Queens County Court Records
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Queens County — the largest borough in New York City by land area and the most ethnically diverse county in the United States — runs an extensive court system within the 11th Judicial District. With courts spread across multiple locations in Jamaica and Kew Gardens, Queens handles a tremendous volume of civil, criminal, family, and probate cases each year. Whether you need a copy of a civil judgment, information about a criminal proceeding, or access to a probate file, the first step is identifying which court and clerk's office holds the record. This guide breaks down the courts that serve Queens County, the records each one maintains, the ways to search and obtain those records, and the legal rules that determine what is and isn't open to the public.
Court records throughout New York State are accessible through official clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and several electronic case search tools maintained by the state judiciary. NewYorkCourts.us provides directory information for courts statewide and links to the online databases that may help you find publicly available case information for Queens County and other jurisdictions.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Queens County?
Queens County is served by multiple courts, each with its own jurisdiction and filing location. The Queens County Clerk's Office maintains Supreme Court case records and serves as the central filing point for civil and criminal Supreme Court matters. Civil Court, Criminal Court, Family Court, and Surrogates Court all have their own clerks and records rooms.
Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court Civil Term | 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435 | (718) 298-1000 |
| Supreme Court Civil Term (LIC) | 25-10 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101 | (718) 298-1000 |
| Supreme Court Criminal Term | 125-01 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11415 | (718) 298-1408 |
| NYC Criminal Court Queens | 125-01 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11415 | (718) 298-0792 |
| NYC Civil Court Queens | 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435 | (718) 262-7138 |
| Family Court Queens County | 151-20 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432 | (718) 298-0197 |
| Surrogates Court Queens County | 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435 | (718) 298-0500 |
Queens County Clerk's Office
Address: 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435
Phone: (718) 298-0601
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Email: QCCQuestions@nycourts.gov
Online Case Search Tools
Several free databases let you search Queens County court records electronically:
- Queens County Clerk Case Search — Search civil Supreme Court records by party name, index number, or other identifiers for cases from 1992 to the present. An expanded document and business search covers cases with activity since 2006.
- WebCivil Supreme — Statewide search of active and disposed Supreme Court civil cases by party name, attorney, index number, or calendar.
- WebCrims / eCourts WebCriminal — Criminal case information for matters with upcoming court dates in Criminal Court and Supreme Court Criminal Term.
- WebCivil Local — Civil Court (non-Supreme) case search for Queens County.
- NYSCEF — Access electronically filed documents in Supreme Court and Surrogates Court cases. No account needed to search.
- eCourts Portal — A central hub linking WebCivil, WebCrims, WebFamily, WebHousing, and other tools.
Mail Requests
Send written requests for Supreme Court records to the Queens County Clerk's Office at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435. Include the case parties' names, the index number, the type of document sought, and the applicable fees. Pay by U.S. postal money order, certified check, or NYS attorney's check — personal checks are not accepted. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.
Are Court Records Public in Queens County?
Queens County court records are presumptively open to public inspection under Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law, which directs court clerks to make records available during regular business hours. Anyone who submits an appropriate request and pays the applicable fees can generally obtain copies of most court records.
Records Generally Available:
- Civil case filings, motions, decisions, and orders
- Criminal case calendars and disposition information
- Judgments, liens, and satisfactions
- Probate filings and wills admitted to probate
- Business certificates and corporate filings
- Land records and property liens
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential:
New York law limits public access to certain categories of confidential court records, including:
- Mental health records
- Probation records
- Adoption records, sealed under Domestic Relations Law 114
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Records of alcohol and drug treatment programs
- Criminal records sealed under CPL 160.50 after a favorable termination
- Youthful offender adjudications under CPL 720.35
- Matrimonial (divorce) files, which are confidential under Domestic Relations Law 235
- Expunged marijuana conviction records
Under 22 NYCRR 202.5(e), litigants must redact confidential personal identifiers — including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial account numbers — before filing any documents with the court. Gaining access to sealed records requires a court order.
