Richmond County Court Records

Richmond County court records are official records of court activities including all cases heard in the county. Most of these records are kept in the custody of the county clerk and provide evidence that certain actions took place in court. Most importantly, court records play an essential role in educating the county’s residents about the law, its consequences, and the importance of accountability.

Depending on case types and court actions, court records in Richmond County may include the following:

• Transcripts
• Orders
• Judgements
• Motions
• Minutes
• Evidence
• Wills
• Docket entries

Are Court Records Public in Richmond County?

Court records in Richmond County are accessible to the public per Section 255 of the Judiciary Law. This law explicitly states that court clerks have the duty of providing court records to any member of the public upon request and payment of the applicable fees.

However, certain court records are exempt from public viewing in situations where the interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest regarding disclosure. According to the New York court records access guidelines, the public cannot access the following court records:

• Mental health records
• Youthful offender records
• Adoption records
• Probation reports
• Family court records
• Confidential records
• Expunged records
• Records of matrimonial actions

Richmond County Court Records Search

Publicly available court records in Richmond County are generally accessible offline by submitting a formal request to the courthouse where the case was filed or by visiting the courthouse in person to inspect the desired records. To expedite the process of searching for records, the court clerk may require proper descriptions or specific details of the records. Alternatively, record seekers can view case information on certain cases online.

Richmond County Court Records Search by Name

Certain Richmond County court records are retrievable by conducting a name search. For instance, the e-Courts website allows record seekers to view civil court records generated in the Richmond Civil and Supreme Courts by simply providing the name of the concerned party. Additionally, record seekers can search for criminal court records created in the Richmond Criminal Court by entering a defendant’s name.

Richmond County court records that are unavailable online are accessible in person at the office of the Richmond County Clerk or the respective courthouse. The records’ custodian will require the names of the parties involved to speed up the process.

Richmond County Courts

The Richmond County legal workload is efficiently managed by several key courts, such as the Supreme Court, Civil Court, Criminal Court, Family Court, and Surrogate’s Court. These courts are under the 13th Judicial District of New York. The Supreme Court handles criminal matters, complex civil lawsuits, matrimonial actions, and all cases outside the jurisdiction of lower courts. The Civil Court holds hearings for civil matters, small claims, and housing disputes. On the other hand, the Criminal Court deals with lesser offenses and misdemeanors. This court also conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings for felonies.

The Family Court and Surrogate’s Court have specialized jurisdictions. Matters affecting family relationships and children are usually handled in the family court. The Surrogate’s Court in Richmond County handles the cases of deceased persons and may also hear adoption cases.

Below is an outline of the locations of Richmond County courts within Staten Island:

Richmond County Supreme Court

Richmond County Supreme Court - Civil and Criminal
26 Central Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 675-8700
Fax: (212) 952-7215

Richmond County Supreme Court - Matrimonial Division
18 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 675-8700
Fax: (718) 390-5435

Richmond Civil Court

Richmond County Civil Court
927 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
Phone: (718) 675-8455

Richmond County Civil Court - Housing Part
927 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
Phone: (718) 675-8452

Richmond County Civil Court - Small Claims Part
927 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
Phone: (718) 675-8460

Richmond County Criminal Court

Richmond County Criminal Court
26 Central Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10304
Phone: (718) 675-8558
Fax: (718) 390-8405

Richmond County Family Court

Richmond County Family Court
100 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 675-8800
Fax: (718) 390-5247

Richmond County Surrogate’s Court

Richmond County Surrogate’s Court
18 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 675-8500
Fax: (718) 390-8741

Richmond County Supreme Court Case Search

The Richmond County Supreme Court plays a significant role in the county's trial court system by handling a diverse range of cases. It has exclusive jurisdiction over complex commercial litigations involving substantial amounts of money, contract disputes, and personal injury cases. The Supreme Court oversees all annulment proceedings, divorce cases, and the division of marital property.

