Orleans County Court Records Search
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Orleans County, located in western New York along the Lake Ontario shoreline, maintains an interconnected system of courts and government offices that collectively generate, preserve, and provide access to public court records. Whether you are researching a civil judgment, verifying a criminal case disposition, investigating an estate filing, or tracing a family legal matter, Orleans County’s court system offers multiple avenues to locate the records you need. This guide explains where those records are kept, which offices hold them, how to request them, and what fees and restrictions apply.
Court Record Search Introduction:
New York State residents looking for court case information across Orleans County can begin with NewYorkCourts.us, which provides a reference point for publicly available case information and links to court resources throughout the state. The New York State Unified Court System also maintains a range of official online tools — including portals for civil, criminal, family, and surrogate court matters — that are accessible without a visit to the courthouse. For certified documents or records not available digitally, the Orleans County Clerk’s Office and the county’s court clerks remain the primary points of contact.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Orleans County?
Searching for an Orleans County court case can be done through several channels depending on the type of record and level of detail you need. The most practical starting point for most users is the suite of online portals maintained by the New York State Unified Court System at nycourts.gov, which connects to case lookup tools covering civil, criminal, family, and surrogate matters.
Online Search Options
- WebCrims — The WebCrims portal provides case information on criminal matters with upcoming court dates. Searches can be made by case number, summons number, defendant name, or court calendar.
- eCourts/NYSCEF — For civil and Supreme Court matters, the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF) allows users to search and, where permitted, view filed documents online.
- WebCivil Local / WebCivil Supreme — These portals on the NYS Courts e-Courts page allow searches of local civil and Supreme Court civil case data by party name or index number.
- Orleans County Clerk Self-Service Portal — The Orleans County Clerk’s online records portal provides remote access to land records and some court filings maintained by the County Clerk’s office.
In-Person and Mail Requests
For records not available online, requestors may visit or write to the Orleans County Clerk’s Office. The office holds all Supreme Court documents and maintains active and closed civil and criminal files. A formal Court Record Search Request Form must be completed and submitted with a fee of $5.00 per search. Each variation of a name is treated as a separate search and requires an additional $5.00.
Orleans County Clerk’s Office
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3 South Main Street, Suite 1, Albion, NY 14411 |
| Phone | (585) 589-5334 |
| Nadine.Hanlon@orleanscountyny.gov | |
| Hours (Summer) | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| County Clerk | Nadine P. Hanlon |
The courthouse’s law library also has a computer, printer, and scanner available for public use, allowing individuals to conduct independent searches on-site at no additional charge.
Are Court Records Public in Orleans County?
Under Section 255-B of the New York Judiciary Law, docket books kept by court clerks must remain open during regular business hours for inspection and examination by the public. This means that a broad range of court filings, judgments, case dockets, and related documents are presumptively available to any person who requests them in a lawful manner.
That said, not all records are open. Several categories of court records are restricted under state statute or court rule. Commonly restricted materials in Orleans County include:
- Records involving matrimonial proceedings, including child custody, support, and visitation matters
- Family Court records related to adoption and certain juvenile proceedings
- Records of mental health and competency proceedings
- Drug treatment and alcohol abuse court records
- Criminal records of defendants who were not convicted
- Sealed court records, including those sealed under CPL 160.59 for eligible misdemeanor and felony convictions
- Youthful Offender records
Individuals who are the subject of a restricted record, their legal representatives, or persons who have obtained a court order may still be granted access to otherwise confidential files. Requests for administrative records held by court agencies — as opposed to adjudicative court records — may also be submitted under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which applies to court administration records rather than judicial case files governed by the Judiciary Law.
Orleans County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Orleans County are handled at multiple court levels depending on the severity of the charge. The Orleans County Court — presided over by Hon. Sanford A. Church — has exclusive authority over felony trials and also shares jurisdiction with lower courts over misdemeanor cases. Town and village justice courts throughout Orleans County handle petty offenses, traffic infractions, and preliminary proceedings.
