| County Clerk | Suffolk County Clerk — Records Search |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Check the county website |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Suffolk County's County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court, keeping civil filings, judgments, and land and business records for the county, with an online kiosk search covering plaintiff and defendant records, court minutes, and other filings. Felony criminal cases in Suffolk go to County Court rather than Supreme Court, and civil cases are split between Supreme Court (larger amounts) and County Court (up to $50,000).
The western towns of Suffolk County also have a District Court, which handles smaller civil claims, small claims, and misdemeanors for those towns; the rest of the county's misdemeanors and lesser civil matters are handled by town and village justice courts. Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Suffolk each keep their own separate records.
Search Suffolk County court records online
County Clerk
Suffolk County Clerk — Records Search
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for copies and certification
- Coverage
- Supreme and County Court civil case filings, court minutes, judgments, and land and business records for Suffolk County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Search by name, document type, or date range through the online kiosk portal.
Other courts
New York State Courts eCourts (WebCivil Supreme / WebCrims)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Statewide case index for Supreme Court civil filings and pending criminal cases, including Suffolk County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Useful as a second check alongside the County Clerk's own search.
What is available online
The County Clerk's kiosk search covers Supreme and County Court civil filings, court minutes, and land and business records. It does not cover Family Court, Surrogate's Court, District Court, or town and village justice court records, each of which is a separate system. Statewide eCourts search can supplement the county's own portal for case status.
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
Supreme and County Court records. Search the County Clerk's online kiosk by name or document type, or visit the Clerk's office in person. Certified copies must be requested from the clerk's office with the fee for certification.
District Court records (western towns). Contact the District Court clerk directly; these records are not part of the County Clerk's system.
Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and justice court records. Contact the chief clerk of each court, or the individual town or village justice court that heard the case.
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
Does the Suffolk County Clerk handle criminal cases?
The Clerk indexes County Court filings, including felonies, alongside Supreme Court civil cases. For pending criminal case status, the statewide eCourts / WebCrims search is also useful.
What is Suffolk County's District Court?
A court in the western towns of Suffolk County that handles smaller civil claims, small claims, and misdemeanors. It keeps its own records separate from the County Clerk.
How do I search Suffolk County civil case records online?
Use the County Clerk's online kiosk search by party name, document type, or date range, or search the statewide eCourts WebCivil Supreme system for Supreme Court civil filings.
Are Suffolk County town and village justice court records online?
Generally not. Each town or village justice court keeps its own files; contact that specific court directly for records.
Does the Suffolk County Clerk keep Family Court or Surrogate's Court records?
No. Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Suffolk County each have their own chief clerk and courthouse, and neither is searchable through the County Clerk's kiosk.
How do I get a certified copy of a Suffolk County court record?
Request it from the County Clerk's office in person or by mail, with the index number or party names and the filing year. Certified copies carry the clerk's certification fee.
Sources
- Suffolk County Clerk — Records Search — https://clerk.suffolkcountyny.gov/kiosk/SearchPages/MainSearch.aspx
- Suffolk County Clerk — https://clerk.suffolkcountyny.gov/kiosk/
- New York State Courts eCourts — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
- New York Courts — The Courts (structure overview) — https://www.nycourts.gov/courts
- WebCrims — https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/
- 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.