St. Lawrence County Court Records Search
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St. Lawrence County occupies the northernmost reaches of New York State, spanning more than 2,800 square miles along the Canadian border. The county seat is Canton, where the St. Lawrence County Courthouse at 48 Court Street houses the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and Surrogate’s Court. As part of the 4th Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System, these courts generate and maintain records across criminal, civil, domestic, and probate proceedings. The St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office serves as the filing office for Supreme and County Court actions, while the individual court clerks maintain their own case files for Family Court and Surrogate’s Court matters. In addition to the courts in Canton, St. Lawrence County is home to dozens of town and village justice courts spread across its many municipalities.
Residents and attorneys seeking New York court records can begin their research through several channels, including clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and statewide online tools. The WebCivil Supreme portal provides free lookups for Supreme Court civil cases, while the NYSCEF case search allows users to view e-filed documents. The County Clerk also provides online land and property records through its SearchIQS portal. For broader orientation to New York courts and record types, NewYorkCourts.us may also help users identify available resources.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Lawrence County?
The approach to locating a court case in St. Lawrence County depends on whether the matter was heard in Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, or one of the local justice courts.
Step-by-step process for requesting records from the County Clerk:
- Download the fillable Search Request Form from the County Clerk’s website. As of June 1, 2024, this form is required for all criminal and civil search requests.
- Complete the form with the party name, case number (if known), and approximate date range.
- Submit the form in person or by mail to the County Clerk’s Office, along with applicable fees.
- Receive results by mail or pick them up at the office.
St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2237
Fax: (315) 379-2302
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Search and copy fees (set by New York State statute):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Court record search (per name, per 2-year period) | $15.00 |
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.65 (minimum $1.30, maximum $40.00 per document) |
| Certified copy | $5.00 (minimum $5.00, maximum $40.00 per document) |
| Exemplified copy | $10.00 (does not include certification fee) |
The office accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). A credit-card surcharge of 2.65% applies, with a minimum of $3.00 on charges up to $100.00.
Online search options. Supreme Court civil cases can be searched at no cost through WebCivil Supreme by index number, party name, attorney, or justice. Documents e-filed through the statewide NYSCEF system are also viewable online without an e-filing account. Land records, deeds, and mortgages are available through the Clerk’s SearchIQS portal, which offers a guest subscription at $15.00 per day (including $0.65 per image), or monthly subscriptions ranging from $250.00 to $600.00 depending on geography.
Are Court Records Public in St. Lawrence County?
Court records in St. Lawrence County are presumptively open to public inspection. Two legal frameworks govern access: the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, and Judiciary Law § 255, which specifically requires court clerks to search files upon request and provide copies at established rates.
Under Judiciary Law § 255, any person may request that a county clerk search the files, papers, records, and dockets in the clerk’s office and certify the results. The clerk must perform this search for the statutory fee. FOIL further establishes that records maintained by government agencies are available for public inspection and copying, unless a specific exemption applies.
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Sealed and expunged criminal records
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings
- Grand jury proceedings and records
- Adoption records (sealed under New York Domestic Relations Law § 114)
- Family Court records involving child protective proceedings
- Mental health records and evaluations
- Domestic violence victim safety information
- Law enforcement investigative records pertaining to open cases
- Protected witness and informant identities
- Records containing medical treatment details subject to HIPAA
When a record is partially restricted, the custodial office may redact confidential portions and provide the remainder. Individuals denied access to records they believe should be public may appeal through the FOIL process, beginning with the records-access officer for the relevant court or agency. The New York Committee on Open Government provides guidance on FOIL rights and procedures.
St. Lawrence County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in St. Lawrence County are divided among the County Court, Supreme Court, and the local town and village justice courts. The County Court handles felony trials and misdemeanor cases originating within the county. The Supreme Court has concurrent jurisdiction over felonies. Justice courts across the county’s municipalities preside over misdemeanors, violations, and vehicle-and-traffic infractions.
Key courts handling criminal matters:
St. Lawrence County Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2219
Fax: (315) 379-2423
St. Lawrence County Supreme Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-0326
Email: StLawrenceSupremeCo@nycourts.gov
The County Clerk’s Office files felony conviction records for both the Supreme and County Courts. To search criminal case records, requesters should use the mandatory Search Request Form and pay the $15.00 per-name, per-two-year search fee.
Statewide criminal history searches. For a comprehensive New York criminal history report, the Office of Court Administration operates a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for $95.00 per name and date of birth. This can be submitted online through the Direct Access program or by downloading the CHRS application form and mailing it to:
Criminal History Record Search Unit
NYS Office of Court Administration
Division of Technology and Court Research
25 Beaver Street, 8th Floor, Room 830
New York, NY 10004
Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov
Separately, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services provides fingerprint-based criminal history reviews for individuals seeking their own records.
Arrest records and law enforcement. The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, booking records, and warrant information. The Sheriff’s Criminal Division can be contacted at:
St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 48 Court Street, Building #8, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2222
Fax: (315) 379-0335
Access to criminal records may be restricted when disclosure would compromise ongoing investigations, reveal informant identities, or implicate privacy protections for sealed or expunged records.
St. Lawrence County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in St. Lawrence County is heard primarily in the Supreme Court, which has unlimited monetary jurisdiction, and the County Court, which handles civil claims up to $25,000. Town and village justice courts hear small claims and minor civil disputes. The County Clerk serves as clerk of both the Supreme and County Courts and maintains all civil case files for these courts.
