Nyc Court Records | Free Public Search Online

by
⚖
Court Records Search

Search Court Records by Name

Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.

Court Cases Criminal Records Arrest Records Traffic Cases Civil Cases Background Records
New York City court records • official 5-borough search helper

NYC Court Records | Free Public Search Online

NYC court records are not one simple database. A Manhattan divorce decree, Brooklyn Housing Court case, Queens criminal disposition, Bronx deed, Staten Island recording, Family Court file and Surrogate’s estate record can all use different official systems.

This practical guide shows you exactly where to search, what to enter, what the result means, when to request certified copies, and how to avoid the wrong private “instant records” sites.

Start Official e-Courts Search Official Records Help Find NYC County Clerk
NYC record sorter

Pick borough → pick court type → use the official tool. The moving folder shows why routing matters before searching.

BoroughNY, Kings, Queens, Bronx, Richmond
Record Typecivil, criminal, family, estate
Official Actionsearch, copy, certify
5-borough court route

Quick answer: Use the official New York Courts e-Courts page for free NYC court-record lookup. Use WebCivil Supreme for Supreme Court civil cases, WebCivil Local for NYC Civil Court, Housing Court and small claims, WebCriminal for selected criminal cases with future appearances, WebFamily for Family Court case information, WebSurrogate for estate and probate files, and NYSCEF “Search as Guest” for many e-filed documents. Use ACRIS for NYC property records and OCA CHRS for statewide criminal-history searches.

🧭 Pick tool ⚡ Fast finder 🗽 Borough/county 🔎 e-Courts 📄 Civil/Housing ⚖️ Criminal ✅ Copies 🏢 ACRIS 📜 Estates 📘 Small claims 💡 Tips ❓ FAQs
Independent guide disclaimer: This page is not the official New York State Unified Court System, NYC Department of Finance, Office of Court Administration, County Clerk, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, Criminal Court, Civil Court, ACRIS, DCJS, NYPD or federal court website. Verify court dates, sealing rules, copy fees, filing fees, payments, clerk locations and official records directly with the proper agency.
Court record router

Which NYC Court Records Search Should You Use?

The biggest mistake is searching the wrong system. Choose the record type before typing a name. This saves time, avoids bad results, and helps you know which clerk can actually issue official copies.

Supreme / Civil

Civil lawsuits, Supreme Court cases, divorce, judgments, e-filed documents and County Clerk records.

Criminal

Future appearances, Certificate of Disposition, criminal-history search and criminal court record routing.

Family / Housing

Family Court, Housing Court, landlord-tenant, custody, support, visitation and local civil matters.

Property / Estate

ACRIS deeds, mortgages, liens, Surrogate’s estate files, wills and probate records.

User need Official route Search by Practical shortcut
Supreme Court civil case in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx or Staten Island WebCivil Supreme Index number, party name, attorney or calendar information. If the case is e-filed, use NYSCEF Search as Guest to look for documents.
NYC Civil Court, Housing Court, small claims or local civil case WebCivil Local Index/docket number, party name, court, borough or calendar details. Landlord-tenant cases may appear only after calendaring and may not stay online forever.
Criminal case with a future appearance WebCriminal Defendant name, docket number, court or calendar details. WebCriminal is not a full background check or certified disposition.
Family Court case information WebFamily File/docket number, attorney name or law firm name where available. Family records can be restricted. Call before assuming public access.
Estate, probate or will record WebSurrogate Name, file number, old index, index book pages or will search. Some documents are restricted or only viewable at Surrogate’s Court.
E-filed Supreme Court documents NYSCEF Search as Guest Case number, party, attorney, court or filed document. Guest search does not require an e-filing account.
Statewide criminal-history search OCA CHRS Exact name and date of birth. CHRS is not certified and is not the same as a Certificate of Disposition.
Deed, mortgage, lien or NYC property document NYC ACRIS Party name, BBL, CRFN, document type, reel/page, UCC or lien number. Use ACRIS for property records, not WebCivil.
Real NYC trap: “NYC court records” can mean court dockets, filed documents, divorce decrees, criminal dispositions, ACRIS property records, Surrogate’s files or criminal-history reports. These are not interchangeable.
30-second finder

NYC Court Records Fast Finder: What Should You Click First?

Use these practical shortcuts when you do not know legal terms. This is the fastest way to match a real-life problem with the correct official tool.

