Orange County, New York Court Records
Orange County court records are the official documents created during civil, criminal, and family proceedings conducted in the county's courts, including case filings, judgments, and court orders. The Orange County Clerk's Office serves as clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court and maintains records for civil and criminal actions filed there, while other courts, including Family Court and Surrogate's Court, maintain records through their respective court clerks. Court records often intersect with other record types, e.g, criminal cases often begin with an arrest, meaning an arrest record and a court record may relate to the same incident. Likewise, family law proceedings such as divorces, adoptions, and name changes may also affect vital records maintained separately by the state or local registrar.
Are Orange County, New York Court Records Public?
Orange County court records are generally open to the public. Requests are made under Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law rather than under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which does not apply to the Judiciary. Court clerks are thus required to allow public access to court files, records, and dockets when a request is made, and the applicable fee is paid. However, access restrictions may apply if the record contains sensitive details. For instance, Family Court records may be confidential or have limited access under §166 of the New York Family Court Act. Furthermore, adoption records and information identifying victims of certain sex offenses are not available for public disclosure.
What Information is Available in Orange County, New York Court Records?
Depending on the court and the type of case, Orange County court records may include:
- Names of the parties
- Case number
- Case type
- Filing date
- Court orders
- Judgments
- Motions and pleadings
- Hearing and trial dates
- Docket entries
- Attorney's name or firm
- Sentencing details
- Disposition information
Orange County, New York Court Records Search
The custodians of Orange County court records depend on the case type and the court's jurisdiction. The County Clerk handles Supreme and County Court records, while the Family Court Clerk handles family matters and the Surrogate's Court handles wills, estates, and guardianships.
- Online Access: The New York State Unified Court System provides several ways to search through its eCourts portal, depending on the type of case. WebCivil Supreme and WebCivil Local cover civil cases filed in the Supreme Court and Orange County's local City Courts, respectively. WebCrims covers criminal cases with an upcoming court date, while WebSurrogate allows searches of probate, estate, and guardianship files, with document images available for filings made on or after February 19, 2014. Records not available online can be requested directly from the court clerk.
- In-Person Access: Those who prefer to visit in person can go to the appropriate court or clerk's office during regular business hours. The County Clerk's Record Room provides public computers for self-service searches, and court clerks can assist with locating records and requesting copies. Offices include:
Orange County Supreme, County & Family Courts
285 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Orange County Surrogate's Court
30 Park Place
Goshen, NY 10924
- Mail and Phone Requests: County Clerk records can be requested by mail at 255 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924, or by phone through the office's Certified Copies line at (845) 291-3287 or Court Papers line at (845) 291-3286. Payment must be made by certified or bank check or money order payable to the Orange County Clerk. Processing times vary by record type; a certified copy of a divorce judgment, for example, takes a minimum of five days.
Fees for Court Records in Orange County, New York
Court records in Orange County can be inspected by the public without a fee. However, according to the Clerk's fee schedule, to obtain copies, requesters are charged:
- $0.65 per page for plain copies, with a $5.20 minimum.
- $1.25 per page for certified copies, with a $5.00 minimum
The Surrogate's Court has a separate fee schedule under the New York Surrogate's Court Procedure Act. A certified copy of a will or other paper on file costs $6.00 per page.
Orange County, New York Courthouse Locations
Orange County's trial-level courts include the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. Each handles different types of cases under New York's Unified Court System.
Most county-level proceedings are conducted at the Orange County Government Center in Goshen, while Surrogate's Court operates from a nearby location. In addition to these courts, Orange County has City Courts in Middletown, Newburgh, and Port Jervis, as well as Town and Village Justice Courts serving local communities throughout the county. Federal cases arising in Orange County are heard by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The addresses and contact information of the courts in Orange County are listed below.
|
Courthouse/Office |
Address |
Phone Number |
Divisions/Case Type |
Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
285 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924 |
(845) 476-3500 |
Civil (Supreme Court), felony criminal (County Court), and other matters within their jurisdiction |
Mon - Fri; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |
|
285 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924 |
(845) 476-3520 |
Child custody, visitation, child support, paternity, family offense, abuse and neglect, guardianship, and adoption. |
Mon - Fri; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |
|
30 Park Place, Goshen, NY 10924 |
(845) 476-3655 |
Estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and adoption proceedings |
Mon - Fri; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | |
|
Various locations throughout Orange County |
Varies by court |
Traffic violations, small claims, landlord-tenant matters, misdemeanors, and other local matters |
Varies by court | |
|
300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601 |
(914) 390-4100 |
Federal civil and criminal cases, bankruptcy-related matters, and other proceedings arising under federal law |
Mon - Fri; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Criminal Records Access in Orange County, New York
New York's Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), rather than the county courts, maintains the state's official criminal history records. These records are not available to the general public, but a person can request their own criminal history by submitting fingerprints and paying a $17.50 processing fee.
Meanwhile, Orange County criminal cases are available to everyone through the WebCrims portal. Searches can be made by defendant's name or docket number. WebCrims only shows cases with an upcoming court date, so completed cases, cases without a scheduled appearance, and active warrants will not appear there. If a case does not appear in WebCrims, submit a request at the court clerk's office.
Orange County, New York Probate Records
Probate records in Orange County cover the court proceedings involved in settling a person's estate after death. Examples include wills, testamentary or letters of administration, and estate accountings. Trusts and guardianship proceedings are handled through the Surrogate's Court as well.
Probate records are generally public, with some exceptions. Individuals may submit requests on WebSurrogate, the New York State court system's free online portal. The portal supports searches by name, file number, old index, index book pages, and wills for filings made on or after February 19, 2014. Filings made before that date must be viewed using the public access computers at the court.
Note that some records are not available for public inspection, including wills held for safekeeping before the testator's death, while some guardianship and adoption records have limited public access.
Orange County, New York Family Court Records
Family Court records in Orange County cover cases involving child custody, visitation, child support, paternity, family offense proceedings, abuse and neglect, guardianship, and adoption. Divorce cases are handled separately by the Supreme Court rather than the Family Court. These records are maintained by the Orange County Family Court through the Family Court Clerk.
Family Court cases can be looked up online through WebFamily by file or docket number. Records that are sequestered from public access may be requested in person at the Family Court Clerk's Office. Fees apply for physical copies and certified records.
285 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Federal Court Records in Orange County
Federal court records in Orange County are created when a case falls under federal jurisdiction rather than the New York State court system. These records are maintained by the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which serves Orange County. They may relate to federal criminal prosecutions, bankruptcy proceedings, civil disputes arising under federal law, and other matters heard by the court.
Like many federal courts, the Southern District provides online access to case filings and docket information through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). After creating an account, users can search records by party name, case number, or the U.S. Party Case Index, although fees may apply for certain documents. Records can also be reviewed in person at the courthouse using public terminals. However, some federal court records are sealed or otherwise restricted under federal law or court order and are therefore unavailable for public inspection.
