Albany County Court Records

Albany County court records are official documents showing court proceedings and processes. These records contain information about civil and criminal cases, such as the charges filed, parties’ names, and claims made. Albany County, New York, court records typically include the following documents:

• Docket entries
• Exhibits
• Oral arguments
• Case documents
• Motions
• Transcripts
• Sentencing details

Are Court Records Public in Albany County?

Albany County court records are public records under the New York Freedom of Information Law. It provides for publicly accessible government records and records designated to be sealed or removed from public access. Requesters may get court records via in-person requests at the county courthouses and the County Clerk’s office. Requests may also be sent via mail to these offices. Online access is also available through the Online Records Search platform.

Albany County Court Records Search

Albany County court records are publicly accessible through the county courthouses or the County Clerk’s office. These offices are open to the public during the week for records search and inspection through mail or in-person requests.

Record search may be done by completing a request application with details about the records, such as names, case numbers, instrument numbers, or towns. The custodian uses this information to search the court archives for the records of interest. Members of the public may use the county’s Search Portal for faster court records searches. This website has various search functions such as town, book, case number, party names, and date.

Albany County Court Records Search by Name

Name searches are available for Albany Court records. Residents may obtain court records in person, via mail, or online. When filling out a records request application, it is important to include some information about the records for a more efficient records search. Requesters may include the parties' names or towns relevant to the records in the request application. Such details are used to search names by the records custodian to retrieve the records. The public may also conduct a name search through the Online Records Search website. This website has a Search Portal link where the public may input names of parties or towns to search the county’s court records.

Albany County Courts

Albany County courts include the tiers of courts found at the state level. The county has a Supreme Court, a County Court, a Family Court, and several City, Town, and Village Courts.

Albany County‘s Supreme Courts
Albany County Supreme Court
Albany County Courthouse
16 Eagle Street, Room 102, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 285-8989
Fax: (518) 238-4385

Albany County’s County Courts
Albany County Court
Albany County Courthouse
6 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 285-8777
Fax: (518) 453-8697

Albany County’s Family Courts
Albany County Family Court
30 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 285-8600
Fax: (518) 238-4344

Albany County’s Surrogate’s Courts
Albany County Surrogate's Court
16 Eagle Street, Room 123, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 285-8585
Fax: (518) 285-8237

Albany County’s City Courts
Albany City Court - Civil Part
Albany City Hall
24 Eagle Street, Room 209, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 453-4640
Fax: (518) 453-8679

Albany City Court - Criminal Part
Public Safety Building
1 Morton Avenue, Albany, NY 12202
Phone: (518) 453-5520
Fax: (518) 453-8990

Albany City Court - Traffic Part
Albany City Hall
24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 453-4630
Fax: (518) 453-8699

Cohoes City Court
97 Mohawk Street, Room 8, 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

Albany County’s Town and Village Courts
Altamont Justice Court
115 Main Street, P.O. Box 643, Altamont, NY 12009
Phone: (518) 861-8554 ext. 12
Fax: (518) 861-5379

Berne Town Court
Town Hall
1656 Helderberg Trail, P.O. Box 57, Berne, NY 12023
Phone: (518) 872-1448 ext. 105
Fax: (518) 872-0183

Bethlehem Justice Court
Town Hall
447 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054
Phone: (518) 439-4955

Coeymans Town Court
Town Hall
18 Russell Avenue, Ravena, NY 12143
Phone: (518) 756-8480
Fax: (518) 756-7730

Colonie Town Justice Court
Colonie Public Safety Center
312 Wolf Road, Latham, NY 12110
Phone: (518) 783-2714

Green Island Town Court
73 Hudson Avenue, Green Island, NY 12183
Phone: (518) 273-0661
Fax: (518) 273-0688

Guilderland Justice Court
Guilderland Town Hall
5209 Western Turnpike, P.O. Box 339, Guilderland, NY 12084
Phone: (518) 356-1980 ext. 1073

