Dutchess County Court Records

Dutchess County court records are documents and files containing information about court cases. They typically include the following:

• Case details: Case number, names of parties involved, case type
• Pleadings: Complaints, answers, motions, responses
• Evidence: Exhibits, witness statements, transcripts
• Orders and judgments: Court decisions, sentences, fines
• Trial records: Verbatim transcripts of court proceedings
• Appellate records: Appeals, briefs, opinions
• Docket entries: Chronological list of events and filings in a case

Dutchess County court records may be obtained from the following types of cases:

• Civil Cases: Personal injury, tort, libel, slander, employment disputes, and foreclosures
• Criminal Cases: Felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations
• Family law Cases: Child support, alimony, adoption, and divorces
• Probate Cases: Wills, estates, and guardianship

The administration of justice in Dutchess County depends heavily on the accessibility of court records. Access to court records helps maintain the integrity of the legal system by introducing accountability and openness into the process. It is also helpful in checking the backgrounds of potential employees, tenants, or business partners. In addition, Dutchess County court records are consulted by attorneys to comprehend specific case laws or establish legal precedents for cases.

Are Court Records Public in Dutchess County?

Court records in Dutchess County are typically open to the public. Court clerks are authorized by the New York Consolidated Code, Chapter 30, Article 8 Section 255-B, to allow the public to view court records during regular business hours.

However, some Dutchess County court records are publicly unavailable to preserve privacy or protect sensitive information. For instance, the following Dutchess County court records are generally closed to the public and can only be accessed by authorized persons:

• Adoption Records
• Records protected by state or federal laws
• Juvenile Records
• Confidential information such as Social Security Number and driver’s license number
• Medical and Mental Health Records
• Financial account numbers

Dutchess County Court Records Search

Dutchess County court records can be accessed online and offline. Record seekers can search for public court records in the county using the New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform. They can also obtain public court records by mail or in-person visits to the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office or the courts where a case was heard.

In addition, anyone can use reliable third-party websites to access the county’s public court records. However, certain court records in Dutchess County are sealed under New York law or by court orders to preserve privacy and protect sensitive information. These records are not open to the public but can only be accessed by authorized persons.

Dutchess County Court Records Search by Name

Name searches for court records involve using the case party’s name to find court documents. In Dutchess County, one of the most common ways of finding court records is to search by name. This can be done using the defendant's name in a criminal case or a defender or plaintiff in a civil case. The New York State Unified Court System eCourts platform allows record seekers to search Dutchess County court documents by name. Court records are classified as civil, criminal, family, and supreme categories on the eCourts platform.

Dutchess County Courts

Courts in Dutchess County are part of the 9th Judicial District of New York State. The Dutchess County courts system comprises a Supreme and County Court, a Family Court, a Surrogate’s Court, and two City Courts. Dutchess County is also home to 26 town and village courts.

The list below outlines the different Dutchess County, New York courts and their contact addresses:

Dutchess Supreme and County Courts
10 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1710
Fax: (845) 431-1743

Dutchess Family Court
50 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1850
Fax: (845) 486-2510

Dutchess Surrogate's Court
10 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1770
Fax: (845) 476-3659

City Court of Beacon
One Municipal Plaza
Suite 2
Beacon, NY 12508
Phone: (845) 431-1900
Fax: (845) 431-1736

City Court of Poughkeepsie
62 Civic Center Plaza
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 483-8200

Amenia Town Court
4988 Route 22
P.O. Box 126
Amenia, NY 12501
Phone: (845) 373-7017
Fax: (845) 373-8435

Beekman Town Court
4 Main Street
Poughquag, NY 12570
Phone: (845) 724-5300 ext. 1
Fax: (845) 724-3284

Clinton Justice Court
1215 Centre Road
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Phone: (845) 266-5988
Fax: (845) 266-3335

Dover Justice Court
126 East Duncan Hill Road
Dover Plains, NY 12522
Phone: (845) 877-6128

East Fishkill Justice Court
330 Route 376
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Phone: (845) 226-4229

Fishkill Town Justice Court
807 Route 52
Fishkill, NY 12524
Phone: (845) 831-7860
Fax: (845) 831-1569

Fishkill Village Justice Court
1095 Main Street
Fishkill, NY 12524
Phone: (845) 897-2103
Fax: (845) 897-4940

Hyde Park Justice Court
1 Cardinal Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538
Phone: (845) 229-1620
Fax: (845) 229-2137

LaGrange Justice Court
Town Hall
120 Stringham Road
Lagrangeville, NY 12540
Phone: (845) 452-1830
Fax: (845) 473-7079