Your situation Click first What to keep ready What not to do
“I have a case date or need to see if a case exists.” e-Courts Borough/county, party name, docket/index number, attorney name or date. Do not pay a private search site before checking official e-Courts.
“I need the actual PDF documents.” NYSCEF Search as Guest Index number, county, case name or attorney. Do not assume every document is public or e-filed.
“I need proof of a criminal case outcome.” Certificate of Disposition Docket number, defendant name, date of birth, arrest date and photo ID. Do not use WebCriminal as official disposition proof.
“I need a statewide NY criminal-history search.” OCA CHRS Exact name, date of birth and payment method. Do not confuse CHRS with a certified court disposition.
“I need a deed, mortgage or property owner document.” ACRIS Borough, block and lot, party name, CRFN or address. Do not search court dockets for deed images.
“I need a will, estate or probate file.” WebSurrogate Decedent name, county, file number or date of death. Do not search Civil Court for estate files.
Senior-friendly rule: Write down the borough/county, court type, full name, case number, search date and official link you used. This makes it much easier when you call the clerk.
Borough routing

NYC Borough Names vs County Names Used by Courts

Official court tools often use county names. If you type “Brooklyn” when the system expects “Kings County,” you may think no record exists.

Borough users say County name courts may use Common records Search tip
Manhattan New York County Supreme Court civil, Civil Court, Criminal Court, Housing, Surrogate’s, County Clerk. For Manhattan Supreme Court and County Clerk records, 60 Centre Street pages are often the key.
Brooklyn Kings County Civil, criminal, housing, family, surrogate, Supreme Court and County Clerk records. Choose Kings County when the official system does not list Brooklyn.
Queens Queens County Supreme Court, civil, criminal, housing, family, surrogate and County Clerk records. Queens County Clerk guidance points users to NYSCEF and online record viewing for Supreme Court matters.
Bronx Bronx County Civil, criminal, housing, family, Supreme Court, Surrogate’s and County Clerk records. Use Bronx County, not only “Bronx,” when a court search asks for county.
Staten Island Richmond County Civil, criminal, family, surrogate, Supreme Court and property recording. For Staten Island property recording, use Richmond County Clerk, not normal ACRIS recording.
Open NYC County Clerks Find a NY Court
Official tools

New York Courts e-Courts Tools for NYC Records

The e-Courts page is the official doorway for many public court applications. It includes WebCivil Local, WebCivil Supreme, WebCriminal, WebFamily, WebSurrogate, eTrack, NYSCEF, traffic payments and other court tools.

WebCivil Supreme

Use for Supreme Court civil case information by index number, party, attorney or calendar route.

Open WebCivil Supreme

WebCivil Local

Use for NYC Civil Court, Housing Court, small claims and local civil case information.

Open WebCivil Local

WebCriminal

Use for selected criminal cases with future appearance dates. It is not a full rap sheet.

Open WebCriminal

WebFamily

Use for available Family Court case information. Sensitive cases can be restricted.

Open WebFamily

WebSurrogate

Use for Surrogate’s Court estate, will, file and historical index searches where available.

Open WebSurrogate

NYSCEF

Use Search as Guest for many e-filed Supreme Court documents without creating an e-filing account.

Open NYSCEF
Insider workflow: Use WebCivil to find the case number and status. Then use NYSCEF to look for documents. If a document is missing, restricted, sealed or older, contact the clerk for copy rules.
Civil, housing, small claims

NYC Civil Court Records, Housing Court and Small Claims

The NYC Civil Court handles general civil cases, housing/landlord-tenant matters and small claims. Official NY Courts guidance says NYC Civil Court decides lawsuits involving claims for damages up to $50,000, small claims up to $10,000, and claims related to housing.

Use NYC Civil Court for

  • Small claims
  • Commercial small claims
  • Housing Court / landlord-tenant cases
  • General Civil matters within Civil Court limits
  • Local civil calendars and case search
  • Self-help forms and court-location guidance

Before filing small claims

  • Confirm the defendant’s correct legal name.
  • Confirm the defendant lives, works or does business in NYC.
  • Prepare receipts, contracts, photos, estimates, texts and emails.
  • Only ask for money; small claims cannot force someone to do something.
  • Check deadlines before suing a city, county or government agency.
PDF detail converted: The official Small Claims guide says NYC small claims can be up to $10,000, individual claimants must generally be 18 or older, filing fees are based on claim amount, and commercial claims may require a demand letter for consumer transactions. It also warns that defendant service matters because a trial cannot happen if the defendant is not served.
Open NYC Civil Court Search WebCivil Local Open Small Claims PDF
Criminal records

NYC Criminal Court Records, WebCriminal, Certificates of Disposition and CHRS

There are three different criminal-record needs: checking a future appearance, getting official proof of a case outcome, and ordering a statewide criminal-history search. Do not treat them as the same.

