Find Court Records in Bronx County

Bronx County court records are kept by the County Clerk and the various courts that serve this New York City borough. As part of the 12th Judicial District, Bronx County has a busy court system that handles tens of thousands of cases each year. The County Clerk's office at 851 Grand Concourse maintains Supreme Court case files, while Bronx Criminal Court runs around the clock for arraignments. You can search many Bronx County court records through free state portals or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers all the main ways to find and access court records in the Bronx.

Bronx County Clerk Court Records

The Bronx County Clerk's office is at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451. You can reach them at (718) 618-3300 or call the records search line at (718) 618-3377. Email goes to bxcc-records@nycourts.gov. The office holds Supreme Court case files, including civil matters, felony criminal records, and matrimonial proceedings. It also stores judgments, liens, and other court-filed documents. The records room is open during business hours, and staff can pull files for you to review.

Copy fees in Bronx County are $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. That is higher than some upstate counties. Payment must be made by postal money order, certified check, or a New York State attorney's check. They do not take cash or personal checks for copies. If you need an exemplified copy, the fee is $25 plus the standard certification and copy costs, and it takes 48 to 72 hours to process. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must keep records open for public inspection. But there are exceptions.

Matrimonial files are confidential. Only the parties and their attorneys can view divorce and separation case records. This applies to all Supreme Court matrimonial cases in Bronx County. Other civil and criminal case records are generally open to anyone who asks. You do not need to be involved in the case. Just go to the records room and request the file by index number or case name.

How to Search Bronx County Court Records Online

Bronx County has strong online access for court records. The WebCriminal portal covers pending criminal cases in all five NYC boroughs, including the Bronx. You can search by case number, defendant name, or court calendar. The system shows the next court date, charges, and case status. It is free and updated nightly. The catch is that it only shows cases with future court dates. Once a case is resolved, it drops off WebCriminal.

WebCivil Supreme handles the civil side. Search by index number, party name, or attorney to find Bronx County Supreme Court civil cases. The system shows case status, judge assignments, and upcoming dates. For cases filed through NYSCEF, you can pull up the actual court documents. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in most Bronx Supreme Court case types. Self-represented litigants can use it too but are not required to. Documents filed through NYSCEF are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is another option. It costs $95 and covers all 62 New York counties. You get results by email the next business day for online requests. This search covers open criminal cases and convictions but excludes sealed records and youthful offender adjudications. For a more detailed criminal history, the DCJS offers fingerprint-based rap sheets.

Bronx Criminal Court Records

Bronx Criminal Court sits at 215 East 161st Street. It is one of the busiest criminal courts in the state. The arraignment part runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Every person arrested in Bronx County gets arraigned here. The court handles misdemeanors, violations, and felony arraignments. After arraignment, felony cases move to Supreme Court for trial. The information line is (646) 386-4900.

Desk Appearance Tickets are processed at this location. The court also runs a Gun Court for weapons possession cases and a Community Court that offers alternative dispositions. WebCriminal is the best way to look up pending cases here. Just search by the defendant's name or docket number. You can also sign up for eTrack to get email updates on a case. Records from resolved cases may need to be requested through the court clerk or County Clerk, depending on the case level.

Sealing laws affect which criminal court records you can access. Cases that end in a dismissal or acquittal are sealed under CPL Section 160.50. Sealed records are removed from public databases. Law enforcement can still access them, but the general public cannot. CPL 160.55 covers the sealing of violation and traffic infraction convictions, while the Clean Slate Act under CPL 160.59 allows sealing of some older convictions after 10 years.

Bronx County Supreme Court

Bronx County Supreme Court is also at 851 Grand Concourse. This court handles civil cases over $25,000, felony criminal trials, and all divorce proceedings in the county. It is part of the 12th Judicial District, which covers Bronx County exclusively. The court operates specialized parts for commercial cases, matrimonial matters, foreclosure actions, and mental hygiene proceedings. The criminal term handles felonies from arraignment through trial and sentencing.

The civil term covers personal injury, contract disputes, real property matters, and more. Court calendars are posted on the NYS Unified Court System website. E-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for attorneys in most case types. The NYS Court Forms Repository has all the standardized forms you might need for filing in Bronx Supreme Court, whether you are starting a new case or responding to one.

Bronx County Family Court Records

Bronx Family Court is at 330 East 149th Street. The court handles child support, custody, visitation, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and family offenses. Most of the records from this court are confidential. Juvenile cases are sealed by state law. Custody and support files are only available to the parties and their attorneys. You cannot walk in and search Family Court records the way you can with civil or criminal court files.

Support magistrates hear child support cases. Attorneys for Children are assigned in custody and juvenile cases. The court also has a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program. Virtual hearings are available for some case types. A Help Center at the courthouse assists people who do not have lawyers. If you need records from a Family Court case you are involved in, contact the court clerk directly. They can tell you what is available and how to get copies.

Criminal History Records and Background Checks

The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains New York's official criminal history records. These are fingerprint-based rap sheets that include arrests, indictments, convictions, and sentences from across the state. To review your own record, you go to an IdentoGo location for fingerprinting. The fee is $14.25 for New York residents, $44.25 for out-of-state. Results come by mail in 3 to 4 weeks.

The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free and covers people in state prison. It shows the current facility, sentence details, and parole eligibility dates. It does not include county jail inmates, federal prisoners, or people on parole. For Bronx County specifically, the county jail (Rikers Island) falls under the NYC Department of Correction, which has its own inmate lookup system separate from DOCCS.

If you want to challenge how court records have been handled or believe records were wrongfully withheld, you can use CPLR Article 78 to file a special proceeding in Supreme Court. The deadline is four months from the denial. Court records fall under Judiciary Law, not FOIL, so the process is different from a standard public records request to a government agency.

Nearby Cities

Bronx County is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Residents in neighboring areas may also deal with Bronx County courts or courts in adjacent counties.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bronx County or are connected by bridge and transit. Each has its own County Clerk and court system.