Orleans County Supreme & County Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 South Main Street, Suite 3, Albion, NY 14411 |
| Phone | (585) 283-6657 |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday |
Searching Criminal Records
The New York State Office of Court Administration provides a Statewide Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for a fee of $95.00 per search. Results cover open/pending cases and convictions from County, Supreme, City, Town, and Village courts across all 62 New York counties. Searches are conducted on an exact-match basis using full name and date of birth. Sealed records, Youthful Offender designations, and cases meeting the Misdemeanor Redemption criteria are not disclosed. Requests can be submitted online through OCA’s Direct Access program or mailed to:
NYS Office of Court Administration — CHRS Unit
25 Beaver Street, Room 940
New York, NY 10004
For active warrants, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office publishes a list of wanted persons on the county website and also provides an inmate search function through the Sheriff’s Office website. The Sheriff’s Office provides 24/7 law enforcement to unincorporated Orleans County and manages corrections operations. Arrest records and incident reports can be requested through the Sheriff’s Office directly.
Town and Village Justice Courts — Orleans County has eleven town and village justice courts that handle traffic violations, minor criminal matters, and civil disputes within their jurisdictions. Court contacts include:
- Albion Town Court — 3665 Clarendon Road, Albion, NY 14411 | (585) 589-7048 ext. 18
- Barre Town Court — 14317 West Barre Road, Albion, NY 14411 | (585) 589-5100 ext. 4
- Carlton Town Court — 1434 Waterport-Carlton Road, Albion, NY 14411 | (585) 682-4517
- Clarendon Justice Court — 16385 Church Street, P.O. Box 145, Clarendon, NY 14429 | (585) 638-6371 ext. 102
- Gaines Justice Court — 14087 Ridge Road, Albion, NY 14411 | (585) 589-4592 ext. 11
- Kendall Town Court — 1873 Kendall Road, Kendall, NY 14476 | (585) 659-8546
- Murray Justice Court — 3840 Fancher Road, Holley, NY 14470 | (585) 638-6570
- Ridgeway Town Court — 4062 Salt Works Road, Medina, NY 14103 | (585) 798-3282
- Shelby Town Court — 4062 Salt Works Road, Medina, NY 14103 | (585) 798-3120 ext. 309
- Yates Town Court — 8 South Main Street, P.O. Box 484, Lyndonville, NY 14098 | (585) 765-9603
Records from these courts are generally maintained by the individual justice courts, though disposition data for most courts is now captured in the OCA’s statewide system.
Orleans County Civil Court Records
The Orleans County Clerk’s Office is the central repository for civil court records in Orleans County, including all Supreme Court filings, closed civil case files, small claim assessment reviews, money judgments, and In-Rem proceedings. Because all Supreme Court documents are designated as County Clerk records under New York law, requestors seeking civil judgments, filed pleadings, or case dockets should direct their inquiries to the Clerk’s Office.
Civil Case Search Options
Individuals can search civil records through multiple portals:
- NYSCEF eCourts — The eCourts case search system allows online lookup of Supreme Court civil cases and access to electronic filings where mandatory e-filing is in effect.
- County Clerk Self-Service Portal — The Orleans County Clerk online portal provides web-based access to public records maintained by the Clerk’s office, including land and judgment records.
- In-Person Review — Civil action files are available for inspection at the Clerk’s Office during business hours.
Submitting a Records Request
For records not available digitally, requestors should complete and submit the Orleans County Court Record Search Request Form to the Clerk’s Office. The form must include the name of the party and the approximate date range being searched. The fee is $5.00 per search, payable to the Orleans County Clerk. Requests submitted by mail should include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The County Clerk also maintains the court fee schedule and recording/filing fee information, available through the forms and links page on the county’s official website. Fees for civil actions, certified copies, and other services are listed there, and the courthouse law library computer is available for public use to assist with civil case lookups.
The County Court also has limited civil jurisdiction over claims up to $25,000, and New York’s Town and Village courts each handle small claims matters within their respective jurisdictions.
Orleans County Family Court Records
The Orleans County Family Court shares the courthouse building at 1 South Main Street with the Supreme and County Court divisions and handles matters involving children, domestic relationships, and family legal issues.