Richmond County residents can search for Supreme Court cases in two primary ways. First, the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF) platform allows users to access case information by case number and index number. Alternatively, individuals can conduct a more in-depth search at the office of the Richmond County Clerk, which serves as the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court. This office maintains case records and can provide detailed information upon request.

Richmond County Criminal Records

Richmond County criminal records are official documents maintained by various law enforcement and judiciary agencies. These records document a person’s criminal history and may contain Richmond County arrest records, sentencing details, charges, incarceration information, and convictions

The Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) maintains the official criminal history records for the State of New York. These records contain reports from other criminal justice agencies, police departments, and courts throughout the state. Criminal history records comprise information on arrests, sentences, indictments, and convictions. Record seekers in Richmond County seeking access to their suppressed or unsuppressed criminal history records can do so by following these steps:

• Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprint collected on the IdentoGO website or by calling them at (877) 472-6915
• Provide the appropriate service code: 15464Z (suppressed records) or 15465F (unsuppressed records)
• Take along a valid means of identification for your fingerprinting appointment
• Pay the applicable fee of $14.25 using a credit card, check, or money order made out to “Idemia”
• Wait for a response to your request within four weeks

Richmond County Criminal Court Case Lookup

There are a few methods to look up criminal court cases in Richmond County. One of these methods involves searching for the desired case using the WebCriminal tool. This tool allows users to find information on criminal cases filed in the Richmond County Criminal Court and the Supreme Court by entering a case number, summons number, or defendant’s name.

Also, the Richmond County Clerk’s Office provides access to criminal court records upon request. To look up records that are not accessible online, interested parties can visit the clerk’s office in person.

The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides criminal history record search (CHRS) for $95. Interested parties in Richmond County can submit a CHRS request online or complete and submit a Criminal History Record Search Application to the address below:

Office of Court Administration
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street
New York, NY 10004

Get Richmond County Civil Court Records

Richmond County civil court records encompass the official documentation of civil cases filed in both the Richmond County Supreme Court and the Richmond County Civil Court. These records are created from a wide variety of cases, including personal injury, small claims, contract disputes, debt collection, housing matters, torts, consumer protection, and divorce.

In Richmond County, civil court records are maintained by the Richmond County Clerk’s office. Interested parties can visit the clerk’s office during regular business hours or send a written request by mail to:

130 Stuyvesant Place
2nd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10301

Also, individuals can use online tools such as WebCivilSupreme to access case information on both active and disposed civil cases in the Richmond County Supreme Court or use the WebCivil Local tool to access case information on civil cases generated in the Richmond County Civil Court.

Richmond County Family Court Records

Richmond County family court records are official documents detailing the legal proceedings of family law matters in the Richmond Supreme Court and the Richmond Family Court. The Family Court primarily handles family law cases, including child support, child custody and visitation, abuse and neglect, paternity, and orders of protection issues. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, handles complex family issues such as divorce and division of property and can also review decisions made by the Family Court.

The court records of family court proceedings are not available for public inspection in Richmond County. Access to these records is restricted to persons directly involved in a family law case and their legal representatives. To obtain these records, individuals must visit the Record Room of the Richmond County Family Court with proof of their identity.

Richmond County family court records serve as crucial documentations in future legal proceedings. These records can be instrumental in modifying child support orders and custody arrangements.

Richmond County Marriage and Divorce Records

A Richmond County marriage record is a legal document certifying the union of two people. Such a record may contain information such as the couple’s names, names of witnesses, date of marriage, and place of marriage. Divorce records, on the other hand, are the official documents that certify the termination of a marriage. These records may contain the names of the divorced couple, the date of divorce, child support arrangements, and property division information.

Richmond County marriage records can be obtained through several methods, depending on the age and location of the record. Marriage records related to marriage licenses issued before 1950 are considered historic and can be ordered or downloaded from the Municipal Archives’ vital records collection. Prior to visiting, contact the New York City Municipal Archives by email at research@records.nyc.gov in order to schedule an appointment.

