Access Ontario County Court Records

Ontario County court records include filings from Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and Geneva City Court. The county is part of the 7th Judicial District in the Finger Lakes region. The Ontario County Clerk in Canandaigua maintains Supreme Court case files and other court documents. Most records are open to the public and can be searched in person at the courthouse or through state online tools.

Ontario County Clerk and Court Records

The Ontario County Clerk maintains court records and land records from the courthouse in Canandaigua. Visit during business hours to search case files, pull judgment records, or get copies of court documents. Copies cost $0.65 per page. The minimum charge is $1.50. Certified copies cost more.

Ontario County is in the 7th Judicial District, which also includes Monroe, Wayne, Seneca, Yates, Livingston, Steuben, and Cayuga counties. Supreme Court handles civil cases over $25,000, matrimonial actions, and other major matters. County Court takes felony criminal cases and civil suits up to $25,000.

The 7th Judicial District has its administrative offices in Rochester. However, Ontario County cases are filed and maintained locally in Canandaigua. The clerk handles both paper filings and e-filed documents through NYSCEF where applicable.

Geneva City Court Records

Geneva City Court is the only city court in Ontario County. It handles misdemeanors, violations, civil cases up to $15,000, and small claims up to $5,000 within the city of Geneva. The court has its own clerk who keeps records separate from the County Clerk.

Felony cases that start in Geneva City Court move up to County Court after the grand jury process. The city court retains records for the preliminary stages. If you need the full record for a felony case, check both courts. Town courts across Ontario County also handle traffic tickets, local code violations, and minor civil disputes.

Court records from Geneva City Court can sometimes be found through state portals. The WebCriminal portal may show pending criminal cases with future dates, though coverage of smaller city courts varies.

How to Search Ontario County Court Records

Online tools let you search some Ontario County court records for free. WebCivil Supreme covers civil Supreme Court cases across all 62 counties. Search by party name, index number, or attorney name. Cases show up once a Request for Judicial Intervention is filed.

The NYSCEF e-filing system stores documents for cases filed electronically. If an Ontario County case was e-filed, you can view the actual motions, orders, and filings online. Not every case type requires e-filing yet, so paper-only files will need an in-person visit.

For a statewide criminal history search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search checks all counties for $95. Results come by email the next business day. This search covers open cases and convictions but not sealed records.

In person, visit the Ontario County Clerk in Canandaigua. Bring a case index number if you have one. Staff can also search by name. The clerk's office is open during regular weekday hours. No appointment is needed to look at court files.

Family and Surrogate's Court in Ontario County

Ontario County Family Court handles custody, child support, paternity, and juvenile cases. Family Court records are confidential in most situations. Only the parties, their attorneys, and certain agencies can view those files. Juvenile delinquency and PINS cases are sealed from public view.

Surrogate's Court covers estates, wills, guardianships, and adoptions. Probate records are generally public. You can review estate filings and will documents at the Surrogate's Court clerk office. Adoption records are sealed. If you need probate records for genealogy or estate research, the Surrogate's Court in Canandaigua is the place to go.

Court Records Access and Privacy

Ontario County court records are presumed open to the public under Judiciary Law Section 255. Clerks must keep records and allow public inspection. You do not need a reason to ask for a court file. The clerk cannot require you to explain why you want it.

Exceptions exist. Sealed criminal records under CPL 160.50 are off limits to the public. Dismissed and acquitted cases seal automatically. Matrimonial files in Supreme Court are confidential. Family Court files are restricted.

If you think a record was wrongfully withheld, you can bring a CPLR Article 78 challenge in Supreme Court. File within four months of the denial. The court will review whether the clerk had a valid basis for refusing access.

Criminal History Through DCJS

The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records. These cover arrests, convictions, and sentences from every county. To review your own rap sheet, get fingerprinted at an IdentoGo site. The fee is $14.25 for New York residents. Results arrive by mail in 3 to 4 weeks.

For state prison records, the DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free. It shows current inmates, sentences, and facility info. It does not cover county jails or federal facilities. The NYS Court Forms page has forms for filing in any court type if you need to start or respond to a case.

Filing Cases in Ontario County

To file a new case in Ontario County, bring the completed forms to the courthouse in Canandaigua. The clerk can tell you the filing fee for your case type. Small claims cases have lower fees than Supreme Court civil actions. Family Court petitions have their own fee schedule. Some filings are free for low-income parties who qualify for a fee waiver.

Self-represented litigants can file without a lawyer. The court staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you figure out which forms you need and where to file them. Legal aid groups in the Finger Lakes area offer free assistance for people who qualify based on income.

Nearby Counties

Ontario County borders several Finger Lakes region counties. Each maintains its own court records through its County Clerk.