| County Clerk | Queens County Clerk's Office — Records Search Department |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435 |
| Phone | (718) 298-0609 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | 1992 |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Queens County's County Clerk office, based in Jamaica, keeps Supreme Court civil filings, judgments, liens, and business certificates for the borough, and also serves as jury commissioner. Its Records Search Department lets the public look up index numbers and filed documents from 1992 to the present online, with older files available in person or by written request.
As in the rest of New York City, misdemeanors and violations are handled by the Criminal Court of the City of New York, and smaller civil claims and small claims by the Civil Court of the City of New York, both city-wide systems that keep their own records separately from the County Clerk. Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Queens are likewise separate offices with their own chief clerks.
Search Queens County court records online
County Clerk
Queens County Clerk's Office — Records Search Department
- Cost
- Free case search; fees for copies and certification
- Coverage
- Supreme Court civil case index and documents for index years 1992 to present, plus judgments, liens, and business certificate filings
- Records
- Civil
A New York State attorney or other authorized user can request an account for more detailed online document access.
Other courts
Criminal Court of the City of New York
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Misdemeanors, violations, and arraignments in the Queens County part of the city-wide Criminal Court
- Records
- Criminal
Not indexed by the County Clerk; search pending cases through WebCrims.
Other courts
Civil Court of the City of New York
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Civil claims up to $50,000, small claims, and Housing Part cases in the Queens County part
- Records
- Civil
A separate office from the County Clerk.
Other courts
WebCrims
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Pending criminal case information for Queens County courts
- Records
- Criminal
Statewide portal for status on pending Queens County criminal matters.
What is available online
The Records Search Department's online tool covers Supreme Court civil index numbers from 1992 forward and business filings. Criminal case status, Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and the city-wide Criminal and Civil Courts are separate systems not covered by the County Clerk's search. Documents for cases before 1992 are available only in person or by written request.
Which clerk has your record
In New York, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the New York page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| County Court | Felony criminal cases outside New York City; Civil cases up to $50,000 (concurrent with Supreme Court); Appeals from town, village, and city courts in some counties | County Clerk, acting as Clerk of the County Court |
| Family Court | Child custody and visitation; Child support and paternity; Abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency | Chief Clerk of the Family Court for that county |
| Surrogate's Court | Probate of wills; Administration of estates without a will; Guardianship | Surrogate's Court Clerk for that county |
| New York City Criminal Court and Civil Court | Misdemeanors and violations (Criminal Court); Arraignments and desk-appearance tickets (Criminal Court); Civil claims up to $50,000 and small claims (Civil Court) | Chief Clerk of the Criminal Court or Civil Court of the City of New York, by borough |
| District Court | Misdemeanors; Civil claims up to $15,000; Small claims | Clerk of the District Court |
| City Courts | Misdemeanors and violations within city limits; Civil claims up to the city court's jurisdictional limit; Small claims | City Court Clerk for that city |
| Town and Village Justice Courts | Traffic infractions and vehicle and traffic law violations; Local ordinance violations; Small claims | Court Clerk for that town or village justice court |
Request records in person or by mail
Queens County clerk offices
88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435
Phone: (718) 298-0609
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Supreme Court civil records. Search the County Clerk's online index by index number or party name for cases from 1992 forward. For older cases, visit the Records Search Department at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435, or submit a written request. Certified copies require a request to the clerk's office and payment of the certification fee.
Criminal Court and Civil Court of the City of New York records. Contact the Queens County part of the Criminal Court or Civil Court directly, or check WebCrims for pending criminal case status.
Family Court and Surrogate's Court records. Contact each court's chief clerk in Queens separately; Family Court records are confidential and generally not public.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in New York |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Copy and certification fees charged by County Clerks are set under CPLR 8021 and related sections, but amounts and per-page rates are not uniform across every county's published fee schedule. Confirm the current fee with the specific clerk's office before mailing payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
New York court records are generally open, but several categories are restricted or sealed by statute:
The New York guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How far back do Queens County Clerk records go online?
The online index covers Supreme Court civil index numbers and documents from 1992 to the present. Older cases must be requested in person or in writing from the Records Search Department.
Where do I search a Queens misdemeanor case?
Misdemeanors are heard in the Criminal Court of the City of New York, a city-wide system separate from the County Clerk. Check pending case status through WebCrims.
What is the Queens County Clerk's phone number?
(718) 298-0609, for the Records Search Department at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435.
Are Queens small claims cases available online?
Small claims are heard in the Civil Court of the City of New York, not the County Clerk, and online access to small-claims files is limited. Contact the Civil Court's Queens part directly.
Sources
- Queens County Clerk's Office — Records Search Department — https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/11th-judicial-district/queens-county-clerks-office/queens-county-clerks-office-records-search-department
- New York City Criminal Court — https://www.nycourts.gov/new-york-city-criminal-court
- New York City Civil Court — https://www.nycourts.gov/new-york-city-civil-court
- WebCrims — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/
- New York Courts — The Courts (structure overview) — https://www.nycourts.gov/courts
- New York State Courts eCourts — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
- NYSCEF Case Search — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch
- New York Official Reports (Court of Appeals and Appellate Division decisions) — https://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/Decisions.shtml
- DCJS Record Review Program — https://criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm
- Criminal Procedure Law 160.50 — Sealing of favorable dispositions — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/160.50
- Criminal Procedure Law 160.59 — Sealing of certain convictions — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/160.59
- Domestic Relations Law 235 — Matrimonial action records — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/DOM/235
- Judiciary Law 255 — Clerks to furnish copies — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/JUD/255
- CPLR 8021 — Fees chargeable by county clerks — https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/8021
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all New York counties.