Otsego County Court Records

A court record is an official document prepared by a court clerk that captures all aspects of legal proceedings in a court case. A court record contains exhibits, evidence, case index, docket entries, transcripts of hearings, judgments, and other information related to a particular case. Preserving court records is an essential part of the New York judicial system. The state of New York runs a unified court system, which includes Otsego County. Preserving New York court records allows individuals to inspect and review the litigation process and outcomes in court cases.

Are Court Records Public in Otsego County?

Otsego County court records are public under the New York Freedom of Information Law(FOIL). The FOIL is the governing statute for all New York public records. However, Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law regulates public access to court records. Per Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law, some court records are, by default, restricted from public access. They are accessible only to persons authorized by law or court order. Restricted court records include:

• Adoption court records
• Juvenile records
• Some family court records
• Mental health records
• Personal sensitive information contained in court records

Otsego County Court Records Search

Otsego residents can view a court record through the following options:

• A Clerk of Court
• New York eCourt portals
• Online third-party resources

Otsego County Courts

Otsego County courts function under the New York 6th Judicial District. The county hosts a County Court, a Supreme Court, a Surrogate Court, a Family Court, and Justice Courts (town and village courts). Otsego County court addresses are as follows:

Otsego County Court and Surrogate Court(M-B)
197 Main Street
Otsego County Office Building
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 322-3140

Otsego County Family Court
32 Chestnut Street
County Annex Building
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 322-3130

Otsego County Supreme Court
32 Chestnut Street
County Annex Building
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 322-3165

Burlington Town Court
Route 51
Municipal Building 6011
Burlington Flats, NY 13315
(607) 965-8649

Butternuts Town Court
1234 St. Hwy 51
P.O. Box 26
Gilbertsville, NY 13776
(607) 783-2758

Cherry Valley Town Court
2407 State Rt. 166
P.O. Box 243
Cherry Valley, NY 13320
(607) 264-8324

Decatur Town Court
104 County Highway 37
P.O. Box 463
Worcester, NY 12197
(607) 397-8298

Edmeston Town Court
2 West Street
Edmeston, NY 13335-5133
(607) 965-9823

Exeter Town Court
P.O. Box 223
Town Highway Building
Schuyler Lake, NY 13457-223
(315) 858-3905

Hartwick Town Court
P.O. Box 106
103 Town Drive
Hartwick, NY 13348
(607) 293-8133

Laurens Town Court
37 Brook Street
Laurens, NY 13796
(607) 433-1053

Maryland Town Court
40 Main Street
P.O. Box 6
Schenevus, NY 12155-0006
(607) 638-9495

Middlefield Town Court
3717 County Highway 35
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-2126

Milford Town Court
2859 State Highway 28
P.O. Box 328
P.O. Box 328
Portlandville, NY 13834-325
(607) 286-7773

Morris Town Court
93 Main Street
Morris Municipal Building
P.O. Box 524
Morris, NY 13808-0524
(607) 263-2224

New Lisbon Town Court
908 County Highway 16
Town Hall
Garrattsville, NY 13342-1614
(607) 965-8627

Oneonta Town Court
3966 St. Hwy 23
Town Hall
P.O. Box A
West Oneonta, NY 13861-3970
(607) 432-0124

Otego Town Court
3526 State Highway 7
P.O. Box 468
Otego, NY 13825
(607) 988-2698

Otsego Town Court
811 County Hwy 26
P.O. Box 57
Fly Creek, NY 13337-57
(607) 547-5689

Pittsfield Town Court
P.O. Box 915
175 State Rte 80
New Berlin, NY 13411
(607) 847-8626

Plainfield Town Court
129 County Highway 18A
West Winfield, NY 13491
(315) 855-7873

Richfield Town Court
18 East James Street
P.O. Box 786
Richfield Springs, NY 13439-0786
(315) 858-2830