What you need Official route What it does Important limit
Future criminal court appearance WebCriminal Shows selected criminal case and future appearance information. Not a full criminal-history report and may not show closed or sealed matters.
Official proof of case outcome Certificate of Disposition Official court-sealed document showing what happened in a criminal case. Different courts have different processes; sealed cases require proper authorization.
Statewide New York criminal-history search OCA CHRS Name-and-DOB exact-match criminal-history search from OCA. Costs $95, is not certified, is not nationwide, and does not include every possible record type.
Police report or arrest paperwork NYPD Record Requests Police-record process, separate from court dockets. Police reports and court records have different access rules.
Important: CHRS is based on exact name and date of birth. Name variation or DOB mismatch can miss records. A CHRS report is not certified and should not be confused with a Certificate of Disposition from the court of original jurisdiction.

Criminal-record clerk script:

I need official proof of what happened in a New York City criminal case. The defendant name is _____. The docket/case number is _____. Do I need a Certificate of Disposition, and which court clerk should I contact?
Official copies

How to Get Official or Certified NYC Court Records

Online search results are not the same as certified copies. For official use, ask the clerk for the exact copy type needed by the agency, employer, school, court, immigration office, benefits office or title company.

1

Write down the borough/county

Use New York County for Manhattan, Kings County for Brooklyn, Queens County, Bronx County, or Richmond County for Staten Island.

2

Find the case or file number first

Use WebCivil, WebCriminal, WebFamily, WebSurrogate or NYSCEF to locate the index number, docket number, file number, party names and dates.

3

Ask for the exact document

Request the final order, judgment, divorce decree, Certificate of Disposition, transcript of judgment, will, probate record, deed or filed document by name.

4

Confirm plain, certified or exemplified copy

Plain copies are for reading. Certified copies are for official proof. Exemplified or apostille-related steps may be needed for out-of-state or international use.

5

Bring ID and acceptable payment

New York County records guidance says ID may be held while viewing certain records and personal/company checks are not accepted there. Other boroughs may have different rules.

Manhattan copy detail: New York County pages list records at 60 Centre Street and explain that certified divorce judgments may involve the Record Room and Certification Desk. Divorce files are confidential and generally limited to parties, attorneys of record or properly authorized people.
Court Records Help NYC County Clerks New York County Records Room
Property records

NYC Property Records, Deeds, Mortgages, Liens and ACRIS

If your search is about a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, lien, property owner, title issue, BBL, recorded lease or tax document, use ACRIS instead of court case search.

ACRIS can help with

  • Deeds and mortgages
  • Property document images
  • Borough-block-lot lookup
  • CRFN and document ID searches
  • Reel/page records
  • Federal tax liens and UCC documents
  • Cover pages and tax forms for recording
  • Transfer-tax payment for property filings

ACRIS coverage warning

ACRIS covers property records and document images for Manhattan, Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn from 1966-present. Staten Island property recording uses Richmond County Clerk, although some transfer-tax workflows still involve ACRIS.

Property alert tip: NYC’s Notice of Recorded Document system can notify owners when deed, mortgage and related documents are recorded against a property. It is a notice tool, not a fraud-prevention lock.
Open NYC ACRIS Search ACRIS Property Records Property Recording Notice
Estate & probate

NYC Surrogate’s Court, Probate, Estate and Will Records

Use Surrogate’s Court records for estates, wills, administration, probate, guardianship-related filings and historical surrogate indexes. WebSurrogate is the official public search route for many available files.

Search option Use it for Micro-level tip
Name Search Find Surrogate’s Court files by party name. Try date of death filters if the name is common.
File Search Search by Surrogate’s Court file number. Best when paperwork already gives you the file number.
Will Search Search wills filed for safekeeping. Some safekeeping will records are not public for viewing.
Old Index / Index Book Pages Historical Surrogate’s Court index records. Not all historical images are available online; court access may be needed.
WebSurrogate reality: WebSurrogate is free and can show public file history and documents, but it limits restricted file records and some older or confidential documents. When an image is missing, contact the Surrogate’s Court for that county.
Open WebSurrogate Find Surrogate’s Court
Official PDF audit

Small Claims PDF Details Converted Into Practical NYC Steps

The official Small Claims Court guide includes details that are easy to miss. Here is the useful version for NYC users.

