Columbia County Court Records

A Columbia County court record is a document containing details of a judicial proceeding held within county limits (New York Public Officers Law, Article 6-A § 92). It includes motions, orders, transcripts of hearings, pleadings, judgments, evidence presented during trials, and case filings. Depending on the nature of the lawsuit, these records can be civil, probate, or criminal.

Court records are formal and comprehensive accounts of legal cases, and they are important for enabling accountability and transparency within the local judicial system.

Are Court Records Public in Columbia County?

Yes. Under state law, court records are considered part of Columbia County's public records. Thus, interested members of the public can file a request to acquire court records at any local courthouse.

However, certain Columbia Court records are restricted or sealed from public access by State law or county order. These records include:

• Certain criminal records for lawsuits where charges were dismissed, the defendant was acquitted, or the lawsuit was resolved in the defendant's favor.
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Adoption records
• Records of HIV-related details
• Records comprising sensitive business details and trade secrets.
• Certain mental health court records.
• Family records pertaining to custody and domestic violence

Columbia County Court Records Search

Individuals can perform a Columbia County court records search at the following places:

• The originating courthouse where the suit was filed.
• A court clerk's office.
• An online search portal offered by the local court.
• A reputable third-party public records platform.

Columbia County Courts

The New York trial court system comprises 10 distinct types of courts. These include the Supreme Courts, County Courts, Family Courts, Surrogate's Courts, Civil Courts of the City of New York, Criminal Courts of the City of New York, District Courts, City Courts, Town Courts and Village Courts, and Court of Claims.

Here is the directory of all court addresses in Columbia County, New York:

Columbia County Supreme Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534.
Phone: (518) 267-3150
Fax: (518) 267-3126

Columbia County Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 267-3150
Fax: (518) 267-3126

Columbia County Family Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 267-3150
Fax: (518) 267-3126

Columbia Surrogate’s Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 267-3150
Fax: (518) 267-3126

Hudson City Court
#429 Warren Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 828-3082
Fax: (518) 828-3628

Ancram Town court
#1416 County Route 7,
Ancram, NY 12502
Phone: (528) 329-6512 ext. 2

Austerlitz Town Court
Town Hall
#812 Route 203,
P.O. Box 119,
Spencertown, NY 12165
Phone: (518) 392-3260 ext. 302
Fax: (518) 285-4370

Canaan Town Court
Town Hall
#1647 County Route 5,
P.O. Box 59, Canaan, NY 12029
Phone: (518) 781-3749
Fax: (518) 781-3749

Chatham Town Court
#77 Main Street,
P.O. Box 326, Chatham, NY 12037
Phone: (518) 392-5440
Fax: (518) 392-0043

Chatham Village Court
Tracy Memorial Village Hall
#77 Main Street, Chatham, NY 12037
Phone: (518) 392-1825
Fax: (518) 392-7823

Claverack Town Court
#836 Highway 217,
P.O. Box 823, Philmont, NY 12565
Phone: (518) 672-4468
Fax: (518) 672-4098

Clermont Town Court
#1795 Route 9,
Germantown, NY 12526
Phone: (518) 537-6868

Copake Town Court
#230 Mountain View Road,
Copake, NY 12516
Phone: (518) 329-1234 ext. 3
Fax: (518) 329-3368

Gallatin Town Justice Court
Town Hall Annex
#1643 Jackson Corners Road,
P.O. Box 240, Ancram, NY 12502
Phone: (518) 398-7690
Fax: (518) 398-6161

Germantown Town Court
#50 Palatine Park Road,
Germantown, NY 12526
Phone: (518) 537-6687

Ghent Town Court
#2306 State Route 66,
P.O. Box 98, Ghent, NY 12075
Phone: (518) 392-2706
Fax: (518) 392-7259

Greenport Town Court
#600 Town Hall Drive,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 828-0138
Fax: (518) 828-2575

Hillsdale Town Court
#P.O. Box 305,
Hillsdale, NY 12529
Phone: (518) 325-5073 ext. 4
Fax: (518) 325-6917

