Access Broome County Court Records

Broome County court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in Binghamton, the county seat. The county sits in the 6th Judicial District of New York, covering a stretch of the Southern Tier near the Pennsylvania border. Court records here include civil filings, criminal cases, family matters, and probate documents from the various courts that serve the area. The Broome County Clerk at 44 Hawley Street is the main point of contact for Supreme Court and County Court records, and several state-run online tools let you search from home.

Broome County Clerk Court Records Office

The Broome County Clerk's office is at the Broome County Courthouse, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. Phone (607) 778-2138. This office is where you go for Supreme Court and County Court case files. The clerk keeps civil complaints, answers, motions, judgments, and all the other documents that make up a court record. The office also holds land records, but those are separate from court case files. If you need court records specifically, ask for the records section when you arrive.

Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certified copies run $5 on top of the per-page fee. These prices are set by state law and are the same across most upstate counties. You can pay at the clerk's office when you pick up copies. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk is required to maintain court records in good order and allow public access. The presumption is that court records are open. Anyone can come in and view a file. You do not have to be a party to the case or explain why you want to see it.

There are exceptions. Matrimonial case files in Supreme Court are confidential. Only the parties and their lawyers can look at those. Sealed criminal records are also off limits to the public. But most civil and criminal case files at the Broome County Clerk's office are available for inspection during regular business hours.

Courts in Broome County

Broome County Supreme Court is at the courthouse in Binghamton. It is part of the Sixth Judicial District, which covers ten counties in the central southern part of the state. Supreme Court handles civil cases over $25,000, felony criminal matters, and divorce proceedings. The court has a Commercial Division for complex business disputes. E-filing through NYSCEF is available for civil cases. Court reporters maintain transcripts of all proceedings as part of the official record.

Broome County Court handles felony criminal cases and civil matters up to $25,000. The grand jury convenes here to consider indictments. County Court also hears appeals from Town and Village Courts throughout Broome County. The court runs several specialty programs, including a Drug Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Treatment Court. These offer alternative sentencing options for qualifying defendants. Records from County Court are kept by the County Clerk, same as Supreme Court files.

Family Court is at 65 Court Street in Binghamton, in a building separate from the main courthouse. It handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, family offenses, and neglect and abuse proceedings. Most Family Court records in Broome County are confidential. Surrogate's Court sits at the main courthouse and covers wills, probate, estate matters, and guardianships. Probate records are generally public, but guardianship files for minors and incapacitated persons are restricted.

Searching Broome County Court Records Online

The clerk's office offers online search for deeds and mortgages through their website. Court records may be available through this system as well, depending on the record type. For statewide searches, WebCivil Supreme covers Broome County civil cases in Supreme Court. Search by index number, party name, or attorney name. The system shows case status, judge assignment, and court dates. Cases appear after a Request for Judicial Intervention has been filed.

Criminal record searches are available through the OCA Criminal History Record Search, which costs $95 per name and date of birth search. It covers all 62 New York counties and returns results by email the next business day for online submissions. This is a name-based search. It will not show sealed records or youthful offender cases. For a fingerprint-based check, the DCJS maintains official rap sheets at a cost of $14.25 for state residents.

The NYS Unified Court System website has information on all Broome County courts, including phone numbers, addresses, and links to court calendars. The Court Forms Repository provides standardized forms for filing in any court type.

Criminal Court Records in Broome County

Felony criminal cases in Broome County go through County Court or Supreme Court. Misdemeanors and violations start at Binghamton City Court or one of the Town or Village Courts in the county. The County Clerk holds records for felony cases. City Court keeps its own records for misdemeanor cases that stay at that level. Criminal court records are public unless sealed by court order or by operation of law.

New York's sealing statutes apply to all Broome County criminal court records. Under CPL Section 160.50, cases that end in the defendant's favor are sealed automatically. That covers dismissals, acquittals, and certain declined prosecutions. CPL 160.55 addresses sealing of violation and traffic infraction convictions. The Clean Slate Act under CPL 160.59 allows sealing of certain older convictions after 10 years, though sex offenses and Class A non-drug felonies are not eligible. Once sealed, these records disappear from public search tools and the OCA criminal history database.

The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is a free tool for checking on individuals in state prison. It shows current facility, sentence length, and parole eligibility. It does not cover county jail inmates or federal prisoners.

How to Get Broome County Court Records

Visit the Broome County Clerk at 44 Hawley Street in Binghamton during business hours. Bring the case name, index number, or whatever information you have. Staff will help you find the file and pull it for review. Copies are $0.25 per page. Certification adds $5. You can also submit a request by mail. Include a description of the records you need, a check or money order for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

For records from Family Court, contact the court directly at 65 Court Street. Keep in mind that most Family Court files are not open to the public. You need to be a party to the case. Surrogate's Court records (probate, estates) are at the main courthouse. These are usually public. If records are denied and you think the denial is wrong, CPLR Article 78 provides a way to challenge the decision in court. File within four months of the denial. The burden is on the agency to justify withholding the records.

Cities and Towns in Broome County

Broome County includes the city of Binghamton and several towns. Residents file court cases at the county-level courts or at their local city or town court for smaller matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Broome County. Each has its own court system and County Clerk for court records.