Roseboom Town Court
126 County Highway 50
Cherry Valley, NY 13320
(607) 264-8091

Springfield Town Court
P.O. Box 325
Springfield, NY 13468
(315) 858-1508

Unadilla Town Court
P.O. Box 334
Unadilla, NY 13849
(607) 369-7458

Westford Town Court
1812 County Hwy 34
P.O. Box 165
Westford, NY 13488-165
(607) 638-9972

Worcester Town Court
19 Katie Lane
P.O. Box 294
Worcester, NY 12197-294
(607) 397-8476

Richfield Springs Village Court
P.O. Box 749
102 Main Street
Richfield Springs, NY 13439- 271
(315) 858-2048

Oneonta City Court
81 Main Street
Public Safety Building
2nd Floor
Oneonta, NY 13820
(607) 376-5380

Otsego County Criminal Records

Local law enforcement agencies and the criminal courts prepare Otsego County criminal records, which detail an individual's interaction with the criminal justice system. The Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Otsego County. Individuals needing an Otsego County arrest record may check with the Sheriff's Office or the arresting agency if known.

A comprehensive criminal history record can be obtained from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The DCJS is the official custodian of New York criminal history records and works with an independent company to provide access to them. New York criminal history records are confidential and open only to the subject of the record.

Individuals may begin a criminal history record request process by scheduling an appointment with a third-party company to have their fingerprints taken. An appointment can be scheduled online or by phone. An applicant must show up to the appointment with a valid I.D. and a $14.25 payment. The payment can be made by credit card, check, or money order. Out-of-state applicants without access to a fingerprinting location near them may have a local law enforcement agency capture their fingerprints on a filled-out FBI (FD-258) fingerprint card. Once captured, the applicant is to enroll for a Cardscan submission on the third-party fingerprinting vendor's website and have the fingerprint card mailed to them.

A criminal history record request takes three to four weeks to process after fingerprint submission. The resulting record is mailed to the address provided by the applicant. Applicants unable to afford the $14.25 fee may request a criminal history record waiver fee application packet from the DCJS by email or by mail at:

Records Review Unit
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
80 South Swan St., 5th Floor
Albany, New York 12210

One way members of the public can obtain criminal history information about an individual is to request a criminal history record search (CHRS) through the Office of Court Administration (OCA). The CHRS disseminates public criminal information that originates from all courts in the state of New York.

A request can be made through the Online Direct Access program or by completing and mailing a CHRS Application Form to the OCA at:

NYS Office of Court Administration
Division of Technology and Court Research
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street (Room 830 – Front Counter)
New York, NY 10004

A requester is required to provide an exact name and date of birth that matches the subject of the desired record. Any variations in the name or date of birth will lead to a failed request. A CHRS request costs $95. The results are not certified and do not contain sealed and expunged criminal records.

Get Otsego County Civil Court Records

Otsego County civil court records contain information relating to litigation between two private parties heard in one of the county's courts. A civil court record may be obtained from the court clerk in custody of the court record. A court clerk will require a fee from an individual requesting a copy of a civil court record. The fee covers the cost of duplicating the court record.

Individuals can look up court records of civil cases tried by the Supreme Court online through the WebCivil Supreme Portal. The WebCivil Supreme Mobile portal can be used to search for a Supreme Court civil record via mobile. A civil court record can be searched on the portal by index number, party name, attorney name, and justice name. Confidential Supreme Court civil court records can not be accessed online. The WebFamily portal can be used to view family-related Otsego County civil court records online.

Otsego County Marriage Records

Town clerks are the primary custodians of Otsego County's vital records, including marriage records. They are responsible for issuing marriage licenses to individuals seeking to get married in the county. Persons authorized to obtain a marriage certificate in New York are spouses and any third party with a court order or a documented judicial or other proper purpose.

Individuals may visit the town clerk's office that issued a marriage license to request an Otsego County marriage certificate. The Otsego County Clerk's Office provides a list containing contact information of the several town clerks in the county. This provision is made so interested persons can inquire at the appropriate town clerk about how to acquire a marriage certificate from the office. Obtaining an Otsego County marriage certificate from a town clerk costs $10 per copy.

