Livingston County Court Records
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Livingston County sits in the Finger Lakes region of western New York, with Geneseo as the county seat. Its court system includes the Supreme and County Court, Family Court, Surrogates Court, and more than a dozen town and village justice courts spread across the county. Together, these courts produce and maintain a wide range of records — criminal case files, civil judgments, probate proceedings, family law matters, and more.
Researchers, attorneys, background screeners, and members of the public have several ways to access court records here. The state's court resources, available through NewYorkCourts.us, include online case search systems, electronic filing tools, and guidance on requesting records from individual court clerks. You can also get records in person at clerk offices, by written mail request, or through the county's own official portals. The right approach depends on the type of record, the court that handled the case, and how recent the filing is.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Livingston County?
Livingston County court records are spread across several offices depending on which court handled the case. Here is a practical breakdown of where to start:
Livingston County Clerk's Office
The County Clerk acts as the clerk of both the Supreme Court and the County Court, maintaining their civil and criminal case indexes, along with judgments, liens, and divorce filings. The office is located at:
Livingston County Clerk's Office
6 Court Street, Room 201
Geneseo, NY 14454
Phone: (585) 243-7010
Hours: Monday–Wednesday and Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Thursday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Online Search Tools
- NY State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) — Publicly searchable for Supreme Court civil cases that have been e-filed. No account is needed to search; registered users can view filings directly.
- WebCivil Supreme — Lets anyone search civil Supreme Court case information statewide, including Livingston County cases.
- WebSurrogates — Gives online access to Surrogates Court filings and probate records statewide. Livingston County probate and estate records are searchable here.
- Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) — Run through the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA); this is a fee-based statewide criminal case search.
Livingston County's Public Records Cloud Search
The County Clerk's office offers a Public Records Cloud Search tool for searching land records and certain county-held documents. A free account is required if you want to set up property alerts. Access it through the County Clerk's website.
In-Person Requests
Any record held by a clerk's office that isn't available online can be reviewed in person during business hours. Certain case types — including sealed matters and divorce files — require specific authorization before access is granted.
Mail Requests
Written requests may be sent to the County Clerk's office or the relevant court clerk. Include the full names of all parties, the case number if you have it, the approximate year of filing, and a description of the records you need. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope when requesting documents by mail.
FOIL Requests
Non-court governmental records held by county agencies can be requested through the Livingston County FOIL Request portal. The standard photocopy fee under the New York Freedom of Information Law is $0.25 per page.
Are Court Records Public in Livingston County?
New York Judiciary Law § 255 establishes the general right of public access to court records maintained by clerks of court. In practice, most civil and criminal filings — including pleadings, orders, judgments, and docket entries — are available for inspection and copying by anyone who asks.
That said, several categories of court records are restricted from public view:
- Sealed records — A judge may order any record sealed by court order; these are not available for inspection without authorization.
- Juvenile records — Cases involving minors are generally sealed and not accessible to the public.
- Youthful offender cases — These criminal files are sealed and unavailable through routine records requests.
- Sexual offense case files — Case papers for certain sex crimes are not open to routine public inspection.
- Adoption proceedings — Handled by court order only; the underlying records are sealed.
- Sensitive family matters — Certain divorce and family court filings contain confidential information that the court restricts from public view.
The New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) covers records held by executive-branch government agencies but does not apply to judicial branch records. Court record requests are governed instead by court rules and Judiciary Law § 255. For records held by the Office of Court Administration, FOIL requests must be submitted in writing to OCA's Records Access Officer at FOIL@nycourts.gov.
Before records are released for copying, clerks routinely redact personal identifying information — such as Social Security numbers, financial account details, and certain addresses.
Livingston County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Livingston County are prosecuted in the County Court, while the Supreme Court may handle certain serious matters. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are typically heard in town and village justice courts. Each court clerk keeps the records for cases decided in that court.
Searching Criminal Records Through CHRS
The New York State Office of Court Administration runs the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) system, which provides statewide access to pending and open criminal case records. Key details:
- Fee: $95.00 per search
- Search criteria: Full name (including middle initial) and full date of birth are required
- Coverage: Open and pending criminal cases across all New York State courts; sealed or expunged records are not included
- Access: Available online through OCA's direct access portal, or in writing to the CHRS Unit at OCA
Livingston County Sheriff's Department
Arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement records generated by the Sheriff's Department are held separately from court records. The Sheriff's Office Records Division handles these requests:
Livingston County Sheriff's Department
4 Court Street, Geneseo, NY 14454
Phone: (585) 243-7100
Fax: (585) 243-7104
FOIL requests to the Sheriff's Office can be submitted through the Sheriff's Office FOIL form on the department's website. The standard $0.25-per-page photocopy fee applies. Reports related to open investigations are generally not available to the public. Crash reports can also be obtained through the CrashDocs.org portal.
