Search Westchester County Court Records

Westchester County court records are managed by the County Clerk in White Plains, the county seat. The county is part of the Ninth Judicial District and sits just north of New York City. Westchester has a large, active court system that handles thousands of civil, criminal, family, and estate cases each year. The County Clerk offers online record searches through the Westchester Records Online portal, and state tools like WebCriminal cover pending criminal cases here. Whether you need a civil filing, judgment, or criminal case record, Westchester County has both online and in-person options.

Westchester County Clerk Court Records

The Westchester County Clerk is Timothy C. Idoni. His office is at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 345, White Plains, NY 10601. Phone (914) 995-3080. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk keeps Supreme Court and County Court records, including case files, judgments, liens, and other court documents.

Westchester was the first county in New York to record electronically transmitted land records. The office also runs Westchester Records Online, a portal that lets you search civil court records dating back to 1980 and criminal court records from 1978. This online access makes Westchester one of the easier counties to search for court records without visiting the courthouse.

Copy fees for deed records are $5 for up to 5 pages, then $1 for each additional page. Standard court record copies follow the statewide fee of $0.65 per page with a $1.50 minimum. Certified copies add $5.00 per document. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk maintains records for public inspection. Sealed records and matrimonial files remain restricted.

The Westchester County archives are at 2199 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford. Older records that are no longer kept at the main office may be stored there. Contact the clerk's office to find out where a specific file is located before making the trip.

Westchester County Court System

Westchester County Supreme Court sits at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains. Phone (914) 824-5300. The court is housed in the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse. Civil cases are on the 9th floor. Supreme Court handles civil matters over $25,000, all divorce filings, and felony criminal cases. The Ninth Judicial District covers Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.

Westchester County Supreme Court has a Commercial Division that handles complex business disputes. E-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for attorneys in most civil case types. Civil cases appear on WebCivil Supreme after a Request for Judicial Intervention is filed. You can search by index number, party name, or attorney at no cost.

County Court handles felony criminal cases and civil disputes up to $25,000. It also hears appeals from City, Town, and Village Courts. The grand jury meets in County Court. Records from both Supreme Court and County Court go to the County Clerk. WebCriminal covers Westchester County Court for pending criminal cases with future court dates. This makes Westchester one of the counties outside NYC where you can search criminal cases online for free.

How to Search Westchester County Court Records Online

Westchester County has some of the best online access to court records in New York State. The Westchester Records Online portal covers civil cases from 1980 to the present and criminal cases from 1978 forward. That is a deep archive by any standard. You can also use state portals for additional searches.

WebCriminal covers pending criminal cases in Westchester County Court. Search by defendant name, case number, or court calendar. The system is free, updated nightly, and shows cases with future court dates. Sealed cases do not appear. WebCivil Supreme handles civil case lookups statewide. For e-filed cases, NYSCEF lets you view the actual documents online.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties at $95 per search. Results come by email the next business day. The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains fingerprint-based rap sheets. Review your own at IdentoGo for $14.25. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free for checking state prison inmates.

Family Court and Surrogate's Court in Westchester County

Westchester County Family Court operates at multiple locations including White Plains and Yonkers. It handles custody, child support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, PINS, domestic violence, and adoption cases. Most Family Court records are confidential. Only the parties and their attorneys can view them. Juvenile cases are sealed by statute.

Surrogate's Court covers wills, probate, estate administration, and guardianships. Probate records are generally public. Guardianship files for minors and incapacitated persons have restricted access. Small estate proceedings are available for estates under $50,000.

Court Records Access and Privacy in Westchester

Most Westchester County court records are open to the public. No reason needed. Visit the clerk's office or search online. The exceptions are sealed criminal records, matrimonial files, and Family Court cases.

Criminal cases ending in the defendant's favor are sealed under CPL Section 160.50. Dismissals and acquittals trigger automatic sealing. The Clean Slate Act also allows sealing of some older convictions after a waiting period. Sealed records come off all public databases. If you believe records were wrongfully withheld, CPLR Article 78 lets you challenge the denial in Supreme Court within four months.

Court records are not covered by FOIL. They fall under Judiciary Law instead. The NYS Court Forms Repository has forms for all Westchester County court proceedings.

Cities and Towns in Westchester County

Westchester County has several large cities and towns. Residents file court cases at the county courts in White Plains or at their local City Court for smaller matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Westchester County. Each has its own County Clerk and court system.