Queens County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Queens County run through two courts. Misdemeanors, violations, and summons matters go to NYC Criminal Court Queens County, while felony cases proceed through Supreme Court Criminal Term. Both operate out of 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.
NYC Criminal Court Queens County
Address: 125-01 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone: (718) 298-0792
Fax: (718) 520-4712
Arraignments: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Clerk's Office: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Supreme Court Criminal Term
Address: 125-01 Queens Blvd., Room 710, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone: (718) 298-1400 (Records Room) / (718) 298-1408 (General)
Searching Criminal Records Online
The eCourts WebCriminal portal shows case scheduling and status for criminal matters with upcoming appearance dates. For a broader background search, the New York State Office of Court Administration runs the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS), which covers open, pending, and convicted criminal cases from all 62 counties. The fee is $95 per search, based on an exact match of name and date of birth. Submit requests through the online Direct Access program or by mailing the CHRS application form to:
NYS Office of Court Administration
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street, Room 940
New York, NY 10004
Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov
The CHRS report excludes sealed records, youthful offender dispositions, Family Court transfers, and non-criminal violations. It is not a certified document.
Law Enforcement Records
The New York City Police Department maintains arrest records separately from court files. Direct requests to the NYPD Criminal Records Unit at 375 Pearl Street, Suite 4, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10038, Phone: (718) 610-8457 The Office of the Sheriff in Queens County, located at 30-10 Starr Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101, Phone: (718) 707-2170, handles civil enforcement and maintains certain records. Current inmates can be located through the NYC Department of Corrections Inmate Lookup Service.
Additional criminal records requests can go to the District Attorney's Office under FOIL, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for state prison records, and the Division of Criminal Justice Services for individual rap sheet reviews.
Queens County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Queens County divides between courts based on the claim amount. Supreme Court Civil Term hears cases exceeding $25,000 and all matrimonial actions. NYC Civil Court Queens County handles civil claims up to $50,000, small claims not exceeding $10,000, and landlord-tenant disputes.
NYC Civil Court Queens County
Main Courthouse: 89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435
Civil Clerk: (718) 262-7138
Housing Part: (718) 262-7145
Small Claims Part: (718) 262-7123
Online Civil Case Searches
To search Supreme Court civil cases:
- Visit the Queens County Clerk Case Search portal or WebCivil Supreme.
- Select your search method — party name, attorney, index number, or calendar.
- Choose Queens from the court list.
- Enter the required details and submit.
For electronically filed cases, NYSCEF gives you free access to filed documents. Civil Court cases (non-Supreme) can be searched through WebCivil Local.
Queens County Clerk's Office Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies (per page) | $0.65 (minimum $1.50) |
| Certified copy of Supreme Court document | $8.00 per certification |
| Certified copy of business/corporation filing | $10.00 per certification |
| Exemplified copy | $25.00 plus certification fee |
| Search certificate (2-year search) | $10.00 |
| Additional years searched | $5.00 per 2 years |
Payment is accepted by U.S. postal money order, certified check, or NYS attorney's check only. Personal checks are not accepted. Separate money orders are required for each search period and for certification fees.
Property Liens and Judgments
For notices of pendency (lis pendens), mechanics liens, building loan agreements, sidewalk violations, or foreclosures, contact the Queens County Clerk's Block and Lot Clerk at (718) 298-0612. Property records can also be searched online through the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS), which contains records from 1966 to the present. The Queens City Register Office is located at 144-06 94th Avenue, open Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Queens County Family Court Records
The Queens County Family Court hears cases involving children, families, and domestic relationships — including custody and visitation disputes, child support proceedings, domestic violence petitions, juvenile delinquency matters, child abuse and neglect cases, foster care reviews, guardianship of minors, paternity proceedings, and adoptions.
Queens County Family Court
Address: 151-20 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432
Phone: (718) 298-0197
Help Center: (718) 298-0295
Fax: (212) 401-9234
Email: queensfamilycourt@nycourts.gov
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.; petitions filed beginning at 8:30 a.m.)
