Orange County Court Records Search
NewYorkCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on NewYorkCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Orange County is located in New York’s Hudson Valley region, with its county seat in the Village of Goshen. The county’s court system falls within the 9th Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System and includes the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, three City Courts, and numerous Town and Village Courts. The Orange County Clerk’s Office serves as the central repository for most court records generated throughout these courts, while some specialized records are maintained directly by the individual courts that produced them.
For anyone seeking New York court records, searches can be conducted through official clerk offices, public-access computer terminals at the courthouse, and online tools operated by the state court system. NewYorkCourts.us may also help users identify publicly available court case information and connect with the appropriate resources across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Orange County?
Finding a court record in Orange County begins with determining which office holds the file. The Orange County Clerk’s Court Papers division manages records for Supreme Court civil matters, County Court criminal cases, and divorce proceedings. Family Court maintains its own records separately, and the Surrogate’s Court holds probate and estate-related filings.
Online search tools:
- eCourts — The WebCivil eCourts portal provides free docket information for cases heard in New York’s civil and criminal courts. Users can search by party name, index number, or attorney name. Not all case types are included.
- NYSCEF — The New York State Courts Electronic Filing system allows public access to documents that were electronically filed in Supreme Court cases. Users can search by party name, index number, or attorney.
- WebSurrogate — WebSurrogate is a free service for searching Surrogate’s Court files, retrieving documents, and viewing historical probate records considered public information.
- County Clerk Online Records — The County Clerk’s SearchIQS portal provides online access to recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records. Public-access computers are also available at the Record Room for free.
In-person searches:
Visit the County Clerk’s Office and use public computers and index books in the Record Room at no charge. Both plain and certified copies can be ordered on site. When requesting documents, provide:
- The index number
- The type of record sought
- The filing date
- The names of parties or a business name
Mail requests:
Send a written request with the required information, applicable fees (check or money order payable to “Orange County Clerk”), and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Orange County Clerk’s Office
Attn: Court Papers
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Key phone numbers for the County Clerk:
| Division | Phone |
|---|---|
| Main line | (845) 291-4000 |
| Court Papers | (845) 291-3286 |
| Record Room / Certified Copies | (845) 291-3287 |
| Recording Documents | (845) 291-3292 |
| Fax | (845) 378-2368 |
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Are Court Records Public in Orange County?
New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, establishes the public’s general right to inspect and copy records maintained by government agencies, including court records. The Orange County Clerk’s Office states that the public can view any legal or court documents, with certain exceptions.
Records open to the public include:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal certificates of disposition (with certain conditions)
- Probate and estate proceedings
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens)
- Unsupplemented divorce decrees (with party authorization — see Family Court section)
Records restricted from public access:
- Matrimonial records — Listed on the Record Room computer screens but not accessible to the general public. Only parties to the action and attorneys of record may view these files.
- Sealed and expunged records — Cases sealed by court order, including youthful offender adjudications, are not disclosed to the public.
- Juvenile records — Confidential under state law.
- Adoption records — Sealed and available only by court order.
- Records protected by federal statute — Certain records that must be kept confidential under federal law or regulation.
- Law enforcement investigative records — Documents that could compromise an ongoing investigation, reveal confidential sources, or endanger an individual’s safety.
- Personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account details, and residential addresses of certain individuals may be redacted.
New York’s Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, provides for the automatic sealing of certain eligible criminal convictions. The Office of Court Administration has up to three years to implement the sealing processes. Convictions for sex offenses and non-drug Class A felonies, including murder, are excluded from Clean Slate sealing.
Orange County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Orange County are divided among several courts based on the severity of the charge. The County Court has exclusive authority to conduct felony trials. County Court, City Courts, and Town and Village Courts share jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and minor offenses.
Courts with criminal jurisdiction:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County Supreme & County Court | 285 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924 | (845) 476-3500 |
| Middletown City Court | 2 James Street, Middletown, NY 10940 | (845) 476-3630 |
| Newburgh City Court | 300 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550 | (845) 483-8100 |
| Port Jervis City Court | 20 Hammond Street, Port Jervis, NY 12771 | (845) 476-3700 |
County Court Judges: Hon. Craig Stephen Brown (Administrative Judge for the Supreme Court), Hon. Kara Gerry, and Hon. Hyun Chin Kim.
Requesting criminal court records:
To obtain a certified copy of a criminal Certificate of Disposition, download and complete the Request for Criminal Records form and mail it with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Orange County Clerk’s Office
Attn: Court Papers
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Fees for criminal record copies:
- Certified copy: $5.00 minimum for up to 4 pages
- Additional pages: $1.25 per page
- Search fee (cases prior to 1993): $2.50 per year searched
- Payment: Check or money order payable to “Orange County Clerk” — write “Not to exceed $50.00” on the check
If the case is sealed (youthful offender, etc.), the requester’s signature on the form must be notarized. For questions, contact the Record Room at (845) 291-3287 or Court Papers at (845) 291-3286.
New York State criminal history records:
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is the sole official repository of state criminal history records. Individuals may request only their own record — not another person’s. The process requires:
- Schedule a fingerprint appointment through the DCJS website.
- Bring required identification to the appointment.
- Pay the fee of $47.50 (as of February 2, 2026). Credit cards, checks, and money orders are accepted; checks and money orders must be payable to “Idemia”.
- Results are mailed within 7 to 10 business days.
Requesters can choose an unsuppressed response (includes all records, including sealed cases) or a suppressed response (excludes sealed records). For questions, email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or call (518) 457-9847 during business hours.