Who can use small claims?

Individuals age 18 or older can sue. If a claimant is under 18, a parent or guardian can sue for them. Corporations, associations, partnerships and assignees generally use commercial small claims.

What can you sue for?

Small Claims Court is for money only. You cannot use it to force someone to do something or to ask for non-money relief.

Filing details that matter

You need the correct name and street address of each defendant and claimant, and you must explain what happened and when it happened.

NYC limit

The official guide says NYC small claims can be up to $10,000. You cannot split a larger claim into smaller claims just to fit the limit.

Service warning

The court sends notice to the defendant. If the defendant is not served, the trial cannot happen.

Commercial claims

Commercial claimants may need to send a demand letter first for consumer transactions and cannot file unlimited commercial claims.

Open Small Claims PDF Open NYC Small Claims Forms Start Small Claims Case
Fees & payments

NYC Court Record Fees, Search Limits and Payment Traps

Free search is not the same as free official copies. Fees can apply for filing, certification, copies, CHRS, Certificates of Disposition, small claims, NYSCEF filings and property recordings.

Action Official source What to verify
Search e-Courts NY Courts e-Courts Correct tool, court type, borough/county, case number and whether documents are available.
NYSCEF document search NYSCEF Use Search as Guest for public e-filed records; restricted documents may not display.
Small Claims filing NY Courts filing fees Claim amount, court location, filing fee, mailing/postage and whether the defendant can be sued there.
CHRS criminal-history search OCA CHRS Fee, exact name/DOB, non-certified status, sealed-record limits and whether a certificate is needed instead.
Certificate of Disposition Certificate of Disposition Court of original jurisdiction, photo ID, docket number, fee and sealed-record authorization.
New York County certified copies New York County Certified Copies Record room/certification desk, ID, copy fee, certification fee and confidentiality rules.
ACRIS property search/recording NYC ACRIS Borough coverage, BBL, CRFN, tax forms, e-recording rules and Staten Island exception.
Payment safety: Start from nycourts.gov, iapps.courts.state.ny.us, websurrogates.nycourts.gov, nyc.gov or ACRIS before paying. Private “instant court records” websites cannot replace certified court records.
Real insider tips

NYC Court Records Insider Tips That Save Time

Use county names

Try New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx or Richmond County. Official tools may not use borough nicknames.

Search broad first

Start with last name, business name, docket/index number or year. Then narrow by court and borough.

Separate case from document

WebCivil can show a case exists. NYSCEF or the clerk may be needed for the actual document.

Criminal search has layers

WebCriminal, Certificate of Disposition and CHRS answer different questions. Choose the one the requesting agency needs.

Use ACRIS for property

Deeds, mortgages and liens are not normal court cases. Search ACRIS or Richmond County Clerk for Staten Island recording.

Ask for the right copy

Plain, certified, exemplified, sealed, divorce, disposition and CHRS records are not interchangeable.

Do not rely on WebCriminal alone

It can be useful for future appearances, but closed, sealed or old records may require a clerk or Certificate of Disposition route.

For landlords/tenants

Search WebCivil Local, but remember landlord-tenant online visibility can be limited by calendar status and timing.

For genealogy

Old probate, surrogate, marriage, death or property records may require Surrogate’s Court, City Register, archives or vital-record offices, not court search.

Best clerk call script:

I’m trying to get a New York City court record. The borough/county is _____. The court type is _____. The case or file number is _____. Do I need WebCivil, WebCriminal, NYSCEF, WebSurrogate, ACRIS, CHRS, or a certified copy from your clerk’s office?
Troubleshooting

NYC Court Record Not Found? Try These Fixes

Problem Likely reason Best fix
Name search shows no result Wrong borough/county, spelling issue, sealed record, old case, wrong system. Try county name, broader spelling, index/docket number and another official tool.
Criminal case disappeared WebCriminal is not a permanent full criminal-history archive. Ask about a Certificate of Disposition or use OCA CHRS when appropriate.
Need divorce decree Divorce records are Supreme Court/County Clerk records and can be confidential. Find the index number and contact the correct county clerk with ID/authorization.
Need landlord-tenant case Housing Court is part of NYC Civil Court/local civil search routes. Use WebCivil Local and choose the correct borough/court.
Need estate or will file Surrogate’s Court files are separate from Civil and Criminal Court tools. Use WebSurrogate, then contact the county Surrogate’s Court if images are unavailable.
Need property owner or deed This is a property record, not a court docket. Use ACRIS for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx; check Richmond County Clerk for Staten Island recording.
Map & visit

NYC Court Records Office Map

The map below points to the New York County Supreme Court and County Clerk area at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan. This is useful for many Manhattan Supreme Court civil, records room and certification questions. For Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx or Staten Island, confirm the correct borough court or county clerk before traveling.

