Oswego 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.
Oswego County is located in central New York State, with its county seat in the City of Oswego. The county’s court system operates within the Fifth Judicial District and includes Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, two City Courts (Oswego and Fulton), and more than twenty Town and Village Courts. The Oswego County Clerk’s Office serves as clerk for the Supreme and County Courts and is the primary custodian of court filings, judgments, and recorded documents.
Residents and researchers looking for New York State court case information can begin with official clerk offices, public-access terminals at courthouses, and several online tools maintained by the Unified Court System. NewYorkCourts.us may also assist users in identifying publicly available case data across New York counties, including Oswego.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Oswego County?
There are three principal ways to search for an Oswego County court case: online databases, in-person visits, and written requests by mail.
Online databases
The New York State Unified Court System provides free, web-based tools for different court levels:
- WebCivil Supreme — Search Supreme and County Court civil cases by party name, index number, or attorney name.
- eCourts — View current and disposed case information across multiple court types; a guest search costs $95 per criminal history record search through the Office of Court Administration.
- WebSurrogate — Look up Surrogate’s Court (probate) filings by name, file number, index book page, or will document images.
- NYSCEF e-filing portal — E-filing is mandatory in Oswego County for Supreme Court matters; filed documents are viewable by parties and, where permitted, by the public.
- Oswego County Online Records — Deeds, mortgages, and other documents recorded with the County Clerk can be searched through this portal.
In-person searches
Visit the County Clerk’s Office or the relevant courthouse during business hours. The clerk’s office will search files, papers, records, and dockets as required by Judiciary Law § 255.
Oswego County Clerk’s Office
Address: 46 East Bridge Street, Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 349-8621
Court Records Division: (315) 349-8615
Email: countyclerk@oswegocounty.com
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (summer hours June–August: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
Pro se divorce packets are available at the courthouse located at 25 East Oneida Street, Oswego, NY 13126.
Mail requests
Send a written request identifying the case by party name, case type, and index or docket number, along with a check or money order for applicable copy fees, to the County Clerk’s Office at the address above.
Copy fees (County Clerk)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Photocopy per page | $0.65 |
| Certify a prepared copy (1–8 pages) | $5.20 |
| Each additional certified page | $0.65 |
| Prepare and certify a copy (1–4 pages) | $5.00 |
| Each additional page (prepare and certify) | $1.25 |
Are Court Records Public in Oswego County?
New York law establishes a strong presumption of public access to court records. Judiciary Law § 255 requires that court clerks search files upon request and certify the results, and that court dockets remain open for inspection during business hours. Trial proceedings and their associated filings are generally open to the public under this statute.
Access to government records outside the court system is governed by New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). However, court records fall under the Judiciary Law rather than FOIL.
Certain categories of records are sealed by statute or court order and are not available to the general public:
- Family Court proceedings
- Matrimonial actions, including divorce papers (accessible only with proper identification and authorization)
- Sex offense records sealed under Criminal Procedure Law
- Criminal cases terminated favorably to the accused (sealed under CPL § 160.50)
- Grand jury minutes
- Records that identify jurors
- Mental health records
- Adoption proceedings
- Instruments filed with the County Clerk regarding guardianship and custody of children
- Records sealed by individual court order
- Records made confidential by federal law
A person seeking access to sealed records must file a motion with the court and demonstrate good cause for unsealing. Legal counsel is advisable before pursuing such a request.
Oswego County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Oswego County are handled by the County Court (felonies and some misdemeanors), the two City Courts in Oswego and Fulton (misdemeanors and violations), and the Town and Village Courts (lower-level offenses and vehicle-and-traffic matters). The Drug Treatment Court, a division of Oswego County Criminal Court, operates a voluntary program for nonviolent offenders with substance-dependency issues.
Where criminal records are maintained
The County Clerk’s Office maintains criminal case files for Supreme and County Court proceedings. City Court and Town/Village Court records are maintained by each court’s individual clerk. The Oswego County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, booking information, jail records, and incident reports.
Oswego County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 39 Churchill Road, Oswego, NY 13126
Main Phone: (315) 349-3302
Dispatch: (315) 349-3411 or (315) 349-3412
Criminal Investigations: (315) 349-3340
Incident Reports: (315) 349-3320 / sheriffrecords@oswegocounty.com
Email: ocsd.sheriff@oswegocounty.com
The Sheriff’s website provides an inmate lookup tool and links to the state Sex Offender Registry.
Statewide criminal history searches
Two state-level options exist for obtaining criminal history information:
- Office of Court Administration (OCA) Criminal History Record Search — A statewide search of court records costs $95. Requestors submit a Criminal History Record Search Application to OCA. This search returns conviction and pending-case data from courts across New York State.
- Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) — Individuals can review their own criminal history record (RAP sheet) through DCJS by submitting fingerprints and a fee of $17.50 (as of February 2026) at an approved fingerprinting site.
Criminal records in cases terminated favorably to the accused are sealed under CPL § 160.50 and are not available to the public. A search of County Clerk criminal history records costs $10 per surname searched.
Oswego County Civil Court Records
Oswego County does not have a standalone civil court. Civil litigation is distributed among the Supreme Court (unlimited monetary jurisdiction), County Court, City Courts, and Town and Village Courts, depending on the amount in controversy and case type.
