1.What are New York rules about public records?
The New York Freedom of Information Law of 1978 defines what documentation is considered public record, and the process by which these records must be requested and provided. The law was modeled after United States Freedom of Information Act in that it considers free access to information about the conduct of government a fundamental right of the people. Certain records are restricted from public access, especially those that would violate personal privacy, interfere with an ongoing investigation, expose trade secrets, or endanger the life or safety of any person.
2.What are considered public records in New York?
In New York, unless the public records of an agency are exempt, a public record is considered any information held, produced or reproduced by, with or for a government entity in any physical form. Public records can include property records, land records, deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, photographs, maps, letters, meeting minutes, laws, ordinances, legal papers, license information, and vital records (births, deaths, marriages, divorces).
3.What public record databases are available in New York that I should know about?
At the state level, we link to databases for company and corporation searches; court records; professional, medical, and business licenses; banking institutions; births; deaths; campaign contributions; charitable organizations; codes; immigration records; inmates; insurance matters; labor and unions; legislation; lobbyists; missing persons; most wanted persons; sex offenders; state employees; statutes; UCC filings; workers compensation; and more. Records for property, recorded documents, and voter registration are found at the county level.
4.What is important to know about the New York court system?
The New York court system has five levels. At the first are City Courts & Justice Courts (Town & Village Courts). Both handle small claims, small civil, misdemeanors, violations & felony arraignments. At the second level are: Supreme Courts (civil, civil & felony in NYC); County Courts (civil, misdemeanor & felony); District Courts (Suffolk & Nassau – misdemeanors, civil to $15K); Family Courts (adoption, child support, custody); and Surrogates Courts (estates, probate of wills, guardianship). Third are Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court, which hear appeals from lower courts in NYC. Fourth are Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court, which review decisions from all lower courts. Fifth is the Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from lower appellate courts and death penalty cases.
5.How do I find court records in New York?
Use the <New York by Category> menu on the left and select <Court Records> to access our links to district, county, supreme, surrogate, civil, criminal, bankruptcy, family, housing, and probate court record databases.
6.What is important to know about criminal records in New York?
Felony cases are handled at the Supreme Court and City Court levels. Misdemeanors and DWI/DUI cases are handled at the City Courts, District Courts, Civil/Criminal Courts of New York City, and the Town and Village Justice Courts. Juvenile cases are only handled in the Family Courts. The New York State Office of Court Administration provides a statewide criminal history search for $65. Otherwise, a search by county is recommended.
7.How do I find criminal records in New York?
New York criminal record databases are listed in this section, but the quickest way to find them is to use the <New York by Category> menu at left and select <Criminal Records>. There you will find links to state inmate records, parolee databases, and sex offenders, the N.Y. Office of Court Admin. for statewide criminal history searches, Federal Bureau of Prisons inmates, Federal PACER system criminal court records (an inexpensive pay site), and links to county criminal court records and inmates. Click on <New York Criminal Records – Inmates and Prison Releases> to search our Premium service for Dept of Corrections felony inmate records, prison release records, and statewide sex offenders.
8.How do I find property records in New York?
Use the <New York by Category> menu on the left and select <Property Records> to access N.Y. databases from available cities and counties. Use the <New York by Category> menu and select <Recorded Documents> to access land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and more.
9.How do I search birth, death, marriage and divorce records in New York?
Use the <New York by Category> menu on the left and select births, deaths, marriage records, or divorces. The <Birth Records> page has links to two free databases of genealogical birth records. The <Death Records> page has links to the Social Security Death Index for New York, and city & county death, burial & obituary records. The <Marriage Records> page has links to archived marriage indexes at the state, county, and city levels. The <Divorce Records> page has information about ordering copies of divorce records. They are not searchable, as New York divorce records are sealed for 100 years.
10.How do I order copies of vital records in New York?
Use the <New York by Category> menu at left to navigate to our <New York Vital Records> page. New York does not freely give out vital record certificate copies. Read carefully the restrictions and instructions on that page. Birth and death certificates and marriage records are available from: New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237.
11.How do I find occupational, medical, professional, or business licenses in New York?
To find the license status of a New York physician, attorney, CPA, dentist, notary public, real estate agent, registered nurse, or any other of over 150 New York license verification services, use the <New York Licenses> menu on the left and pick from the list.