Greene County, New York Court Records

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    Greene County, New York sits in the Hudson Valley, with Catskill as the county seat. Courts here generate a wide range of official legal documents throughout the life of each case — from initial filing through final judgment. Those records include case information, originating processes, motions, court filings, judicial orders, rulings, judgments, and hearing transcripts, forming the authoritative account of how legal matters are resolved in the county.

    If you're looking for court case information in New York, you can find records through official clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, state-administered online portals, and written records requests. NewYorkCourts.us can help you identify publicly available court case information within the New York State Unified Court System, including cases from Greene County.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Greene County?

    Start with the Greene County Clerk, led by Marilyn Farrell, who maintains Supreme Court and County Court records for the county. The office is open 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 options 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 costs $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 through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system can be searched as a guest without a registered account, covering e-filed civil and Supreme Court matters statewide.
    • In person: Visit the Clerk's office at 411 Main Street to review public case files directly. Staff can help you locate the right docket or file.
    • By mail: Send a written request for copies of specific records to the Clerk's office. Include enough identifying information about the case, along with payment for any applicable fees.

    For Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and Town or Village Court records, you'll need to contact those individual courts directly — the County Clerk does not maintain their 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 originally created or maintains the records you need.

    Are Court Records Public in Greene County?

    Most Greene County court records are generally 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.

    That said, several important categories are either restricted or completely sealed:

    • 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 — covering 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.

    One important distinction worth knowing: 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 split 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, sharing the same building and phone number, generally handles felony prosecutions for the most serious offenses, along with higher-value civil matters.

    For a statewide criminal history search, the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) at $95.00 per search. This covers open and pending cases plus convictions from County/Supreme Courts, City Courts, and Town and Village Courts across all 62 New York counties. You can submit searches 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 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 covering a 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 local areas. Key court locations include:

    CourtAddressPhone
    Athens Town Court2 First Street, Athens, NY 12015(518) 945-3360
    Cairo Town Court512 Main Street, P.O. Box 755, Cairo, NY 12413(518) 622-3388
    Catskill Town Court439–441 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414(518) 943-2142 ext. 2
    Catskill Village Court422 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414(518) 943-9544
    Coxsackie Town Court119 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, NY 12051(518) 731-6934
    Hunter Town Court5748 Route 23A, P.O. Box 70, Tannersville, NY 12485(518) 589-5882 ext. 305
    Windham Town Court371 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 spread across multiple courts depending 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 areas.

    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 gives you free access to case documents and docket information. Records that predate e-filing requirements or are not yet in 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 case files are typically restricted to the parties themselves, their attorneys, and court-appointed attorneys for children involved in the proceedings. Third parties generally need a court order 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. The fee is $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. Filing a Dissolution of Marriage or Separation Agreement costs $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 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 estate administration, 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, you can visit the Surrogate's Court in person, call the clerk 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 going back many decades are also maintained by the Vedder Research Library, which makes those materials available free of charge as a public service. For current probate filings and recent estate proceedings, the Surrogate's Court at 320 Main Street is the right place to start.