Clinton County, New York State Court Records
People search for Clinton County court records for various reasons, such as
- Conducting employment or housing background checks
- Following the progress of ongoing cases
- Researching historical precedents for legal cases
- Resolving disputes or verifying property ownership
- Tracing genealogy or family history
These records primarily emanate from proceedings in the Supreme, County, and Surrogate's courts. Searchers may also find documents such as arrest logs and vital records in court case files, showing that the various arms of the legal system are connected.
Generally, the Clinton County Clerk and local court clerks maintain court records. Interested parties can access them through official online portals, mail-in requests, or in-person visits to the courthouse.
Are Clinton County Court Records Public?
Yes. In New York, N.Y. Jud. Law § 255 establishes the public's right to examine or copy court records upon request, while statutes such as N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 166, N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 235(1) and N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 720.35(2) carve out specific exemptions.
Under these guidelines, anyone can request to view or copy most documents generated during civil and criminal proceedings. Individuals do not typically need to provide a reason or present special credentials to retrieve dockets, pleadings, motions, and judgments maintained by local court clerks.
Conversely, access to certain documents is strictly regulated to protect the privacy and safety of vulnerable parties. Consequently, the general public cannot view case files related to juvenile delinquency, adoptions, child custody, and matrimonial disputes. Additionally, presiding judges hold the authority to completely seal specific files or redact confidential data before releasing a record.
What Information is Available in Clinton County Court Records?
Court files in Clinton County contain a diverse collection of legal documents, court actions, and case notes detailing how a lawsuit or criminal proceeding progressed from start to finish. Common details and documents include
Case Information
- Full names of everyone involved
- Assigned judge and courtroom
- Register of actions
- Case number
- Court calendar and hearing dates
Party-Initiated Documents
- Complaints, petitions, summonses
- Answers, replies, counterclaims
- Motions, briefs, affidavits
- Exhibits, disclosures, witness lists
- Agreements and settlements
Court Actions
- Rulings, discovery decisions, scheduling orders
- Subpoenas, bench warrants, arrest warrants
- Orders and injunctions
- Judgments, decrees, jury verdicts
- Sentencing sheets, commitment orders
Clinton County Court Records Search
A records search may become more straightforward when the searcher knows who holds the records they seek and selects the best access method.
Record seekers can use county-level resources and statewide databases to locate Clinton County court case files. Online portals, courthouse visits, and direct mail requests are all viable access methods.
Statewide Online Portals
New York's Unified Court System provides several centralized platforms for court case searches that are free to use. They host dockets and case summaries for active and recently disposed cases across the state, including Clinton County.
- New York State CEF Case Search: The Court Electronic Filing system allows the public to search for and download public case documents through its "Search as Guest" feature. Users can perform guest searches by index number, party name, or filing year. This platform also allows users to download images of motions, orders, notices, and pleadings when those are available.
- UCS eCourts:This service allows the public to track active cases, with distinct sub-sections for different types of cases.
- WebCriminal provides case summaries and upcoming appearance dates for criminal procedures.
- WebCivil Supreme offers calendar details and basic dockets for civil matters heard in the local Supreme Court.
- WebFamily, searchable by file or docket number, hosts information on domestic violence and other family court cases.
- The final sub-service is WebCivil Local, which offers searches by index number, party name, and attorney or firm name. Searchers can use it to find cases emanating from the Plattsburgh City Court.
- WebSurrogate: For probate records, the Surrogate's Court provides a separate, dedicated public database. Anyone can query this platform by a decedent's name or file number to inspect wills, estate administration files, and other public probate documents.
County Clerk's eSearch Portal
The Clinton County Clerk maintains a dedicated eSearch website that provides broader access to civil filings, property liens, and closed cases dating back to 1972.
Searchers must create a user account to access this service. Even then, actually inspecting or printing a document requires a paid subscription. Users can purchase a 24-hour unlimited access plan for $10, a monthly pass for $100, or a six-month subscription for $500. The printing rate is 65 cents per page.
In-Person and Mail Requests
Researchers seeking certified copies, older physical records, or documents restricted from online portals can directly contact the county clerk's office, which manages files generated by the Supreme and County Courts. People can also visit the records room during regular business hours to conduct research using the available computer terminals.
The same principle applies to the respective custodians for Family Court, Surrogate's Court, and municipal court records.
For mail-in requests, applicants must send a written letter outlining the specific case details. This should include the index or case number, names of plaintiffs or defendants, and the type of case. A self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for copy fees are also essential. Readers may view the next section for the Clerk's copy rates.
All mail requests should be directed to
Clinton County Clerk's Office
Clinton County Government Center
137 Margaret Street
First Floor
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 565-4700
If the record relates to minor traffic infractions, municipal ordinance violations, or small claims, searchers must contact the specific municipal court where the case originated.
Readers can check the courthouse location section for contact details for the other courts/record custodians.