Supreme and County Court civil filings
The County Clerk’s Office processes all Supreme and County Court civil filings at 46 East Bridge Street. E-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory in Oswego County for Supreme Court civil matters. Key filing fees, set by the Civil Practice Law and Rules, are:
| Filing | Fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Index Number | $210 | CPLR § 8018(a) |
| Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) | $95 | CPLR § 8020(a) |
| Note of Issue | $30 | CPLR § 8020(a) |
| Motion or Cross-Motion | $45 | CPLR § 8020(a) |
| Jury Demand | $65 | CPLR § 8020© |
| Stipulation of Discontinuance | $35 | CPLR § 8020(d) |
| Notice of Appeal (Supreme to Appellate) | $65 | CPLR § 8022(a) |
| Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition | $30 | — |
| Certificate of Dissolution | $5 | — |
An Application for Index Number form is available from the County Clerk. Foreclosure actions require an additional $190 beyond the standard index number fee.
City Court civil filings
Oswego City Court and Fulton City Court handle civil matters within their jurisdictions. Filing fees for City Courts mirror the statewide schedule: $45 for the first paper in a non-consumer credit transaction, $140 for consumer credit transactions, and $15–$20 for small claims depending on the amount.
Oswego City Court
Address: Conway Municipal Center, 20 West Oneida Street, Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 207-7251
Email: osw_city_ct@nycourts.gov
Fulton City Court
Address: Municipal Building, 141 South 1st Street, Fulton, NY 13069
Phone: (315) 207-7231
Email: fulton_city@nycourts.gov
Town and Village Courts
Filing fees in Town and Village Courts are governed by the Uniform Justice Court Act: $20 for the first paper, $10 for a jury demand, $10–$15 for small claims. Each court maintains its own records at its local office.
Searching civil case records online
WebCivil Supreme is the primary tool for looking up Supreme and County Court civil cases. Users can search by party name, index number, or attorney. Docket books at the County Courthouse at 25 East Oneida Street are also available for in-person inspection during court hours. Land records, liens, and judgments recorded with the County Clerk are searchable through Oswego County Online Records.
Oswego County Family Court Records
The Oswego County Family Court handles adoption, guardianship, foster care, juvenile delinquency, family offenses, child abuse and neglect, child support, custody, and visitation matters. As of April 2026, e-filing in Family Court has expanded to Oswego County for custody/visitation, guardianship, and parentage proceedings through NYSCEF.
Oswego County Family Court
Address: Public Safety Center, 39 Churchill Road, Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 207-7533
Fax: (315) 266-4770
Email: Oswego-Family-Court@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Access restrictions
Family Court records are not public records. Section 166 of the Family Court Act gives the court discretion to permit inspection of case papers only upon application and a showing of good cause. Accordingly, these records cannot be accessed by walk-in visitors or through online databases in the same way as Supreme or County Court records. Docket information for cases currently on the Family Court calendar may be viewable through UCS online tools, but underlying documents remain restricted.
There are no filing fees in Family Court proceedings under New York law.
Marriage and divorce records
Divorce is handled by Supreme Court in Oswego County; the County Clerk’s Office maintains divorce records. Copies of divorce decrees are available with proper identification; contact (315) 349-8615 for details. Pro se divorce packets can be obtained at the courthouse at 25 East Oneida Street.
Marriage licenses are issued by the city or town clerk where the couple applies. Certified copies of marriage records are available from the issuing local clerk or from the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records. Fees for state-issued copies are $30 by mail or $45 online (plus vendor processing fees). Mail requests go to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Applicants must provide valid photo identification or two alternative documents showing name and address.
Birth and death records
Birth and death records are maintained at the city or town level where the event took place — not by the County Clerk in Oswego County. Certified copies can also be ordered from the New York State Department of Health at the same fees and address listed above. Birth certificates are available only to the named individual, a parent listed on the certificate, a spouse, a child, or someone with a court order. Death certificates are available to the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a person with a documented lawful right or court order.
Oswego County Probate Court Records
Oswego County’s Surrogate’s Court functions as the probate court and has jurisdiction over estates of decedents, probate of wills, administration of estates, guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults, voluntary administration, small estates, disputed claims, and wrongful death settlements.
Surrogate’s Court
Address: Oswego County Courthouse, 25 East Oneida Street, Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 207-7566
Fax: (315) 266-4784
Email: Oswego-Surrogate-Court@nycourts.gov
Filing fees in Surrogate’s Court vary according to the nature of the proceeding and the size of the estate, as set forth in Section 2402 of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act.
Searching probate records
The WebSurrogate database allows free online searches of Surrogate’s Court filings by name, file number, index book page, old index reference, or will document images. This tool covers both current and historical records that are classified as public information.
E-filing is also available for Surrogate’s Court proceedings in Oswego County through NYSCEF. The court’s e-filing protocol permits previously hard-filed estates to transition to electronic filing, creating a hybrid record.
In-person and mail requests
Probate files may be inspected at the courthouse during business hours. To request copies by mail, send a written request identifying the estate by decedent name, file number, or year of filing, along with the appropriate copy fees, to the Surrogate’s Court at the address above. The County Clerk’s Records Center, located at 384 East River Road, Oswego, NY 13126, houses historical Surrogate’s Court records dating to 1816. Records Center hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; call (315) 349-8461 with questions.
Probate records in Oswego County are generally open to the public. Exceptions may apply to guardianship proceedings involving minors or incapacitated persons, where the court may seal certain filings to protect the ward’s privacy.