The Sheriff's Department also maintains an OffenderWatch sex offender search tool that lets residents search for registered sex offenders in the county.
For records about individuals in state custody, the DOCCS inmate lookup through the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision provides online access.
Livingston County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Livingston County are divided among multiple courts based on the dollar amount at issue and the nature of the dispute. The Supreme Court and County Court hear higher-value civil cases and appeals. Town and village justice courts handle landlord-tenant disputes, small claims (up to $10,000 in justice court), and local ordinance matters.
County Clerk Civil Records
The County Clerk keeps the civil case indexes for Supreme and County Court. Under the Livingston County Clerk's 2026 Schedule of Fees, key civil filing and copy fees include:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Index Number Issuance (civil actions) | $210.00 |
| Index Number Issuance (foreclosure actions) | $400.00 |
| Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) | $95.00 |
| Motion/Cross Motion/Order to Show Cause | $45.00 |
| Note of Issue Jury Trial | $95.00 |
| Note of Issue Non-Jury Trial | $30.00 |
| Jury Demand | $65.00 |
| Notice of Appeal | $65.00 |
| Dissolution of Marriage (filing) | $5.00 |
| Default Judgment | $45.00 |
| Copies of recorded or filed documents (per page) | $0.65 |
| Prepare and certify a copy (minimum) | $5.00 |
| Exemplified copy | $10.00 |
Accessing Civil Case Files
- Civil action indexes are open to the public. The actual case file can be reviewed in person unless the matter involves a divorce or has been sealed by the court.
- Online case information for e-filed Supreme Court matters is searchable through NYSCEF and WebCivil Supreme.
- Mandatory e-filing applies to many civil case categories in Livingston County Supreme Court. Unrepresented litigants are automatically exempt but may choose to participate. Details are on the Mandatory E-Filing page of the county website.
- To request copies by mail, send a written request with case details and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the County Clerk at 6 Court Street, Room 201, Geneseo, NY 14454.
Town and Village Justice Courts
Records from justice court proceedings are held by the clerk of each individual court. The table below lists Livingston County's justice courts with contact information:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Avon Town/Village Court | 23 Genesee Street, Avon, NY 14414 | (585) 226-2425 ext. 13 |
| Caledonia Town/Village Court | 3095 Main Street, Caledonia, NY 14423 | (585) 538-4800 |
| Conesus Town Court | 6210 South Livonia Road, Conesus, NY 14435 | (585) 346-9240 |
| Dansville Village Court | 14 Clara Barton Street, Dansville, NY 14437 | (585) 335-2460 |
| Geneseo Town/Village Court | 119 Main Street, Geneseo, NY 14454 | (585) 243-4530 |
| Groveland Town Court | 4955 Aten Road, Groveland, NY 14462 | (585) 243-3782 |
| Leicester Justice Court | 132 Main Street, Leicester, NY 14481 | (585) 382-9419 |
| Lima Town Court | 7321 East Main Street, Lima, NY 14485 | (585) 582-1011 |
| Livonia Town Court | 35 Commercial Street, Livonia, NY 14487 | (585) 346-0221 |
| Mount Morris Town/Village Court | 117 Main Street, Mount Morris, NY 14510 | (585) 658-3358 |
| North Dansville Town Court | 14 Clara Barton Street, Dansville, NY 14437 | (585) 335-2460 |
| Nunda Town/Village Court | 4 Massachusetts Street, Nunda, NY 14517 | (585) 468-5558 |
| Ossian Town Court | 4706 Ossian Hill Road, Dansville, NY 14437 | (585) 335-8040 |
| Portage Town Court | 9907 North Church Street, Hunt, NY 14846 | (585) 476-7012 |
| Sparta Town Court | 7351 Route 256, Scottsburg, NY 14545 | (585) 335-7045 |
| Springwater Town Court | 8022 South Main Street, Springwater, NY 14560 | (585) 669-2001 |
| West Sparta Town Court | 8302 Kysorville-Byersville Road, Dansville, NY 14437 | (585) 335-2443 |
| York Town Court | 2668 Main Street, York, NY 14592 | (585) 243-3128 ext. 1 |
Livingston County Family Court Records
The Livingston County Family Court is located at 2 Court Street, Geneseo, NY 14454, and can be reached at (585) 371-3919 (fax: (585) 371-3933). Court hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. First appearance calendars are heard on Tuesdays and Thursdays; emergency applications are accepted daily.