Fees for Court Records in Clinton County
The Clinton County Clerk's Office offers copying and certification services for the court records to the general public at the following rates:
- Unrecorded copies (per page): 25 cents
- Recorded copies (per page): 65 cents
- Certified copies (per page): $1.25 with a $5 minimum fee
- Transcript of judgment: $10 for filing and $5 for issuance
- Certificate of Disposition, Dissolution of Marriage, or Conviction: $5
- Notary authorization: $3
- Postage (if no SASE included): 70 cents
- Online inspection or download: free
- Vital records: $10 from the municipal clerk and $30 by mail from the New York DOH
Clinton County Courthouse Locations
Here are the addresses and contact details for every court in Clinton County. Note that the major county-level courts operate out of the Clinton County Government Center.
Clinton County Government Center
137 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Supreme/County Court: (518) 536-3840
Family Court: (518) 536-3820
Surrogate's Court: (518) 536-3830
Commissioner of Jurors: (518) 536-3810
Municipal Courts
24 U.S. Oval
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
Phone: 518-536-3870
3124 Miner Farm Road
P.O. Box 79
Altona, NY 12910
Phone: (518) 236-7035
58 Liberty Street
Keeseville, NY 12944
Phone: (518) 834-6095
571 Spellman Road
West Chazy, NY 12992
Phone: (518) 563-9930
North Main Street
P.O. Box 715
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912
Phone: (518) 647-5411
729 Route 9
P.O. Box 3144
Champlain, NY 12919
Phone: (518) 298-8160
9631 Route 9
P.O. Box 219
Chazy, NY 12921
Phone: (518) 846-7544
23 Smith Street
P.O. Box 165
Churubusco, NY 12923
Phone: (518) 497-3015
78 Higby Road
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935
Phone: (518) 492-7541
P.O. Box 566
Dannemora, NY 12929
Phone: (518) 492-3046
16 St. Edmunds Way
P.O. Box 142
Ellenburg, NY 12933
Phone: (518) 594-7177
P.O. Box 403
Mooers, NY 12958
Phone: (518) 236-7927
22 Davey Drive
P.O. Box 41
Peru, NY 12972
Phone: (518) 643-4187
151 Banker Road
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 562-6800
3668 State Route 3
P.O. Box 147
Saranac, NY 12981
Phone: (518) 293-8082
997 Mason Street
P.O. Box 99
Morrisonville, NY 12962
Phone: (518) 563-1129
Criminal Records Access in Clinton County
The sum total of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial arrest to final disposition and sentence completion, constitutes their criminal record. The constituent details in a criminal record include arresting officer reports, formal charging instruments, plea agreements, hearing transcripts, jury verdicts, sentencing orders, and inmate records.
To locate individual criminal case records, a searcher must contact the specific court that handled the prosecution. Local city, town, and village courts within Clinton County maintain records for misdemeanors and minor violations, while the county clerk houses dockets and dispositions for major felony cases. The statewide WebCriminal portal is an online source for case summaries, pending charges, and future appearance dates for active criminal prosecutions.
Researchers who require a statewide criminal court record can obtain it from the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). The agency's Criminal History Records Search (CHRS) uses a person's name and date of birth to search the state's court database and compile an all-in-one report. Interested parties can submit requests through the online Direct Access portal or mail a completed application form to the CHRS Unit. Each search costs $95.
Another type of comprehensive criminal record is the criminal background check. This one includes law enforcement and conviction records. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, which manages the database, requires a fingerprint-based Personal Record Review to release the record. Individuals must schedule a fingerprinting appointment and pay a $17.50 fee by credit card, check, or money order.
Clinton County Probate Records
The Clinton County Surrogate's Court routinely generates records related to managing, protecting, and distributing the property of the dead, minors, and incapacitated individuals. These probate records, including last wills and testaments, estate administration papers, and guardianship petitions, are, by default, open to general public access.
The state UCS's free WebSurrogate portal allows people to view the latest probate documents online. The same cannot always be said for older records. Visiting the local Surrogate's Court in Plattsburgh is the only guaranteed way to obtain non-digitized records or certified copies.
Note that a fair number of probate records are actually not accessible without a court order. Following 22 N.Y.C.R.R. § 207.64, documents pertaining to adoption, specific mental health guardianships, and confidential personal data are not public records.
Clinton County Family Court Records
In Clinton County, the Family Court oversees domestic proceedings, including adoption, child custody, visitation, support, and juvenile delinquency. Meanwhile, the local Supreme Court typically adjudicates divorces.
These matters involve highly sensitive disputes. Hence, N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 166 and N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 235(1) categorizes matrimonial records, including divorce, as strictly confidential. Only the litigants and their legal representatives can access them. Anyone else must present a valid court order to the Family Court Clerk.
Federal Court Records in Clinton County
Federal court records may be civil or criminal in nature. They typically involve civil rights or constitutional questions, interstate cases where the claim exceeds 75,000, bankruptcy proceedings, and a variety of criminal offenses that fall under federal jurisdiction.
People who need to review a federal case file can use the online Public Access to Court Electronic Records database. PACER is a federal platform that allows registered users to access open court records for a nominal fee of 10 cents per page. As long as the record in question does not involve sealed proceedings, PACER will typically provide case information, docket entries, or unrestricted filings.
Additionally, the City of Plattsburgh is home to one of the divisions of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Residents may visit The Gateway Building, 14 Durkee Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, to speak with deputy clerks. Staff are generally on hand to help with requests for record reviews or obtaining certified copies of physical records.
