Main Street, Suite 212, Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: (518) 719-3255
Fax: (518) 719-3284
Several methods are available for accessing Greene County court records:
- Online search (free): Many records are available at no charge through the Greene County Records Search system, accessible 24/7 as a guest. Viewing records online is free; printing or obtaining document copies carries a fee of $5.00 per document for non-commercial subscribers, plus $1.00 per page, with a maximum of $40.00 per record.
- NYSCEF (e-filed cases): Supreme Court cases filed electronically in the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system can be searched as a guest without a registered account. This covers e-filed civil and Supreme Court matters statewide.
- In-person: Visitors to the Clerk’s office at 411 Main Street may review public case files directly. Staff can assist with locating records in the appropriate docket or file.
- By mail: Written requests for copies of specific records may be mailed to the Clerk’s office. Include sufficient identifying information about the case, along with payment for any applicable fees.
For Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, and Town or Village Court records, requests must be directed to those individual courts — not the County Clerk — as each court maintains its own files.
Greene County Records Center
Address: 465 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: (518) 943-2472
Email: records@greenecountyny.gov
Note: The Records Center stores inactive county agency records and does not provide public access. For public records, contact the department or court that created or maintains the records you need.
Are Court Records Public in Greene County?
Most Greene County court records are public under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law. Section 255 specifically requires court clerks to keep docket books open during business hours and to search files upon request. As part of the New York State Unified Court System, Greene County courts provide public access to criminal records, civil records, administrative records, probate records, and traffic records.
However, several important categories of records are either restricted or completely sealed from public access:
- Family Court records: These are generally exempt from public access. Access is typically limited to the parties in the case, their attorneys, and law guardians or attorneys for the child.
- Sealed criminal records: Records sealed under New York CPL 160.59 (for eligible misdemeanor and limited felony convictions) are not disclosed through any public search or the statewide Criminal History Record Search.
- Youthful Offender cases: Per CPL 720.15(1), pending criminal cases categorized as Youthful Offender Eligible are not reported.
- Juvenile delinquency records: These remain restricted to protect the privacy of minors.
- Adoption records: Adoption proceedings are sealed and not open to the general public.
- Expunged marijuana convictions: All convictions under Penal Law §§ 221.05, 221.10, 221.15, 221.20, 221.35, and 221.40 have been vacated, dismissed, sealed, and expunged under New York State law. It is unlawful to inquire about or use such records adversely.
Importantly, court records are governed by the Judiciary Law rather than FOIL. While administrative court records may fall under FOIL, actual case records — pleadings, orders, and judgments — are governed by Judiciary Law § 255 and related court rules, not the standard FOIL framework.
Greene County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Greene County are divided between the County Court (which handles felony trials and misdemeanor cases) and the 16 Town and Village Courts (which handle lesser offenses, traffic violations, and Class B misdemeanors at the local level). The Greene County Court shares its location with the Supreme Court.
Greene County Court
Address: 320 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: (518) 625-3160
Fax: (518) 625-3122
Supreme & County Court Chief Clerk: Ellen Brower
The County Court has authority to conduct trials in both felony matters and misdemeanor cases. The Supreme Court, which shares the same building and phone number, generally handles felony prosecutions for the most serious offenses, along with civil matters involving higher dollar amounts.
For a statewide criminal history search, the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) at a fee of $95.00 per search. This covers open/pending cases and convictions from County/Supreme Courts, City Courts, and Town and Village Courts across all 62 New York counties. Searches can be submitted online through OCA’s Direct Access program or by mailing a completed CHRS Application Form to:
NYS Office of Court Administration – CHRS Unit
Address: 25 Beaver Street, Room 940, New York, NY 10004
Email: chrs@nycourts.gov
Searches are strictly based on an exact match of name and date of birth. The report does not include Family Court, Civil, or Federal court information, and sealed records are not disclosed. Results are typically returned the next business day. A $7.00 criminal record search (seven-year period) is also available directly through the Greene County Clerk’s fee schedule.
Greene County’s Town and Village Courts handle Class B misdemeanors, vehicle and traffic matters, small claims, evictions, and civil matters within their respective jurisdictions. Key court locations include:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Athens Town Court | 2 First Street, Athens, NY 12015 | (518) 945-3360 |
| Cairo Town Court | 512 Main Street, P.O. Box 755, Cairo, NY 12413 | (518) 622-3388 |
| Catskill Town Court | 439–441 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414 | (518) 943-2142 ext. 2 |
| Catskill Village Court | 422 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414 | (518) 943-9544 |
| Coxsackie Town Court | 119 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, NY 12051 | (518) 731-6934 |
| Hunter Town Court | 5748 Route 23A, P.O. Box 70, Tannersville, NY 12485 | (518) 589-5882 ext. 305 |
| Windham Town Court | 371 State Route 296, P.O. Box 96, Hensonville, NY 12439 | (518) 734-3431 |
Records for the remaining Town and Village Courts — including Ashland, Durham, Greenville, Halcott, Jewett, Lexington, New Baltimore, Prattsville, and Tannersville — are held by each respective court clerk.