Knox Justice Court
Physical: 2192 Berne-Altamont Road, Altamont, NY 12009
Mailing: P.O. Box 124, Knox, NY 12107
Phone: (518) 872-9183
Fax: (518) 486-8626

Menands Village Court
250 Broadway, Menands, NY 12204
Phone: (518) 434-3992
Fax: (518) 626-0428

New Scotland Town Court
58 Verda Avenue, P.O. Box 318, Clarksville, NY 12041
Work: (518) 475-0493
Fax: (518) 439-9135

Ravena Village Justice Court
15 Mountain Road, Ravena, NY 12143
Phone: (518) 756-2313
Fax: (518) 756-3969

Rensselaerville Justice Court
87 Barger Road, Medusa, NY 12120
Phone: (518) 239-4225
Fax: (518) 239-6339

Westerlo Justice Court
Westerlo Town Hall
671 County Route 401, Westerlo, NY 12193
Phone: (518) 797-3239
Fax: (518) 797-3598

Albany County District Court Records

Albany County has no district courts; hence, there are no district court records. However, the county has a County Court and City Courts that operate within the jurisdiction of a District Court.

The County Court has jurisdiction to handle criminal cases involving felony charges and civil cases involving complex legal matters or high amounts of money. The City Court handles similar cases with low jurisdictional powers. This court handles cases of violations, preliminary hearings for felony charges, misdemeanors, and civil cases involving small claims, traffic violations, and civil matters involving small amounts, usually under $15,000.

These courts maintain records that may be accessed at the courthouses or through the County Clerk’s office. These offices are open for in-person requests during the week, and requesters may also send them via mail. Online access to the County and City Court records is available through the Online Records Search, where requesters may search the county’s archives.

Albany County Criminal Records

Albany County criminal records are documents from courts and law enforcement agencies that detail an individual’s criminal history and convictions. Criminal records include records of arrests, court trials, and convictions, which show final judgment and sentencing. These records are public on the basic level, such as convictions, while restricted criminal records will include juvenile or sealed cases. Criminal records are maintained by the County Court Clerk, the County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. The public may submit in-person requests or process requests sent by mail during work hours of the week. These requests should be submitted or mailed with details of the records or records registrant for easier records recovery.

Criminal records may also be obtained online through county and state resources. The County Clerk’s Online Records Search website provides a link to a search portal for accessing criminal court records. New York also provides criminal history records and background checks to the public through the Office of the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Note: Public access to Albany County arrest records may vary depending on local laws.

Albany County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Albany County criminal court cases are available in person through the county courthouses or the County Clerk’s office. These offices allow in-person record requests as well as requests sent via mail. Requesters must include some information about the case to aid the recovery of records from the archives. The public may also look up Albany County criminal court cases online through the Online Records Search website, which has a search portal link. The search portal allows records searches using the following search functions:

• Party names
• Date
• Document Group
• Document description
• Town
• Book
• Case Number
• Page
• Instrument Number

Get Albany County Civil Court Records

Albany County civil court records are documents from the county’s noncriminal cases. These records will include documents like court orders, transcripts, complaints, and judgments from civil cases, which include:

• Contract disputes
• Property matters
• Personal injury claims
• Small claims
• Family Law cases
• Real estate matters

Civil court records are public records maintained by the county courts with civil jurisdiction. These records are also maintained by the County Clerk’s office. Civil court records may be obtained by mailing requests or submitting in-person requests at the courthouse or clerk’s office. Requests should be mailed or submitted with details about the case for an easier records search. Online access to civil court records is available through the Online Records Search website. This website has a search portal link where requesters may use different search functions to find Albany County civil court records.

Albany County Family Court Records

Albany County family court records are documents from the county’s Family Court that provide information and details about family law cases, including:

• Domestic violence
• Child support
• Alimony
• Child custody
• Adoption
• Divorce
• Paternity
• Spousal support

Family court records are not publicly accessible, as most are sealed unless a judge orders them to be unsealed. Individuals who may access family court records in Albany County are restricted to the parties involved in the case, their attorneys, and any other authorized individuals with a court order or legal interest. This protects the privacy of the parties involved in the case, especially minors.