Milan Town Justice Court
Wilcox Memorial Town Hall
20 Wilcox Circle
Milan, NY 12571
Phone: (845) 758-6960
Fax: (845) 758-1175

North East Town Court
19 North Maple Avenue
P.O. Box 516
Millerton, NY 12546
Phone: (518) 789-3300 ext. 604
Fax: (518) 789-9530

Pawling Town Justice Court
160 Charles Colman Boulevard
Pawling, NY 12564
Phone: (845) 855-3516
Fax: (845) 855-7265

Pawling Village Court
9 Memorial Avenue
Pawling, NY 12564
Phone: (845) 855-5602

Pine Plains Justice Court
Town Hall 3284 Route 199
P.O. Box 320
Pine Plains, NY 12567
Phone: (518) 398-7194
Fax: (518) 398-0227

Pleasant Valley Justice Court
Town Hall
1554 Main Street
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
Phone: (845) 635-2856
Fax: (845) 635-1989

Poughkeepsie Town Justice Court
17 Tucker Drive
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Phone: (845) 485-3692
Fax: (845) 790-4637

Red Hook Town Justice Court
7340 South Broadway
Red Hook, NY 12571
Phone: (845) 758-4609
Phone: (845) 758-4611
Fax: (845) 758-2033

Red Hook Village Court
7467 South Broadway
Red Hook, NY 12571
Phone: (845) 757-4113
Fax: (845) 758-1695

Rhinebeck Town Justice Court
80 East Market Street
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Phone: (845) 876-3858
Fax: (845) 876-8265

Rhinebeck Village Justice Court
76 East Market Street
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Phone: (845) 876-4119
Fax: (845) 876-7068

Stanford Town Court
26 Town Hall Road
P.O. Box 436
Stanfordville, NY 12581
Phone: (845) 868-2269
Fax: (845) 868-1570

Tivoli Village Justice Court
Watts dePeyster Hall
86 Broadway
P.O. Box 397
Tivoli, NY 12583
Phone: (845) 757-3219

Union Vale Town Court
249 Duncan Road
Lagrangeville, NY 12540
Phone: (845) 724-3288
Fax: (845) 724-3757

Wappinger Justice Court
Town Hall
20 Middlebush Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Phone: (845) 297-6070
Fax: (845) 297-0145

Wappingers Falls Justice Court
2582 South Avenue
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Phone: (845) 297-6777
Fax: (845) 298-6057

Washington Justice Court
10 Reservoir Drive
Millbrook, NY 12545
Phone: (845) 677-6366
Fax: (845) 677-2085

Dutchess County Supreme Court Records

Supreme Court records in Dutchess County refer to documents, filings, and other materials relating to legal proceedings in the court. They include records of civil cases, felony cases, divorce cases, and other matters adjudicated by the court. In Dutchess County, Supreme Court records are maintained by the County Clerk and are available online on the Clerk’s documents search tool. To use these online resources, requesters must provide information about the case record, such as the parties’ names, index numbers, and parties’ roles. In addition to online access, interested persons can request Dutchess County Supreme Court records in person or via mail to:

Dutchess County Clerk’s office
10 Market St,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1710

Dutchess County Criminal Records

The Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) is the official custodian of criminal history records, which include Dutchess County Arrest records. These documents detail Dutchess arrest records, indictments, convictions, and sentences reported by police, district attorneys, courts, and other agencies. These files are not public and cannot be accessed through the state’s Freedom of Information Law. The DCJS does not provide criminal history records to third parties or companies conducting background checks. Requests for another individual's criminal history are not allowed.

Individuals can request an unsuppressed or suppressed criminal history record response, each needing a separate request. Unsuppressed Criminal History Records contain all criminal history files, including sealed or suppressed records under New York State Criminal Procedure Law. These Dutchess Criminal Records include dismissed cases, violation/infraction convictions, eligible substance abuse-related convictions, eligible convictions granted by the court, youthful offender adjudications, dismissed charges, and equivalent arrest charges (if disposed of after Nov. 1, 1991).

Suppressed Criminal History Records exclude sealed or suppressed information. Dutchess County residents looking to request criminal history records should follow the following steps:

• Book a fingerprinting appointment.
• On the fingerprinting appointment day, requestors must bring an acceptable form of identification (a driver’s license, state ID, or international passport will suffice). Parents or Guardians requesting a minor aged 11 to 17 who does not have an acceptable form of I.D. must complete this New York Photo ID Waiver for Minors form.
• Pay the service fee of $14.25 ).
• After the appointment, DCJS will process the request and mail the response within three to four weeks.