Orleans County Family Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 South Main Street, Suite 3, Albion, NY 14411 |
| Phone | (585) 283-6656 |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday |
Family Court jurisdiction in Orleans County covers:
- Child custody, visitation, and support proceedings
- Orders of protection and family offense petitions
- Juvenile delinquency matters
- Termination of parental rights
- Guardianship of minors
- Paternity proceedings
- Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) petitions
It is important to note that Family Court records — particularly those involving children, adoption, and certain custody proceedings — carry significant confidentiality protections under New York law. Many of these records are not open to general public inspection and are accessible only to the parties, their attorneys, and persons with a court order.
Divorce Records — Divorce proceedings in Orleans County originate in Supreme Court, with filings maintained by the County Clerk. The Clerk’s Office is open for inspection of divorce records Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For certified copies of divorce records issued since 1963, the New York State Department of Health Vital Records Division also maintains a statewide divorce certificate archive. Applicants must submit a completed application for a copy of the divorce certificate along with the applicable fee: $30.00 per copy for mail requests, or $45.00 per copy for in-person walk-in requests at the Department of Health’s Menands office.
Marriage Records — The Orleans County Clerk’s Office does not maintain marriage records. Marriage licenses are issued and held by the Town or Village Clerk of the municipality where the license was obtained. A directory of Orleans County Town and Village Clerk contacts is available on the county website. At the state level, the New York State Department of Health maintains marriage records filed since 1880. Eligible requestors — including record subjects, spouses, and court-authorized individuals — may submit a completed marriage record application with a fee of $30.00 per copy by mail, payable by personal check, postal money order, or certified check, to:
New York State Department of Health — Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Walk-in service is available at 800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor, Room 200, Menands, NY 12204.
Birth and Death Records — Birth and death records in Orleans County are similarly held at the local level — by the Town or Village Clerk of the municipality where the event occurred — rather than by the County Clerk. Certified copies of birth certificates are restricted to the record subject, parents, and entities with a court order. Requests for statewide birth or death certificate copies can be directed to the New York State Department of Health using the birth certificate application or the death certificate request form. Fees are $30.00 per copy for mail requests and $45.00 per copy for in-person walk-in requests.
Orleans County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Orleans County are handled exclusively by the Orleans County Surrogate’s Court, which shares the courthouse at 1 South Main Street with the Family Court and County Court divisions.
Orleans County Surrogate’s Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 South Main Street, Suite 3, Albion, NY 14411 |
| Phone | (585) 283-6658 |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday |
The Surrogate’s Court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving decedents, including:
- Probate of wills and administration of estates
- Disposition of property left by individuals who died without a will (intestate estates)
- Guardianship of minors
- Adoptions
- Trusts arising under wills
- Disputes among heirs and beneficiaries
E-Filing in Surrogate’s Court — Effective May 2024, electronic filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for Probate, Administration, Small Estate, and related miscellaneous proceedings commenced in the Orleans County Surrogate’s Court. Filers must have a NYSCEF account to initiate these proceedings. The court does not accept filings through the EDDS system — all e-filing must go through NYSCEF. Parties who are self-represented and cannot use the e-filing system may apply to the court for an exemption.
Filing Fees in Surrogate’s Court — New York Surrogate’s Court filing fees are governed by SCPA §2401. Selected fees include:
| Proceeding Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Objections to probate of a will (SCPA 1410) | $150.00 |
| Jury trial demand (SCPA 502) | $150.00 |
| Note of issue in any proceeding | $150.00 |
| Civil complaint filed in Surrogate’s Court | $100.00 |
The full fee schedule is available through the New York Surrogate’s Court fee schedule (PDF), which lists all applicable fees by proceeding type.
Searching Probate Records — Probate case information can be searched online through the NYSCEF portal for electronically filed matters. For older records and paper filings, requestors should contact the Surrogate’s Court clerk directly by phone or in person. Probate records are generally treated as civil court records and maintained by the court clerk, with copies available for a fee consistent with standard court copy rates. Individuals who are self-represented and need guidance on probate procedures can consult the NYS Court Help website, which provides forms, instructions, and plain-language explanations of estate proceedings in New York.