A marriage certificate request can also be made to the New York Department of Health if a requester is unsure of the town where the marriage was recorded. A request can be made by completing and submitting a Marriage Certificate Application Form to the department through mail at:

New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602

A request must be accompanied by a copy of the requester's valid I.D. and payment. Acceptable forms of photo I.D. are a driver's license, a state-issued photo I.D., a passport, or a U.S. military-issued photo I.D. Providing the wrong I.D. will result in the request being rejected. Payment for a marriage certificate is $30 and must be made by personal check, money order, or certified check made payable to the NYS Department of Health.

The Department of Health can request marriage certificates online through a certified third-party vendor. An online request costs $45, plus the extra fees associated with utilizing the third-party vendor's services.

Otsego County Divorce Records

A divorce is the legal termination of a marriage union. In Otsego County, the Supreme Court is the only court with jurisdiction over divorce cases. Divorce cases in the county are classified into contested and uncontested divorces. A divorce is contested when both parties fail to reach a consensus on all terms regarding their divorce. An uncontested divorce is a more direct process that does not involve a court hearing, as both parties agree on the terms of the divorce.

Individuals can obtain a copy of a divorce record (also called a divorce decree) from the Supreme Court Clerk's Office. A divorce record requester has to be the party involved in the divorce or have a court order.

An Otsego County divorce certificate can only be acquired from the New York Department of Health. The department has divorce certificates for divorces after January 1, 1963. For divorces before then, only divorce decrees are available.

A divorce certificate can be requested by mailing a completed Divorce Certificate Application Form to the New York Department of Health. The mail-in request should include a copy of the requester's valid photo I.D. and $30 payment. Payment can be made by personal check, postal money order, or certified check made payable to the Department of Health. Individuals should refrain from attempting to make a payment by cash.

Otsego divorce certificates can also be requested online for $45 from the state-approved third-party vendor.

Otsego County Birth and Death Records

Otsego County birth and death records are part of vital records maintained by town clerks. Both records have been maintained in Otsego County since 1881. Birth and death certificates like marriage and divorce certificates are not obtainable by the general public. A birth certificate can be obtained by the person named on the record, a parent named on the birth record, a spouse, a child, or an individual with a court order. The deceased's spouse, parent, sibling, or child can obtain an Otsego County death certificate. An individual with a documented legal claim or right, a documented medical need, or a court order can also obtain a death certificate.

Eligible persons may request a birth or death certificate at the town clerk's office where the event occurred. A $10 fee is required to acquire a birth or death certificate from a town clerk. Otsego County birth and death certificates can also be obtained from the New York Department of Health. To do this, a requester may complete and forward the birth certificate or death certificate application form to the Department of Health via mail—a copy of the requester's valid photo I.D. and $30 payment. Requests can be made online through the state's third-party vital records partner for $45.

Otsego County Probate Court Records

The Surrogate Court is Otsego County's dedicated probate court, handling all probate matters in the county. Probate matters relate to the administration of a deceased person's estate. These include disputed claims, ancillary proceedings, compromise, and settlement of wrongful death actions.

Probate court records can be obtained at the Court Clerk's office. If a probate court record is not publicly accessible, a requester may need to acquire a court order granting access.

Otsego County Property Records

Property records comprise information about real property in Otsego County. Information contained in a property record includes deeds, plats, mortgages, liens, and property tax information. The County Clerk is the primary custodian of Otsego County property records.

Individuals may view and obtain property records at the County Clerk's Office or search property documents through the third-party site affiliated with the county. Real property in Otsego County can also be searched through the Otsego Image Mate online tool.

Otsego County Court Records Online

Individuals unable to obtain an Otsego court record in person or who prefer looking up court records remotely may opt for third-party resources like Newyorkcourtrecords.us. A researcher can usually access various court records through third-party resources. Searching for a court record is straightforward, and limited court record information may be disclosed to the researcher for free. Full access to a court record may warrant a fee from the inquirer. However, not all court records are available on third-party platforms. Court records that the court has sealed cannot be accessed through third-party resources.