Search Kings County Court Records

Kings County court records cover Brooklyn, the most populous borough of New York City. The county is part of the Second Judicial District and processes an enormous volume of cases each year. Court records here span Supreme Court civil and criminal matters, Brooklyn Criminal Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. The Kings County Clerk at 360 Adams Street in Brooklyn is the central office for Supreme Court filings, judgments, and certified copies. Getting court records in Kings County takes some knowledge of which court and which building handles your specific case type.

Kings County Clerk and Court Records

The Kings County Clerk is at 360 Adams Street, Room 189, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Phone: (347) 404-9772. This office handles Supreme Court filings, business certificates, judgments, and notary services. It is the place to go for Supreme Court civil case files and certified copies.

Copy fees are $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. Certified copies carry an additional fee. The Records Room lets you search and view case files in person. The Archives section holds older records that are not in the main records room. Ask at the front desk which section has what you need.

Kings County processes a huge number of cases. Wait times can be long, especially for walk-in requests. Go early. Have your case details ready. An index number or party name will help staff pull the right file. Without that info, searches take longer and may not turn up what you need on the first try.

Brooklyn Criminal Court Records

Brooklyn Criminal Court is at 120 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. This court handles misdemeanors, violations, and felony arraignments for Kings County. Arraignments run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Criminal Court also has Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs.

Criminal Court records include complaint reports, arraignment details, case dispositions, and sentencing information for misdemeanor cases. Felony cases that start here with arraignment move to Supreme Court Criminal Term for trial. When that happens, the records transfer too.

You can search pending Brooklyn Criminal Court cases through WebCriminal. It covers all five NYC boroughs. Search by defendant name or case number. The system shows next court date, charges, and case status. It does not show sealed cases or cases without a future court date.

Sealed records under CPL Section 160.50 are not available. Dismissed cases and acquittals get sealed automatically. Once sealed, they come off WebCriminal and the OCA database.

Kings County Family Court Records

Brooklyn Family Court is at 330 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. It handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, PINS cases, and orders of protection. Family Court records in Kings County are confidential. Only the parties and their attorneys can access most files.

Juvenile cases are sealed entirely. Support magistrates and judicial hearing officers handle many Family Court matters. If you need a copy of a Family Court order, you must be a party to the case or have a court order allowing access. The clerk at 330 Jay Street handles record requests for Family Court.

Kings County Supreme Court Records

The Kings County Supreme Court sits in the Second Judicial District. It handles civil cases over $25,000, all divorce proceedings, and felony criminal cases. The court has a Commercial Division for complex business litigation. The Matrimonial Part handles divorce cases specifically.

Matrimonial case files are confidential under Domestic Relations Law. Only the parties and their attorneys can view those files. Other Supreme Court civil records are public. You can search them through WebCivil Supreme by party name, index number, or attorney. E-filed cases are viewable through NYSCEF.

Supreme Court Criminal Term handles felony trials. These records include indictments, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders. The County Clerk stores the criminal term files along with the civil files. For certified copies of judgments or orders, go to the clerk at 360 Adams Street.

Search Kings County Court Records Online

Kings County has good online coverage compared to smaller counties. WebCriminal covers Brooklyn Criminal Court. WebCivil Supreme covers civil cases. NYSCEF has documents for e-filed cases. Together, these free tools give you a solid starting point.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 and covers all counties. For your own criminal history, the DCJS record review requires fingerprinting and costs $14.25 for state residents. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free for checking state prison inmates.

Under Judiciary Law Section 255, court records must be available for public inspection with limited exceptions. If you are denied access to Kings County court records you believe are public, CPLR Article 78 provides a legal path to challenge the denial in Supreme Court within four months.

Getting Copies of Kings County Court Records

For certified copies, go to the Kings County Clerk at 360 Adams Street, Room 189. Standard copies cost $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. Certification adds $5.00 per document. Bring a valid ID and your case details. The Records Room handles current files. The Archives section stores older case files and historical records.

Mail requests are accepted. Send the case name, index number, and the type of document you need along with a check or money order to the Kings County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing times can be slow given the volume of requests the office handles.

The NYS Court Forms Repository has all the forms you might need for Kings County courts. Whether you are filing a motion, starting a new case, or responding to a summons, the forms are free and available online. The Unified Court System website has procedural guides and self-help resources for people navigating Brooklyn courts without a lawyer.

Cities in Kings County

Kings County is coextensive with Brooklyn, one of New York City's five boroughs. All court records for Brooklyn residents go through Kings County courts.

Nearby Counties

Kings County shares borders with other New York City counties. Each borough has its own county court system.