Family court records are maintained by the Family Court and the County Clerk. The office opens to accept and process records between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday. Within this time, they process requests sent via mail or submitted in person. Family court records are also accessible online through the County Clerk’s Online Records Search.

Albany County Marriage and Divorce Records

Albany County marriage and divorce records are documents relating to the creation or dissolution of a marital union. Marriage and divorce records include marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and marriage licenses, which provide details such as the spouses’ names, the location of the wedding, the wedding officiant, the cause of the divorce, and post-divorce settlements or agreements.

These records are not publicly accessible for the first 50 years. Within this period, only the spouses or divorced parties, their legal representatives, immediate family members (for marriage records), and individuals with legal claims or a court order. Marriage and divorce records are maintained by the Hall of Records, the County Clerk’s office, and through state resources. The public may access these offices during work hours of the week to make in-person record requests or process requests sent via mail.

Marriage and divorce records are available online through the county’s Online Records Search, which provides a link to search for records using different search functions. The state’s Department of Health also provides a Birth, Death, Marriage, & Divorce Records website for accessing New York’s marriage and divorce records. Requesters must present a valid ID or document showing evidence of authorized access.

Albany Birth and Death Records

Albany County birth and death records are documents from the county’s Vital Records office, which shows information about the recorded births and deaths. Birth records will contain information about the newborn’s place and date of birth and parents’ names, while death records will show details such as the time, date, and place of death and the cause of death.

Birth and death records are public records maintained by the Vital Statistics Office of the Health Department. This office is open for public requests from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a break from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Birth and death records are available to a selected few, including the individual named on the certificate, their immediate family members, and individuals with a legal claim.

Birth and death records may also be obtained online through the county’s Vital Statistics website. This website features a link to order birth and death records online. Requesters may also get the fee schedule from this platform which typically dictates $15 per copy for birth and death records, respectively. Online state platforms such as Birth, Death, Marriage, & Divorce Records will also provide statewide access to birth and death records.

Albany County Probate Court Records

Albany County probate court records are documents that show details and give information about cases from the county’s Surrogate’s Court. This court handles probate matters through cases involving adoption, Wills, guardianships, and estate administration. Albany County court records are public records maintained mainly by the Surrogate’s Court and accessible through the courthouse or the County Clerk.

Requesters may obtain probate records by completing and submitting a request application in the right format accompanied by some information about the court records sought. The courthouse and County Clerk’s offices are typically open to the public Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to accept and process requests submitted in person or via mail.

The public may access Albany County probate court records through the County Clerk’s Online Records Search platform. This website features a link to a search platform where the county’s records may be searched using various search functions. Requesters must note that a government-issued ID may be required to grant access to probate records.

Albany County Property Records

Albany County property records refer to official documents that provide information about property ownership, addresses, and boundaries in the county. These records will give details such as historical transactions, property addresses, and ownership details through documents like liens, deeds, and mortgages. Property records are public records under the New York Freedom of Information Law.

The county’s property records are obtainable through the County Clerk’s office. This office is open to the public between 8:30 am and 4 pm from Monday to Friday for in-person requests for documents like liens, mortgages, property deeds, and other property records. Online access to Albany County property records is available through the Image Mate Online platform, where the public may also access the GIS Map function. The County Clerk’s archives may also be searched online through the Online Records Search platform.

Albany County Court Records Online

Albany County court records are available for in-person or online access through the county government’s Online Records Search platform. Court records may also be accessible through third-party websites like newyorkcourtrecords.us. These websites are government-owned or independent platforms that organize online archives of public records. These records include court records, which may be accessed at any time of the day through third-party websites. However, these sites operate independently of any government agency. As such, they may provide incomplete or outdated results. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.