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

Dutchess County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Record seekers can look up criminal court case records at the courthouse where the case was adjudicated. Dutchess County courts accept in-person requests for criminal records under their jurisdiction. The request must contain information, such as the case party’s name, case number, court disposition date, or citation number. Note that the court will only process requests during business hours.

Alternatively, individuals can request criminal records through the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office. The agency is an intermediary and forwards record requests to the designated record custodian.

Get Dutchess County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Dutchess County typically include case filings and pleadings, court orders and judgments, transcripts of hearings and trials, settlement agreements, docket sheets, and jury verdicts. The Dutchess County District Clerk's Office maintains these records.

Requesters generally need to know the case number or the names of the parties involved in order to access civil court records in Dutchess County. With this information, they can contact the County District Clerk's Office in person, by phone, or through their website.

Most civil court records are publicly accessible under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). However, exceptions exist to protect privacy, ongoing investigations, and other sensitive information.

Dutchess County Family Court Records

The Family Court in Dutchess County handles cases involving domestic relations and juvenile matters, such as adoption, custody and visitation, delinquency, child abuse, guardianship, and paternity cases. Information and documents about these cases constitute family court records in Dutchess County.

Dutchess County family court records are confidential and are only open to persons directly involved in such cases. Such persons may request the records by contacting the Records Rooms of the Family Court at:

Dutchess Family Court
50 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1850

All requests must be accompanied by proof of the requestor’s identity, usually a government-issued ID. Dutchess County family court records are available online on the court’s portal. Users can search the portal using the file or docket number or the name of the attorney or law firm that represented the parties.

Dutchess County Marriage and Divorce Records

Divorce records are documents used during the legal separation of two married people, whereas marriage records are documents of the legal union of two people. The Dutchess County Clerk's Office records marriages and divorces in the county. Records about marriage and divorce are confidential and unavailable to the general public in New York. However, marriage records that date back more than 50 years are open to the public and regarded as historical records.

Eligible individuals seeking marriage and divorce records may mail a written request to the Clerk or visit the office in person at:

Dutchess County Office Building
County Clerk
22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 486-2120

Dutchess Birth and Death Records

Government agencies use birth and death certificates from Dutchess County as official documents for demographic studies and genealogical research. Death records detail the passing of inhabitants of Dutchess, while birth certificates or records provide information about their births. Another objective of these records is to support estate and inheritance claims. This information is confidential, according to New York State Public Health Law.

The NYC Health Department only releases birth and death records to eligible individuals in Dutchess County. The eligible requesters must appear on the birth certificates as legal guardians or children and be 18 years of age or older. A decedent's death certificate is only accessible to the deceased's immediate family, including a spouse, parent, child, or grandparent.

Dutchess County Probate Court Records

Dutchess County Probate Court records are documents and information about proceedings involving a deceased person’s estate. Examples include wills, trusts, estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship case records. The Clerk of the Dutchess County Surrogate Court keeps these records. Interested persons can obtain them by contacting the clerk’s office at:

Dutchess County Surrogate's Court
10 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Phone: (845) 431-1770

Dutchess County Property Records

Property records in Dutchess County are official records of real estate ownership. A property record often includes the following documents and information:

• Parcel Number
• Property Sales History
• Plat Maps
• Property Tax Information
• Building Permit
• Property Deeds
• Mortgage
• Liens and Encumbrances
• Zoning Information

The County Clerk's Office is responsible for property records within Dutchess County. To access records on Dutchess County properties, requesters should call, mail, or visit the clerk’s office. Alternatively, they should visit the Clerk's website and search for property records using the resource provided. Another option open to requesters is to search online for information on Dutchess County properties through third-party databases with records on Dutchess property ownership.

There are various types of property-related information available, including:

• Records indicating property ownership, such as name, address, and tax mailing address.
• Information about the property, such as its residential, commercial, or agricultural use. property size, year built, and property value.
• Records of property taxes, including tax amount and payment history, tax exemptions and deductions, and delinquent taxes and penalties.
• Copies of deeds, warranty deeds, and other property-related documents.
• Records of foreclosed properties, auction dates, and sale prices.

Dutchess County Court Records Online

The New York State Unified Court System and the Dutchess County clerk’s online search portal offer access to certain Dutchess County case information. In addition, third-party online resources may serve as more accessible alternatives for accessing Dutchess County court records.

Privately owned sites like newyorkcourtrecords.us offer user-friendly interfaces and advanced tools that could ease the search process for documents and information. They aggregate court records from various sources and make them accessible in one repository.

However, the accuracy of information is not guaranteed, and contradicting information among different sites and the potential for outdated information may require extra diligence to ensure the accuracy of the retrieved data. Lastly, although data obtained from these sites may be personally helpful, it may not be legally admissible.