Clinton County Court Records Search

Clinton County court records are maintained by the County Clerk in Plattsburgh, near the Canadian border in northern New York. The county is in the 4th Judicial District and has a court system that handles civil, criminal, family, and estate cases. Court records are held at the clerk's office at 137 Margaret Street, and Plattsburgh City Court covers local matters within the city. You can search some Clinton County court records through free state online portals or visit the courthouse to review files in person. This page explains where to go and how to get what you need.

Clinton County Clerk and Court Records

The Clinton County Clerk is at 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Call (518) 565-4701 for help. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is the central location for court records from Supreme Court and County Court in Clinton County. The clerk keeps case files, judgments, motions, and other court documents. Land records are here too, but court records are in their own section. Just ask the staff to point you the right way.

Standard copies of Clinton County court records run $0.25 per page, with certification fees on top for official copies. The clerk also handles passports, business certificates, and online records search. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, court records must be kept in good order and open for public inspection. The presumption in New York is that court records are public. Walk in, request a file, and look at it. No reason needed. No connection to the case required.

The main exceptions are matrimonial files, which are confidential across all of New York State. Only parties and their attorneys can view divorce and separation case records. Sealed criminal cases are also off limits. Everything else at the Clinton County Clerk's office is generally available to the public during office hours.

Courts in Clinton County

Clinton County Supreme Court sits in Plattsburgh and is part of the 4th Judicial District. The district covers a large area of northeastern New York, including several Adirondack counties. Supreme Court handles civil cases over $25,000, all divorce proceedings, and felony criminal matters. In New York, "Supreme Court" means the trial court, not the highest court. Case information is available through WebCivil Supreme. E-filing through NYSCEF is available for civil cases.

County Court covers felonies and civil cases up to $25,000. The grand jury convenes here to decide on indictments. Both Supreme Court and County Court records are held by the County Clerk. Family Court handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, and family offenses. Most Family Court records are confidential. Surrogate's Court covers probate, wills, estates, and guardianships. Probate records are usually open to the public.

Plattsburgh City Court Records

Plattsburgh City Court handles cases within the city of Plattsburgh. It covers misdemeanors, civil matters up to $15,000, small claims, and traffic violations. Records from Plattsburgh City Court are kept at the court itself. You need to contact the city court directly for those files, not the County Clerk. Cases that get bumped up to County Court or Supreme Court will have their records transferred to the County Clerk.

Town and Village Courts throughout Clinton County handle local traffic tickets, small claims, and minor criminal matters. Each of these courts keeps its own records. If you need a file from a Town or Village Court, contact that specific court. The NYS Unified Court System website lists contact information for all local courts in Clinton County.

How to Search Clinton County Court Records Online

The clerk's office offers online records search. Contact them for details on what is available and any fees that apply. For statewide tools, WebCivil Supreme covers Clinton County civil cases in Supreme Court. You can search by index number, party name, or attorney. The system is free and open to the public. Cases show up after a Request for Judicial Intervention is filed. The portal shows case status, judge, and upcoming dates.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the statewide criminal records search tool. It costs $95 per name and covers all 62 counties. Results come by email the next business day for online requests. Sealed records are excluded. The WebCriminal system does not directly cover Clinton County courts. For a fingerprint-based criminal history, go through the Division of Criminal Justice Services at $14.25 for state residents.

The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is a free tool for checking on people in state prison. It covers current facility, sentence, and parole eligibility. Clinton County has two state correctional facilities, so this lookup tool can be particularly useful for residents looking for information on inmates housed locally.

Criminal Court Records and Sealing

Criminal cases in Clinton County follow the same path as the rest of the state. Felonies go to County Court or Supreme Court. Misdemeanors and violations start at Plattsburgh City Court or one of the local courts. The County Clerk holds records for felony cases. City and local courts keep their own files.

Sealing laws under CPL Section 160.50 require automatic sealing of cases that end in the defendant's favor. Dismissals and acquittals qualify. CPL 160.55 covers violation and traffic infraction convictions. The Clean Slate Act under CPL 160.59 allows sealing of some older convictions after 10 years. Sex offenses and Class A non-drug felonies are excluded. Sealed records are removed from all public search tools, including the OCA criminal history database. Only law enforcement retains access.

Getting Copies of Clinton County Court Records

Visit the Clinton County Clerk at 137 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh. Give the staff the case name, index number, or other identifying details. They will pull the file. Copies are $0.25 per page. Certification is extra. Mail requests are accepted with a check or money order and a self-addressed envelope. Processing time varies but is usually a few days to a week.

The NYS Court Forms Repository provides standardized forms for all court types in fillable PDF format. If records are denied, CPLR Article 78 lets you challenge the denial in Supreme Court within four months. Court records fall under Judiciary Law in New York, not FOIL. The agency must explain why records should remain closed. The burden is not on you.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clinton County in northern New York. Each has its own County Clerk and court system.