Open 60 Centre Street Map Find the Correct Court
Safety

Privacy, Sealed Records and Scam Warnings

Some NYC court records are public, but sealed, confidential, juvenile, family, domestic violence, matrimonial, adoption, protected personal-information and certain criminal records may not be available online.

Do not misuse records: Do not harass, shame, stalk, threaten or discriminate against someone based on a docket, complaint, arrest, case mention or private background result. A filing or charge is not the same as a final judgment or conviction.
Safe rule: If the record affects employment, housing, licensing, immigration, school, benefits, travel, probate, property title or a legal deadline, use the official clerk, OCA, NYSCEF, ACRIS or court system directly.
FAQs

NYC Court Records FAQs

How do I search NYC court records online for free?

Start with the official New York Courts e-Courts page. Use WebCivil Supreme, WebCivil Local, WebCriminal, WebFamily, WebSurrogate or NYSCEF depending on the court type and record you need.

What is the official NYC court records website?

The official statewide court system website is nycourts.gov. For NYC property records, use the official NYC Department of Finance ACRIS system on nyc.gov or the ACRIS portal.

Can I search NYC court records by name?

Yes, some official tools allow party-name searches. Search broad first, then narrow by borough/county, court type, index number, docket number or date.

How do I find NYC criminal court records?

Use WebCriminal for selected criminal cases with future appearances. For an official outcome document, request a Certificate of Disposition. For statewide New York criminal-history information, use OCA CHRS.

Is WebCriminal the same as a criminal background check?

No. WebCriminal is not a full criminal-history search. Use the Office of Court Administration Criminal History Record Search when a statewide criminal-history report is required.

Where do I get certified NYC court records?

Contact the correct County Clerk or court clerk based on borough, court type and document type. Supreme Court records and certifications often go through the County Clerk for that county.

How do I find NYC Civil Court or Housing Court records?

Use WebCivil Local for NYC Civil Court, Housing Court, small claims and local civil searches. Confirm the borough and court before requesting copies or attending court.

How do I search NYC Supreme Court civil records?

Use WebCivil Supreme for Supreme Court civil case information. If the case is e-filed, use NYSCEF Search as Guest to look for filed documents.

How do I find NYC estate or probate records?

Use WebSurrogate for Surrogate’s Court estate, will, file and historical index searches where available. Some documents are restricted or require in-court access.

How do I find NYC property records?

Use NYC ACRIS for deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded property documents for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx. Staten Island property recording uses Richmond County Clerk.

Why can’t I find a NYC court case online?

The case may be in another borough, listed under a county name, sealed, confidential, too old, too new, restricted, federal, not e-filed, or in a different court system. Try another official tool or contact the clerk.

Should I pay a private NYC court-records website?

Start with official nycourts.gov, nyc.gov, NYSCEF, WebSurrogate, ACRIS or OCA tools first. Private sites may be incomplete, outdated or not accepted for official use.

Best Next Step for NYC Court Records

Pick the record type first. Use WebCivil Supreme for Supreme Court civil cases, WebCivil Local for Civil/Housing/small claims, WebCriminal for selected criminal appearances, WebFamily for Family Court, WebSurrogate for estate records, NYSCEF for e-filed documents, CHRS for statewide criminal-history search, and ACRIS for property records. For official use, contact the correct clerk and ask for the right copy type before paying.

Start Official e-Courts Search Read Court Records Help Find County Clerk

Official-source check completed July 20, 2026. Court tools, public access rules, fees, sealing rules, copy procedures, payment portals, clerk locations and property-record systems can change. Verify directly with New York Courts, NYC Finance, the correct County Clerk, OCA, ACRIS, Surrogate’s Court, NYPD or the relevant court office before legal, financial, employment, licensing, immigration, housing, probate, property-title or official use.

Leave a Comment