Supervising Judge: Hon. Gigi Parris
On-site interpreter services are available in Spanish, Bengali, and Korean. Other languages can be arranged upon request for future court dates.
Confidentiality of Family Court Records
Family Court records in Queens County are confidential and restricted to persons directly involved in the proceedings — typically the parties, their attorneys, and authorized agencies. Members of the public cannot inspect these files without a court order. Adoption records are sealed upon entry of the adoption decree and require a showing of good cause to unseal.
Certain Family Court case information is searchable online through the WebFamily portal, which allows lookups by file number, docket number, or attorney/law firm name.
Divorce Records
Divorce is a civil action filed in Supreme Court, not Family Court. Divorce decrees and related documents are maintained by the Queens County Clerk and are confidential under Domestic Relations Law 235. Access is limited to the parties, the attorney of record, or a person bearing a notarized authorization from a party or their attorney.
To obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree from the Queens County Clerk, provide:
- A government-issued photo ID
- The names of the parties as listed at the time of filing
- The index number or approximate year the case began
- The $8.00 certification fee (plus $0.65 per page for copies)
The New York State Department of Health also maintains divorce records statewide. Submit requests by mail using the divorce record request form sent to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Mail-order copies cost $30, while online or phone requests through the department's authorized service cost $45. Phone orders can be placed at (855) 322-1022.
Marriage Records
Queens County marriage records are maintained by the New York City Marriage Bureau within the City Clerk's Office. In-person requests require a scheduled appointment at:
Borough Hall Building
120-55 Queens Boulevard, Ground Floor, Room G-100
Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Marriage records for domestic use cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy. For foreign use, the first copy costs $35 and each additional copy costs $30.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates for Queens County residents are maintained by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. These records are confidential under New York State Public Health Law, with access limited to authorized persons. Submit requests through the department's online service, by mail using the birth certificate application or death certificate application, or by scheduling an in-person appointment. Mail requests go to the Office of Vital Records, 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013-4090.
Queens County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Queens County are handled exclusively by the Queens County Surrogates Court, which has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of intestate estates, guardianship of incapacitated persons, trust matters, conservatorships, accounting proceedings, and adoptions.
Queens County Surrogates Court
Address: 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435
Clerk's Office: (718) 298-0500
Records: (718) 298-0440
Email: qnssurr-info@nycourts.gov
Calendar/Adjournments: qnssurr-calendar@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Searching Probate Records Online
The WebSurrogate portal is a free tool that lets anyone search Surrogates Court files, retrieve documents, and view historical records that are considered public. The WebSurrogate search page offers name search, file search, and old index search options. Cases filed electronically can also be found through NYSCEF.
Requesting Records In Person or by Mail
Walk-in requests are handled at the Surrogates Court clerk's office during business hours. Send written requests to Queens County Surrogates Court, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435. Include the decedent's full name, approximate date of death, file number if known, and the applicable fees.
Surrogates Court Fees
Filing fees for probate and administration petitions are set by SCPA 2402 and are based on the gross estate value:
| Estate Value | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | $45 |
| $10,000–$19,999 | $75 |
| $20,000–$49,999 | $215 |
| $50,000–$99,999 | $280 |
| $100,000–$249,999 | $420 |
| $250,000–$499,999 | $625 |
| $500,000 and over | $1,250 |
Exemplified copies — often required for use in other jurisdictions — cost $20 plus $6 per page for each document, payable by cashier's check from a New York bank, attorney's check, or money order payable to the Queens County Clerk. The New York State Bar Association also offers a Pro Bono program providing free legal assistance on certain Surrogates Court matters.
Probate records, including wills that have been admitted to probate, are public and can be inspected by anyone. Adoption records handled through Surrogates Court are sealed, and access requires a court order. Guardianship files may contain confidential medical and financial information, and access to those records may be limited at the court's discretion.