Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records are managed at the courthouse at 355 West Main Street in Malone, New York. The county is part of the Fourth Judicial District and operates Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court from the same building. Franklin County Clerk Kip Cassavaw oversees the public records office, and online access is available through the IQS system. Whether you need to look up a civil case, find a criminal filing, or get a copy of a court order, Franklin County court records can be accessed in person or through digital portals.

Franklin County Clerk's Office

Franklin County Clerk Kip Cassavaw runs the clerk's office at 355 West Main Street, Suite 248, Malone, NY 12953. You can also mail requests to P.O. Box 70, Malone, NY 12953. The phone number is (518) 481-1681. Email the clerk at kip.cassavaw@franklincountyny.gov. The deputy clerk is Lynn Humphries. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is closed on state holidays and Black Friday.

The clerk maintains Supreme Court and County Court records for Franklin County. This includes case files, judgments, liens, deeds, mortgages, and business certificates. Walk-in access is available during business hours. Bring a case index number or party name, and the staff will pull the file for you. Standard copy fees are $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. Certified copies add $5.00 per document. You can also register for fraud alerts through the IQS system to get notified when documents are filed under your name.

Franklin County uses IQS for online records searches. The platform lets you look up recorded documents from your computer. Subscription fees may apply depending on the access level. Non-subscribers can still search, though there may be per-document charges. The fraud alert registration is available at the IQS portal for Franklin County.

Franklin County Court Staff and Contacts

Franklin County has dedicated staff for each court type, all working out of the courthouse at 355 West Main Street in Malone. For Supreme and County Court, the Chief Clerk is Fawn Tatro with Deputy Amanda Mulverhill. Reach them at (518) 353-7340 or email FranklinSupremeCo@nycourts.gov. The Supreme Court judge is Hon. John T. Ellis, with chambers at (518) 285-8788.

Family Court in Franklin County has Chief Clerk Emily Cartwright and Deputy Emily Marshall. The phone is (518) 353-7360 and the email is FranklinFamily@nycourts.gov. Family Court handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, family offenses, and PINS cases. Most of these records are not available to the public. Only the parties and their attorneys can view them.

Surrogate's Court has Chief Clerk Fawn Tatro (who also serves as Supreme Court Chief Clerk) with Deputy Carrie Lane. Phone is (518) 353-7350 and email is FranklinSurrogate@nycourts.gov. Surrogate's Court handles probate, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions. The Commissioner of Jurors is Darby Monette at (518) 353-7355 or FranklinJury@nycourts.gov. County, Family, and Surrogate's matters also come before Judge Hon. Craig P. Carriero at (518) 353-7320.

Supreme Court and County Court Records in Franklin County

Franklin County Supreme Court handles civil cases over $25,000, felony criminal cases, and divorce proceedings. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must keep accurate court records and make them available for public inspection. Most Supreme Court files are open. Matrimonial cases are the exception. Divorce files stay sealed and are only available to the parties and their lawyers.

You can search for Supreme Court civil cases through WebCivil Supreme. It is free and covers all counties. For e-filed cases, NYSCEF lets you view documents online. County Court in Franklin County handles felony criminal cases and civil matters up to $25,000. Criminal records include indictments, bail orders, plea agreements, and sentencing documents.

Criminal Court Records and Sealing

Criminal records in Franklin County can be sealed under CPL Section 160.50 when a case ends in the defendant's favor. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain declined prosecutions are sealed automatically. Once sealed, the records are removed from public databases. Law enforcement retains access. CPL 160.59 also permits sealing of some older convictions after 10 years.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95 per name and date of birth search. Results come by email the next business day. The DCJS maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records. Your own record costs $14.25 as a New York resident. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free for checking state prison inmates.

How to Get Franklin County Court Records

Go to the County Clerk at 355 West Main Street, Suite 248, in Malone. Staff will pull files during business hours. For mail requests, send a letter with case details and a check or money order to the Franklin County Clerk, P.O. Box 70, Malone, NY 12953. Standard copies are $0.65 per page. Certified copies add $5.00.

If court records are wrongfully withheld, CPLR Article 78 allows you to challenge the denial in Supreme Court within four months. Courts are not covered by FOIL. Court records fall under Judiciary Law. The NYS Court Forms Repository has all the standard forms for court proceedings in Franklin County and across the state.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County sits in the northern part of New York near the Canadian border. Neighboring counties each have their own clerk and court system.