Kinderhok Town Court
#3211 Church Street,
P.O. Box 325, Valatie, NY 12184
Phone: (518) 784-2233 ext. 308
Fax: (518) 784-2203

Kinderhook Village Justice Court
Village Hall
#6 Chatham Street, Box 325,
Kinderhook, NY 12106
Phone: (518) 758-8778 ext. 303

Livingston Town Court
#119 County Route 19,
P.O. Box 44, Livingston, NY 12541
Phone: (518) 851-9441 ext. 312
Fax: (518) 851-3750

New Lebanon Justice Court
Town Hall
#14755 State Route 22,
P.O. Box 247, New Lebanon, NY 12125
Phone: (518) 794-9456
Fax: (518) 794-9693

Philmont Village Court
#122 Main Street, Philmont, NY 12565
Phone: (518) 672-4886
Fax: (518) 672-4980

Stockport Town Court
Physical Address:
#2787 Atlantic Avenue,
Stottville, NY 12172

Mailing Address:
#2787 Atlantic Avenue,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 828-9389 ext. 6
Fax: (518) 822-0889

Stuyvesant Town Court
#5 Sunset Drive,
P.O. Box 33, Stuyvesant, NY 12173
Phone: (518) 758-6248 ext. 12
Fax: (518) 758-8988

Taghkanic Town Court
#909 State Route 82,
Ancram, NY 12502
Phone: (518) 851-7638 ext. 305

Columbia County Criminal Records

Columbia County criminal records are files or documents concerning an individual's criminal activity or interaction with the justice system. These records usually consist of details of the proceedings from a defendant's arrest to sentencing and are held by law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, and local courts.

Interested persons may obtain a Columbia County criminal record from the County Sheriff's Department for records of arrests handled by this office. Researchers can submit a written request and must sign a waiver permitting the release of information. Also, requesters must provide the following key details to acquire criminal records from the Sheriff's Office:

• Current and other related names
• Social Security Number
• Address
• Date of Birth
• A signed release from the defendant

Researchers must also include the $10 nominal fee to conduct a Criminal Records Check from the Columbia County Sheriff's Department.

Alternatively, an inquirer may visit the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for statewide searches of court. To do this, one can follow the steps below:

• Schedule an appointment to provide fingerprints by calling (877) 472-6915 or visiting the IdentoGo website.
• Carry along the form of identification to the fingerprinting appointment.
• At the office, complete a request form for a criminal history record that includes essential details about the record, such as case party names, case numbers, and the date of the filing/proceeding.
• Pay any required fees.

Get Columbia County Civil Court Records

Requesters may obtain a Columbia County civil court record from the Columbia County Clerk of Court's Office. Researchers can do this online by following the steps below:

• Visit the Columbia County Clerk of Courts website.
• Scroll down and click on the "Access Public Records Here" link.
• On the next page, researchers can click "search record as a guest" to obtain records for free or create an account to get a more comprehensive copy record.
• On the search page, provide the names of the case party or business, filing date, and date range.
• Select "all" in the Document Group
• Choose the Document Description from the dropdown list. If the document description is unknown, choose "all".
• Select the Town from the dropdown list. If the town is not known, select "all".
• Provide the Case number, if available.
• Click on the "Search" button.
• From the search results, click on the given record.

Alternatively, one may visit the courthouse where the case was filed (if known) to search for a civil record in Columbia County. To do this, researchers must carry along a valid means of identification and essential details about the record (names of case parties, date of filing, or case number) and pay the fees for access and duplicates.

Columbia County Marriage Records

Columbia County marriage records (or certificates) offer legal evidence of a marriage between two people within the county. The Columbia County Clerk of Court's Office is responsible for maintaining, collating, and distributing most public records within the county, including marriage records. Thus, to obtain a marriage record, one may do so in person, online, or via mail.

To do so in person, a requester can visit the physical location of the Clerk of Court's Office to obtain the license directly. The individual must provide some critical details about the marriage (name of either spouse, date of filing) and the applicable fees for obtaining copies, typically $10/ copy.