Local arrest records:
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office handles arrest records and can be contacted at:
Orange County Sheriff’s Office
110 Wells Farm Road
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 862-6399
Orange County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Orange County is heard primarily by the Supreme Court, which handles higher-value claims, divorce and separation proceedings, foreclosures, and real property matters. The County Court has limited civil authority over cases involving claims up to $25,000. City Courts in Middletown, Newburgh, and Port Jervis hear smaller civil matters, including small claims, evictions, and housing disputes.
Supreme Court Justices: Hon. Brett Broge, Hon. Kyle C. McGovern, Hon. Mary Anne Scattaretico-Naber, Hon. Verris B. Shako, Hon. Maria S. Vazquez-Doles, and Hon. E. Loren Williams.
Searching for civil records:
Civil case docket information can be searched online through the eCourts portal. Documents filed electronically in Supreme Court cases are accessible through NYSCEF. For cases that are not available online, visit or contact the County Clerk’s Court Papers division.
Requesting copies of civil records:
Submit a request in person or by mail to the County Clerk’s Office (address above), providing the index number, party names, filing date, and type of document needed. Fees for civil record copies follow the same schedule as criminal records: $5.00 minimum certified copy for up to 4 pages, with an additional $1.25 per page beyond four.
Property records:
Property ownership information, tax maps, and assessed values are maintained by the Real Property Tax Services Office and can be searched online through the county’s parcel information database by owner name, address, tax map number, or municipality. Recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are available through the County Clerk’s SearchIQS online portal. The County Clerk also offers a free Fraud Alert service that notifies property owners when a new document is recorded under their name.
Orange County Family Court Records
The Orange County Family Court handles a wide range of matters including custody and visitation, child support, family offense and domestic violence petitions, juvenile delinquency, persons in need of supervision (PINS) proceedings, abuse and neglect cases, and adoptions.
Family Court location:
Orange County Family Court
285 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 476-3520
Fax: (845) 291-3054
Family Court records are maintained separately from the County Clerk’s general court records. To request Family Court records, contact the Family Court directly at (845) 476-3520. Many Family Court records involve confidential proceedings and are not available to the general public.
Divorce records:
Divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk’s Court Papers division and are subject to specific access restrictions. Only the plaintiff, the defendant, or their attorney of record (with identification) may obtain copies. It typically takes a minimum of five days to receive a certified copy. A non-party may access a divorce file only by presenting a notarized statement from one of the litigants specifying which documents are to be reviewed, obtained, or certified — or by presenting a court order. The authorized individual must present identification at the time of request.
To request a certified copy of a divorce judgment, download and complete the Request for Certified Copy of Divorce Judgment form and mail it to the County Clerk’s Court Papers address listed above.
Individuals filing for uncontested divorce can obtain instructions and forms through the Divorce Packet Instructions provided by the County Clerk, or from the New York State Unified Court System’s Uncontested Divorce Packet. The Supreme Court can also be reached at (845) 476-3430 for divorce-related inquiries.
Marriage records:
Marriage records are available from the Town or City Clerk of the municipality where the marriage license was issued. The Orange County Clerk’s Office provides a directory of local registrars for each municipality. Marriage records can also be obtained through the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records:
New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Birth and death records:
Birth and death records are filed with the local registrar of the municipality where the event occurred — not with the County Clerk. To request a certified copy of a birth certificate, download and complete the DOH birth record application (Form DOH-4380), include a copy of a government-issued photo ID (or alternative acceptable document), and enclose a $30 check or money order per record. For death records, use the death record request form (Form DOH-4376) and follow the same instructions. Both may be submitted by mail or in person to the Department of Health at the address above, or to the appropriate local registrar.
Orange County Probate Court Records
The Orange County Surrogate’s Court has jurisdiction over matters involving the estates of deceased persons, including the probate of wills, administration of intestate estates, estate accountings, and adoptions. The court also handles guardianship appointments and trust-related proceedings.
Surrogate’s Court location:
Orange County Surrogate’s Court
30 Park Place
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 476-3655
Fax: (845) 291-2196
Email: VirtualOrangeSurrogatesCourt@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding state holidays)
Surrogate: Hon. Timothy McElduff Jr.
Chief Clerk: Amy Miller
Deputy Chief Clerk: Kerri Serkes
Searching probate records:
The WebSurrogate portal is a free online tool that allows users to search estate files by name, file number, old index references, or will. Users can retrieve documents and view historical records that are considered public information. For records not available online, contact the Surrogate’s Court directly or visit the Clerk’s office in person.
Probate filing fees (SCPA § 2402):
Filing fees for probate and administration proceedings are based on the gross value of the estate:
| Value of Estate | Fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | $45.00 |
| $10,000 but under $20,000 | $75.00 |
| $20,000 but under $50,000 | $215.00 |
| $50,000 but under $100,000 | $280.00 |
| $100,000 but under $250,000 | $420.00 |
| $250,000 but under $500,000 | $625.00 |
| $500,000 and over | $1,250.00 |
Selected additional Surrogate’s Court fees:
- Appointment of guardian: $20.00
- Compel production of will: $20.00
- Construction of will: $75.00
- Determination of right of election: $75.00
- Filing a will for safekeeping: $45.00
- Objections to probate of a will: $150.00
- Demand for jury trial: $150.00
- Search and certification (under 25 years): $30.00
- Search and certification (over 25 years): $90.00
- Certified copy of a will or filed paper: $6.00 per page
- Authentication of a certified copy: $20.00 additional
- Recording instruments: $8.00 per page ($16.00 minimum)
- Transcript of decree: $20.00
- Certificate of letters: $6.00
E-filing is mandatory for probate proceedings in Orange County Surrogate’s Court. The court’s e-filing protocol details the requirements, and filing fees can be paid by credit card through NYSCEF or in person at the court.