Family Court handles matters including:
- Custody, visitation, and modification proceedings
- Child support and spousal support enforcement
- Paternity determinations
- Juvenile delinquency and persons in need of supervision (PINS) petitions
- Child protective proceedings and foster care matters
- Domestic violence and orders of protection
- Adoption proceedings (by court order only; adoption records are sealed)
- Guardianship of minors
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings are filed in the Supreme Court, not Family Court. The County Clerk's office maintains divorce indexes and case papers. The actual divorce file can only be reviewed in person by the named defendant — or with court authorization — since divorce records are restricted from general public inspection. The filing fee for dissolution of marriage is $5.00 at the County Clerk's office.
Certified copies of divorce certificates — which confirm that a divorce occurred but are not the same as the full decree — are available from the New York State Department of Health for events recorded from January 1963 onward. If you need the actual divorce decree, you must request it directly from the County Clerk's office where the action was filed.
Marriage Records
Marriage records in New York are kept at the local level by the town or city clerk where the license was issued. The New York State Department of Health also maintains marriage records and can issue certified copies. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from the state carry a fee of $30.00 per certified copy for mail orders, or $45.00 plus a vendor processing fee for online or phone orders.
Birth Records
New York State has birth records dating from 1881. In Livingston County, birth records are available through the town or village clerk where the birth was registered, or from the NY DOH Vital Records office. State-level birth records become publicly accessible 75 years after the event date, or upon documented proof of the subject's death. Certified copies cost $30.00 by mail; online orders through the state vendor are $45.00 plus processing fees. Eligible requesters include the registrant, parents named on the record, siblings, and certain legal representatives.
Death Records
Death records are held at the state level from 1881 onward and locally by the town or city where the death occurred. Certified copies cost $30.00 by mail from the state. These records become publicly accessible 50 years after the date of death. Eligible requesters are limited to spouses, children, siblings, parents, or individuals with a documented legal interest or a court order.
The mailing address for state vital record requests is:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
For in-person requests, the Vital Records walk-in office is at 800 North Pearl Street, Menands, NY 12204. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for all requests.
Livingston County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Livingston County are handled exclusively by the Livingston County Surrogates Court, which has jurisdiction over wills, estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust proceedings. The Surrogates Court is located at:
Livingston County Surrogates Court
2 Court Street
Geneseo, NY 14454
Phone: (585) 371-3921
Fax: (585) 371-3936
Court hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Types of Probate Records Maintained
- Petitions for probate of wills and letters testamentary
- Letters of administration for intestate estates
- Guardianship petitions and orders for minors and incapacitated persons
- Conservatorship filings
- Trust administration proceedings
- Accounting filings and court orders approving or disallowing accounts
- Wills admitted to probate back to 1821
Searching Probate Records
- The WebSurrogates online search tool gives public access to Surrogates Court case information statewide, including Livingston County. You can search by decedent name, case number, or filing date.
- Livingston County's official Find Records page confirms that wills and probate records back to 1821 are available through the Surrogates Court and directs researchers to contact the clerk's office for records not found in the online system.
Mandatory E-Filing in Surrogates Court
Under the Livingston County Surrogates Court E-Filing Protocol, e-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for all Administration, Probate, and related matters, including Small Estate Proceedings. Hybrid proceedings — combining paper and electronic filing — apply in certain contested matters. Unrepresented parties are exempt from mandatory e-filing but may voluntarily participate.
Requesting Copies
If you need certified copies or specific documents from a probate proceeding, contact the Surrogates Court clerk directly at (585) 371-3921. Reviewing an open case file is generally free of charge, but obtaining paper copies carries a per-page fee. Mail requests should include the decedent's full name, approximate date of death, case number if known, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. For historical probate records that predate digitization, the Livingston County Records Management office at 6 Murray Hill Drive, Mt. Morris, NY 14510, Phone: (585) 243-7503, holds county archival materials and can help locate older filings.