Civil and matrimonial filing fees (per the County Clerk’s fee schedule):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Index number (standard civil/matrimonial) | $210.00 |
| Index number (foreclosure) | $400.00 |
| Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) | $95.00 |
| Demand for jury trial | $65.00 |
| Notice of appeal | $65.00 |
| Trial note of issue | $30.00 |
| Motion/cross-motion | $45.00 |
| Stipulation of settlement/voluntary discontinuance | $35.00 |
| Certificate of dissolution of marriage | $5.00 |
| Transcript of judgment (filing) | $10.00 |
| Default judgment (entry) | $45.00 |
Mandatory e-filing. Since October 2018, all new civil actions in St. Lawrence County must be e-filed through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system. E-filed documents become publicly searchable through NYSCEF’s online case search.
Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR). Petitions challenging property tax assessments are filed with the County Clerk for a fee of $30.00.
Searching civil records. In addition to submitting a search request form to the County Clerk, members of the public can search Supreme Court civil dockets through WebCivil Supreme at no charge. Users can query by index number, party name, attorney or firm, or justice. E-filed case documents are viewable through NYSCEF.
Judgment records. To file a transcript of judgment in the County Clerk’s office, the fee is $10.00. For the Clerk to issue an income execution or property execution, an additional $12.60 fee applies. Self-represented litigants can access standardized court forms at NYCourtHelp.
Property records. The County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, and UCC filings as Registrar of Deeds. Online searches are available through the SearchIQS portal, and e-recording is available through several approved vendors including Simplifile and CSC.
St. Lawrence County Family Court Records
The St. Lawrence County Family Court hears matters involving children and families, including adoption, guardianship, foster care, juvenile delinquency, family violence, child abuse and neglect, and child support, custody, and visitation. The court operates out of the county courthouse complex in Canton.
St. Lawrence County Family Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2410
Email: StLawrenceFamily@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Chief Clerk: Sarah LaShomb
Deputy Chief Clerk: Bridget Webber
Confidentiality of family court records. Under New York law, Family Court records carry significant access restrictions. Records of child protective proceedings, juvenile delinquency cases, and adoption proceedings are not open to the general public. Access is generally limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, authorized government agencies, and individuals who obtain a court order. Adoption records are sealed under Domestic Relations Law § 114 and cannot be opened without a judicial finding of good cause.
Individuals seeking family court records should contact the Family Court Clerk’s office directly. Those who need records that are sealed or restricted must petition the court and demonstrate a legitimate basis for access.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses and certificates are maintained by the town or city clerk where the marriage was performed. Copies of marriage records can also be ordered from the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section. The state fee for a certified copy of a marriage record by mail is $30.00.
Divorce records. Divorce decrees are filed with the County Clerk as part of Supreme Court matrimonial actions. The certificate of dissolution of marriage is filed for $5.00. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the County Clerk’s Office at established copy rates, or ordered from the New York State Department of Health.
Birth and death records. These vital records are maintained by the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. The fee for a certified copy ordered online is $45.00 (plus vendor processing fees), and the fee for a mail-in request is $30.00. Under New York law, birth records become public 75 years after the date of birth, and death records become public 50 years after the date of death. Before those periods expire, access is restricted to the individual named on the record, their parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives.
St. Lawrence County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in St. Lawrence County are handled by the Surrogate’s Court, which has jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons, including will probate, estate administration, trust matters, guardianships, conservatorships, and adoptions. The court operates under the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA).
St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2217
Fax: (315) 379-2372
Email: StLawrenceSurrogate@nycourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Judge: Hon. Michelle H. Ladouceur
Chief Clerk: Karlene Burley
Deputy Chief Clerk: Lynne Allen
Surrogate’s Court filing fees. Probate and administration fees are calculated on a sliding scale based on the gross value of the estate, as set by SCPA § 2402:
| Estate Value | 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 fixed-fee proceedings (SCPA § 2402(8)):
- Appointment of guardian: $20.00
- Compel production of a will: $20.00
- Appointment of trustee: $45.00
- Construction of will: $75.00
- Determination of right of election: $75.00
- Advice and directions: $75.00
- Demand for jury trial: $150.00
- Objections to probate: $150.00
- Search and certification (under 25 years): $30.00
- Search and certification (over 25 years): $90.00
- Certified/compared copy: $6.00 per page
Searching probate records. Since 1787, probate records including wills have been filed and maintained by the Surrogate’s Court. Individuals can contact the court directly by phone or email to request records, or visit the Clerk’s Office during business hours. Appointments may be required to examine older or archived records, and standard search and copy fees apply. Those conducting genealogical research should inquire with the Surrogate’s Court about available historical files and any appointment requirements.
How to request a probate record:
- Contact the Surrogate’s Court Clerk at (315) 379-2217 or StLawrenceSurrogate@nycourts.gov to determine whether the record exists and its accessibility.
- Provide the decedent’s name, approximate date of death or filing, and any known case or file number.
- Submit a written request or visit in person during office hours.
- Pay the applicable search fee ($30.00 for records under 25 years; $90.00 for records over 25 years) and any copy fees.
- Receive certified copies by mail or in person.
Probate records are generally public documents. However, records involving the guardianship of minors or incapacitated persons may contain confidential medical or financial information subject to restricted access. Adoption records processed through Surrogate’s Court are sealed under Domestic Relations Law § 114.