Also, Richmond County residents can obtain marriage records related to marriage licenses from 1950 to the present by mail, in person, or online. Individuals interested in obtaining marriage records from 1950 to 1995 may visit the Record Room Division of the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office, which is located at 141 Worth Street (between Centre Street and Hamill Place). Lastly, record owners with marriage licenses issued after 1996 may visit the Staten Island Office of the New York City Clerk between Monday and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at:

Borough Hall Building
10 Richmond Terrace
3rd Floor, Room 311 (between Bay Street and Bend)

For privacy reasons, divorce records are not public and are restricted to parties involved in the divorce and their authorized representatives. To obtain these records in Richmond County, visit the Office of the County Clerk in person.

Richmond Birth and Death Records

Richmond County birth and death records are protected under Section 4174 of the New York State Public Health Law, and there are restrictions on who can acquire them. Birth records are issued to individuals who are at least 18 years old, their parents, lawful representatives, individuals with a court order, or any state department. Requests for certified copies of death records are granted to:

• The spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
• The children of the deceased
• Individuals with a New York State court order
• Individuals with a documented medical claim
• Individuals with a documented legal right
• Individuals charged with the disposition of the decedent’s remains
• The siblings of the deceased

Richmond County birth and death certificates can be obtained by mail or in person. An in-person request for records requires a visit to the Office of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Record seekers must fulfill the following requirements before visiting:

• Schedule an appointment
• Take along a photocopy of any of these means of identification
  • Driver's license or non-driver's I.D. from any state or U.S. territory
  • IDNYC Municipal ID
  • U.S. or foreign passport
  • U.S. certificate of naturalization
  • Military ID card
  • Employee ID with photo, verifiable employer, and recent pay stub
  • Student ID and current transcript from an accredited and verifiable institution
  • Inmate photo I.D. with release papers
  • MTA reduced-fare Metro Card
  • Public benefit card
• Provide proof of residency or address (applicable if there is no valid means of identification)
  • Utility bills
  • A letter from a government agency to the applicant, in the name of the applicant

For record requests by mail, complete the birth certificate application or the death certificate application and send it with the required fees to the address below:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
125 Worth Street
Room CN-4, Room 119
New York, NY 10013

Richmond County Probate Court Records

Richmond County probate court records are official documents related to the administration of a decedent’s estate or the care of individuals who are incapable of managing their own affairs. The Richmond County Surrogate’s Court handles probate cases and also maintains custody of the associated court records. Depending on the case, probate court records may contain documents relating to inventories and appraisals, petitions, orders, wills, decrees, tax returns, and notices.

Richmond County probate court records are available online through the WebSurrogate resource for record seekers who prefer to access court records remotely. This is a free service that permits users to search for files, acquire documents, and view historical records that are considered to be publicly accessible.

The primary source for obtaining probate court records in Richmond County is the Surrogate’s Court. By visiting the courthouse, record seekers can search for probate court records that are not available online. It is important to know that there are restrictions, and the amount of time permitted to look up records may be short. Probate court records are available in Records Room B-3, on the basement level of the courthouse. Additionally, the Records Room is open on Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Richmond County Property Records

The Richmond County Clerk’s Office serves as a repository for property-related documents. These documents contain information relating to mortgages, deeds, liens, survey plans, encumbrances, and easements. In Richmond County, property records are accessible on the county clerk’s website using the Land Document Search tool. Users can search property-related documents by document number, block and lot, date range, book and page, book and page special, or party or company name.

Richmond County Court Records Online

The need to access court records can be tasking and time-consuming. This is why authorized third-party online resources such as Newyorkcourtrecords.us are helpful. They save record seekers the time and effort of visiting courthouses by providing case information on a wide range of cases. However, there may be some potential drawbacks, such as small discrepancies between official court records and the records provided online.