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Albany County Court Records

Albany County court records consist of documents generated by or filed with the court during case proceedings. They serve as an official account of court proceedings, capturing how a case was litigated and resolved. Court records are maintained by various trial courts in Albany, with the Supreme Court being the court of general jurisdiction, having authority to handle any type of controversy or criminal matter. Court records are also linked to other public records, such as arrest and vital records, enabling cross-referencing to create a more complete picture of an individual’s legal history.

Are Albany County Court Records Public?

Yes. Court records in Albany County are considered public records but not under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which governs most public records in the state owned by state and local government agencies. The judiciary operates under the New York Judiciary Law, which covers access to court records, along with other laws. Generally, court records are presumed open in the state, so anyone can access them. However, some court records are closed and do not fall under this presumption. These records are only accessible to certain authorized persons. Examples of such records in New York include

  • Juvenile court records
  • Adoption records
  • Family court records
  • Mental health commitment records
  • Records identifying confidential informants and witnesses

What Information is Available in Albany County Court Records?

Albany County court records capture details from the initiation of a case to its progress and its conclusion. The following information in a court record is generally accessible to the public without restriction unless the entire case file is restricted.

  • The names of the parties involved, such as the defendant or plaintiff
  • The case information, like the case number, status, filing date, and type
  • Scheduled court hearing dates
  • Court orders and judgments
  • The name of the judge who presided over the case

Albany County Court Records Search

Individuals may access court records in Albany County in any of the following ways.

  • Online Access

    New York State provides several online case lookup systems that allow the public to search Albany County court records remotely, depending on the record. These include

    • Web Criminal: Provides access to criminal court information for cases with future appearances.
    • WebCivil Local: Contains information on civil cases in all New York counties, including Albany County.
    • WebCivil Supreme: Provides access to both active and disposed cases heard by the Supreme Court.
    • Web Family: Furnishes users with information on active family court cases in all counties.
    • Web Surrogate: Dedicated to probate case searches within New York’s surrogate courts.
    • New York State Courts Electronic Filing System: General portal for electronic filing, containing all e-filed case information from all New York courts.
  • In-Person Access

    In Albany County, court records are not kept by a single office or clerk. Custody depends on the type of record. The Albany County Clerk holds records from the Supreme Court and County Courts, while family court records are kept by the Family Court Clerk. City Courts, also known as local justice courts, maintain their own records. To obtain a court record, individuals will have to identify the appropriate custodian and visit the office to make a request. A name or case number is typically required to fulfill a search request.

  • Mail and Phone Requests

    Mail requests for court records are also possible in Albany County, depending on the custodian. For court records with the County Clerk, requesters may mail a written request that adequately describes the record sought. However, mail requests for family court and local justice court records may be limited. In most cases, individuals may need to visit the courts to obtain the record. Phone requests are generally not permitted in the county.

Fees for Court Records in Albany County

The fees for court records in Albany County depend on the nature of the record. Below is the fee schedule for court records maintained by the County Clerk.

  • Plain copies: 65 cents per page, minimum of $1.30
  • Preparing and certifying a copy: $1.25 per page, minimum of $5
  • Certifying an already prepared copy: 65 cents per page, minimum of $5.20

The maximum payable fee per record is $40. Court record fees from the Family Court and local justice courts may differ. Vital records are maintained at the town level. The fee for birth and death records is $15.

Albany County Courthouse Locations

There are several courthouses in Albany County, housing both county-level and city-level courts. Below are the addresses of the courthouses.

Albany County Courthouse (Supreme Court, County Court, and Surrogate Court)

16 Eagle Street

Albany, NY 12207

Supreme and County Court Phone: (518) 285-8989

Supreme and County Court Fax: (518) 453-8697

Surrogate Court Phone: (518) 285-8585

Surrogate Court Fax: (518) 285-8237

Albany City Court - Traffic and Civil Court

24 Eagle Street, Basement

Albany, NY 12207

Traffic Phone: (518) 453-4630

Civil Phone: (518) 453-4640

Albany City Court - Criminal Court

Public Safety Building

1 Morton Avenue

Albany, NY 12202

Phone: (518) 453-5520

Fax: (518) 453-8990

Albany Family Court

30 Clinton Avenue

Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 285-8600

Fax: (518) 238-4344

Cohoes City Court

City Hall, 97 Mohawk Street

Cohoes, NY 12047

Phone: (518) 453-5501

Fax: (518) 238-4378

Watervliet City Court

2 - 15th Street

Watervliet, NY 12189

Phone: (518) 453-5550

Fax: (518) 453-8995

Criminal Records Access in Albany County

Criminal records access in Albany County is managed through different state and local systems, depending on whether the request is for a court-based criminal history search or an official statewide criminal background check.

For court-based criminal history, the New York Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides access to criminal court history information through the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) system. The CHRS is a name-based search that covers criminal records originating from all New York County courts. A CHRS record includes open and pending convictions for an individual. It costs $95 and can be used by the general public.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is responsible for official statewide criminal history background checks. These checks are more detailed than the CHRS because they include both public and sealed records. The search is fingerprint-based and costs $14.25 if requesting from within the state.

On a local level, individuals may visit the Albany Courthouse or use the WebCriminal Portal to search for criminal case records. However, these may not be as detailed as the CHRS or the DCJS criminal history record.

Albany County Probate Records

Albany County probate records document the administration of a person’s estate after their death. These records include wills, testamentary letters, estate records, and heir information. In Albany County, as in all New York Counties, the Surrogate Court handles probate cases.

Probate court records are generally open for inspection; however, some caveats exist. Records involving minors or containing sensitive details, such as social security, financial account, or taxpayer identification numbers, are closed to the public.

Individuals may access probate records from the Albany County Clerk’s Office, which maintains these records. Additionally, researchers may use the New York Courts WebSurrogate Portal to gain online access to Albany County probate records. Users can perform a name search, file search, old index search, index book pages search, and a will search on the portal.

Albany County Family Court Records

Albany family court records cover cases involving domestic matters, such as child custody and visitation, support, divorce, adoptions, and termination of parental rights. These cases are heard in the Albany County Family Court, and the proceedings are recorded in the Family Court Clerk’s Office.

Family court records are generally restricted compared to those from the civil or criminal courts. Typically, only parties involved in the case or their attorneys can view the full case file or request copies. Eligible persons may visit the clerk’s office to inspect a family court record or search for the record online using the WebFamily portal.

Federal Court Records in Albany County

Federal court records in Albany County stem from cases heard in the United States District Court, Northern District of New York. The court serves 32 counties and has jurisdiction over all federal cases, spanning both civil and criminal matters.

Federal court records are public records and can be accessed by anyone. Albany County residents can access a federal court record by visiting the courthouse located in the county at

James T. Foley Courthouse

445 Broadway

Room 347

Albany NY 12207

Phone: (518) 257-1700

Fax: (518) 257-1701

Court records issued by the clerk cost 50 cents per page, while records printed from the public terminal cost 10 cents per page. Individuals can also search for federal court records online using PACER. To search the portal, individuals must register an account and pay a fee per use.

Albany County Court