Greene County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Greene County are distributed across multiple courts based on the amount in controversy and the nature of the dispute. The Supreme Court handles civil cases involving higher dollar amounts. The County Court has limited civil authority over claims up to $25,000. Town and Village Courts hear small claims and other civil matters within their local jurisdictions.
The Greene County Clerk maintains civil case records for the Supreme Court and County Court. The online records search portal at SearchIQS allows free viewing of available civil case records. Certified copies and document printouts are subject to the County Clerk’s official fee schedule, which includes:
- To certify a copy: $5.00
- To prepare a copy (per page): $1.00
- Maximum per record: $40.00
- Index Number (Supreme/County Court action): $210.00
- Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI): $95.00
- Note of Issue: $30.00
- Demand for Jury: $65.00
- File Motion/Cross Motion: $45.00
For e-filed civil Supreme Court cases, the NYSCEF guest search provides free access to case documents and docket information. Records that predate e-filing requirements or are not in the online systems must be requested directly from the Clerk’s office in person or by mail. The Third Judicial District, which covers Greene County along with Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, oversees the administration of these courts.
Greene County Family Court Records
The Greene County Family Court hears matters involving children and families and operates out of the courthouse in Catskill. The current Family Court Chief Clerk is Paula Wright, with Amy Miller serving as Deputy Chief Clerk.
Greene County Family Court
Address: 320 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: (518) 625-3180
Fax: (518) 453-6992
The Family Court has jurisdiction over adoption, guardianship, foster care approval and review, juvenile delinquency, family violence, child abuse and neglect, child support, custody, and visitation matters. Unlike most other court records in New York, Family Court records are generally not open to the public. Online docket access is limited, and access to case files is typically restricted to the parties themselves, their attorneys, and court-appointed attorneys for children involved in the proceedings.
Requests for Family Court records must be made directly to the Family Court Clerk’s office. In most circumstances, a court order is required for third parties to access sealed or restricted Family Court documents.
Marriage Records: Marriage certificates are issued by the city and town clerks in the municipalities of Greene County where the marriage took place. For a certified copy from the state, complete the Marriage Record Application Form and submit it to the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602, with a fee of $45.00 for walk-in requests or $30.00 for mail requests, along with a government-issued photo ID.
Divorce Records: Divorce decrees filed in Greene County are available from the Greene County Clerk’s office at 411 Main Street. The fee for filing a Dissolution of Marriage or Separation Agreement is $5.00. Certified divorce certificates from the state’s central repository can be requested by completing the Divorce Records Request form and submitting it to the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, with fees of $45.00 for walk-ins or $30.00 by mail. Access to divorce records is restricted to the record subjects and individuals with court-order authorization. Birth certificates and death records for Greene County are similarly available through the local municipal clerks and the New York State Department of Health, using the respective Birth Record Application Form and Death Record Request Form, each at the same fee structure.
Greene County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Greene County — including the administration of estates, validation of wills, intestate proceedings, guardianships, conservatorships, and certain adoptions — are heard by the Greene County Surrogate’s Court, presided over by Hon. Charles M. Tailleur. The Surrogate’s Court Chief Clerk is Christine A. Vasquez.
Greene County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 320 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: (518) 625-3150
Fax: (518) 625-3176
The Surrogate’s Court handles disputes about wills, appointment of executors and administrators, distribution of assets under intestate succession, and oversight of trusts. Filing fees in New York Surrogate’s Courts are based on the gross value of the estate, ranging from $45.00 for estates under $10,000 to $1,250.00 for estates exceeding $500,000, with small estate administration available for $1.00 in qualifying cases. A full New York Surrogate’s Court fee schedule is published by the NYS Office of Court Administration.
To access probate records in Greene County, requestors may visit the Surrogate’s Court in person, contact the clerk by phone at (518) 625-3150, or submit a written request. Most probate proceedings are public record, though sealed adoption files handled by the Surrogate’s Court are restricted. Historic Surrogate’s Court records for Greene County dating back many decades are also maintained by the Vedder Research Library, which provides access to these materials free of charge as a public service. For current probate filings and recent estate proceedings, the Surrogate’s Court at 320 Main Street remains the appropriate point of contact.