Researchers can also obtain marriage records online by visiting the Clerk of Court's website and searching from the database. To do this, follow the steps below:

• Visit the Columbia County Clerk of Courts website.
• Scroll down and click on the "Access Public Records Here" link.
• On the next page, researchers can click "search record as a guest" to obtain records for free or create an account to get a more comprehensive copy record.
• On the search page, provide the case party or business name, filing date, and date range.
• Select "all" in the Document Group
• Choose "Matrimonial" from the dropdown list in the Document Description.
• Select the Town from the dropdown list. If the town is not known, select "all".
• Provide the Case number, if available.
• Click on the "Search" button.
• From the search results, click on the given record.

Columbia County Divorce Records

Columbia County divorce records offer details concerning the legal dissolution of a marriage. The Columbia County Clerk of Court's Office holds and distributes these records.

Interested persons acquire Columbia County dissolution of marriage records by visiting the Clerk of Court's office's physical location to request the divorce certificate. The address of the Clerk of Court's office is below:

Columbia County Clerk of Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534

Alternatively, the New York State Department of Health (Vital Records Office) maintain a statewide repository of all vital records in New York State, including divorce certificates. Thus, researchers may obtain this record online by using the online search database provided by the NYSDOH. Researchers will need to provide a valid form of ID, details of the divorce party, and the fee for the transaction ($30 per copy for mail orders and $45 per copy + processing fees per transaction).

Only ex-spouses, law enforcement officers, or attorneys can obtain divorce records.

Columbia Birth and Death Records

Columbia County birth and death records are categorized under vital records. These records are maintained for personal and legal reasons, including applying for benefits, performing genealogical research, or acquiring identification.

The Columbia County Clerk of Court Office issues and maintains records of birth and death certificates in the county. Interested members of the public can obtain a birth or death certificate by visiting the Clerk of Court's office in person. The address is below:

Columbia County Clerk of Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534

Researchers should contact the Clerk's office beforehand to confirm the records' availability at ((518) 267-3150).

Additionally, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) maintains birth and death certificate records (since 1881). The Department maintains an online record search platform for births and deaths, where citizens or residents can search for births registered in the State.

Columbia County Probate Court Records

Columbia County probate court records are legal records pertaining to the administration and management of a deceased person's estate. It includes documents like estate inventories, final distributions of assets, wills, the appointment of an executor, debt and tax settlements, and petitions.

The Columbia County Surrogate's Court is the agency responsible for handling the filing, processing, maintenance, and distribution of probate records. Thus, interested individuals may visit the Surrogate Court's office to obtain this record at the location below:

The Columbia County Surrogate's Court
#401 Union Str.,
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: (518) 267-3150

Columbia County Property Records

In Columbia County, property records are documents pertaining to information about real estate ownership, tax details, and property assessments. These records play a key role in helping individuals understand property taxes, conduct title searches, and buying or selling real property.

The Real Property Tax Service Agency handles property records within Columbia County, New York. To obtain these records, one should follow the steps below:

• Visit the Columbia County Real Property Tax Service Agency website.
• Tap the link showing "Click Here for the 2024 Final Assessment Rolls".
• Tap on the link displaying "Click Here for 2024 FINAL Assessment Roll w/ Inventory Searchable by Parcel".
• On the next page, tap "Click Here for Public Access".
• Choose the municipality from the dropdown.
• Provide the full name of the case party, tax ID, street name, and street number, and select the "Search" link.

The Clerk of Court's Office also handles specific property-related records, such as deeds, liens, and mortgages.

Columbia County Court Records Online

Inquirers can obtain Columbia County court records online by visiting government-operated platforms or reliable third-party firms. Third-party sites, such as Newyorkcourtrecords.us, are maintained by reputable firms that collate public records from several databases and repositories and sell them to the public.

Using third-party sites has its perks, one of which is that users can easily navigate the platform from their homes and via different device platforms. These platforms also usually offer more advanced search options for individuals to locate any given record on their platform.

Conversely, these online platforms are usually more expensive than their government-run counterparts. Also, some data on their databases may be error-prone or outdated, so researchers must confirm the details with government sources for validity.