St. Lawrence County Court Records
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St. Lawrence County occupies the northernmost corner of New York State, covering 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 Surrogates Court. These courts are part of the New York State Unified Court System's 4th Judicial District and generate records across criminal, civil, domestic, and probate proceedings. The St. Lawrence County Clerks Office is the filing office for Supreme and County Court actions, while Family Court and Surrogates Court clerks maintain their own case files. Beyond Canton, dozens of town and village justice courts operate throughout the county's many municipalities.
If you're starting your research, you have several options: visiting a clerk's office in person, using public-access terminals at the courthouse, or searching through statewide online tools. The WebCivil Supreme portal offers free lookups for Supreme Court civil cases, and the NYSCEF case search lets you view e-filed documents. The County Clerk also provides online land and property records through its SearchIQS portal. For a broader orientation to New York courts and record types, NewYorkCourts.us can help you identify the right resources.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Lawrence County?
Where you start depends on which court handled the matter — Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogates Court, or a local justice court.
Step-by-step process for requesting records from the County Clerk:
- Download the fillable Search Request Form from the County Clerks 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 Clerks Office, along with the applicable fees.
- Pick up your results at the office or receive them by mail.
St. Lawrence County Clerks 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 generally open to public inspection. Two legal frameworks govern access: the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), found in Public Officers Law Article 6, and Judiciary Law 255, which specifically requires court clerks to search files on request and provide copies at established rates.
Under Judiciary Law 255, any person may ask a county clerk to search the files, papers, records, and dockets in the clerk's office and certify the results — and the clerk must carry out that search for the statutory fee. FOIL adds that records held 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 related to open cases
- Protected witness and informant identities
- Records containing medical treatment details subject to HIPAA
When a record is only partially restricted, the custodial office may redact confidential portions and release the rest. If you are denied access to records you believe should be public, you can appeal through the FOIL process, starting 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 split among the County Court, Supreme Court, and local town and village justice courts. The County Court handles felony trials and misdemeanor cases originating within the county, while the Supreme Court has concurrent jurisdiction over felonies. Town and village justice courts across the county 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
Felony conviction records for both the Supreme and County Courts are filed with the County Clerk's Office. To search criminal case records, 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 runs a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for $95.00 per name and date of birth. You can submit online through the Direct Access program or download the CHRS application form and mail 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 Sheriffs Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, booking records, and warrant information. The Sheriff's Criminal Division can be reached at:
St. Lawrence County Sheriffs 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 releasing them would compromise ongoing investigations, reveal informant identities, or implicate privacy protections for sealed or expunged records.
St. Lawrence County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in St. Lawrence County are 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 handle small claims and minor civil disputes. The County Clerk serves as clerk for both the Supreme and County Courts and maintains all civil case files for those 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, you can search Supreme Court civil dockets through WebCivil Supreme at no charge — querying by index number, party name, attorney or firm, or justice. E-filed case documents are viewable through NYSCEF.
Judgment records. Filing a transcript of judgment with the County Clerk costs $10.00. If you need the Clerk to issue an income execution or property execution, an additional $12.60 fee applies. Self-represented litigants can find 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. Family Court records carry significant access restrictions under New York law. 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, their attorneys, authorized government agencies, and anyone who obtains a court order. Adoption records are sealed under Domestic Relations Law 114 and cannot be opened without a judicial finding of good cause.
If you need family court records, contact the Family Court Clerk's office directly. Records that are sealed or restricted require you to petition the court and demonstrate a legitimate reason for access.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses and certificates are maintained by the town or city clerk where the marriage took place. 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 Surrogates Court, which has jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons — covering will probate, estate administration, trust matters, guardianships, conservatorships, and adoptions. The court operates under the Surrogates Court Procedure Act (SCPA).
St. Lawrence County Surrogates 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
Surrogates 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. Probate records — including wills — have been filed with the Surrogates Court since 1787. You 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 for older or archived files, and standard search and copy fees apply. If you are conducting genealogical research, ask the Surrogates Court about available historical files and any appointment requirements.
How to request a probate record:
- Contact the Surrogates Court Clerk at (315) 379-2217 or StLawrenceSurrogate@nycourts.gov to confirm the record exists and determine 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 Surrogates Court are sealed under Domestic Relations Law 114.