Warren County Court Records

Court records in Warren County are official records of events that occurred during court proceedings within the county. Per New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations Title 22 § 104.1(b), these records are defined as all documents and records included in each case's court file, including any books, papers, calendars, statistical schedules, reports, and other records related to the administration of court cases.

Court records are significant in legal matters as they help trace the legal background of people, companies, and events. They are also helpful for verifying information, monitoring court cases, and comprehending case outcomes. These records could be consulted, for instance, to ascertain criminal history background, confirm property ownership, or look into other details of a legal issue.

Are Court Records Public in Warren County?

Court records are public in Warren County, implying that the general public has the right to view and copy certain court records. Although the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) excludes court records from public access, New York Judiciary Law 255 obligates the Court Clerk to search court records and provide copies to requesters or certify that the records cannot be found.

Requesters' access to court records doesn’t come without some restrictions and exceptions. The following are a few of them:

• Sealed Records: Some court records, such as those involving young offenders or defendants found not guilty of charges, are kept secret. Generally speaking, these records are not made public unless there is a compelling cause to do so.
• Family Court Records: Access to these data is restricted. Those who want to view Family Court documents must apply to the court and provide a good basis for their request. The court may choose to allow or prohibit access.
• Confidential Records: Certain information, such as grand jury minutes, probation reports, and mental health data, are kept private and rarely available to the public.
• Closed Court Proceedings: To safeguard the parties' rights or maintain the fairness of the legal system, the court may occasionally decide to keep certain proceedings private.

Warren County Court Records Search

Requesters may search for Warren County court records using the following options:

• Warren County Clerk
• Warren County Sheriff's Office
• New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) Portal
• New York State Department of Health
• New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
• New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA)

Warren County Courts

The Warren County Court system consists of Supreme Court and County Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court, City Court, Town and Village Court. The Supreme Court, the highest court in the state, handles complex civil and criminal cases that exceed the scope of other courts. The County Court also has jurisdiction over criminal and certain civil cases, particularly those beyond the capacity of lower courts.

Family Court and Surrogate's Court are specialized that handle juvenile/domestic relations and deceased individuals affairs respectively. City, Town and Village Courts handle civil and criminal cases within their specific jurisdiction. These courts hear their cases in the following courthouses:

Warren County Supreme Court
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 761-6430
Fax: (518) 761-6253

Warren County Court
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 761-6430
Fax: (518) 761-6253

Warren County Family Court
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 761-6500
Fax: (518) 761-6230

Warren County Surrogate’s Court
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 761-6514
Fax: (518) 761-6511

Glens Falls City Hall
42 Ridge Street
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Phone: (518) 798-4714
Fax: (518) 453-8623

Bolton Justice Court
4949 Lake Shore Drive
P.O. Box 478
Bolton Landing, NY 12814
Phone: (518) 644-2202
Fax: (518) 644-2726

Chester Town Court
6307 State Route 9
P.O. Box 486
Chestertown, NY 12817
Phone: (518) 494-3133

Hague Town Court
9793 Graphite Mountain Road
P.O. Box 509
Hague, NY 12836
Phone: (518) 543-6981
Fax: (518) 543-8047

Horicon Town Court
6604 State Route 8
P.O. Box 31
Brant Lake, NY 12815
Phone: (518) 494-7958
Fax: (518) 494-3845

Johnsburg Town Court
2370 State Route 28
P.O. Box 178
Wevertown, NY 12886
Phone: (518) 251-5120
Fax: (518) 251-5529

Lake George Town Court
20 Old Post Road
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 668-5420
Fax: (518) 668-5420

Lake Luzerne Town Court
539 Lake Avenue
Lake Luzerne, NY 12846
Phone: (518) 696-4294

Queensbury Town Court
81 Glenwood Avenue
Queensbury, NY 12804
Phone: (518) 745-5571

Stony Creek Town Court
Town Hall
52 Hadley Road
Stony Creek, NY 12878
Phone: (518) 696-3575 extension 304 (Office)
Phone: (518) 696-4518 (Clerk)

Thurman Town Court
Town Hall
311 Athol Road
P.O. Box 134
Athol, NY 12810
Phone: (518) 623-9660
Fax: (518) 623-9678

Warrensburg Town Court
3797 Main Street
Warrensburg, NY 12885
Phone: (518) 623-9776
Fax: (518) 623-4367

Warren County Criminal Records

Per N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 6050.1, Warren County arrest and criminal records may be obtained by the subject of the record. The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services and Warren County Sheriff's Office grant access to these records upon the verification of the subject’s identity.

The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DJCS)

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is the official repository of Warren County criminal history records. They are able to provide Warren County residents with sealed or unsealed criminal records, depending on their preference. In order to request for a personal criminal record review, a requester needs to set an appointment to submit their fingerprints. For this fingerprint appointment, the requester's photo I.D. will be needed. Minors who do not have identification may submit their request together with the New York Photo ID Waiver for Minors. A parent or legal guardian must sign this waiver at the time and place of fingerprinting.

Each request takes seven to ten business days to process. Requests for criminal history records cost $63.50, and payment options include credit card, cheque, and money order.

Those unable to pay the cost may email the DCJS to get an application packet for a fee waiver. The applicant must supply their complete and up-to-date mailing address to receive the Record Review Fee Waiver Application Packet. Then send the completed Record Review Fee Waiver Application Packet, a fingerprint card, and a copy of a valid public assistance benefits card or notarized financial statement by mail to:

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

Warren County Sheriff's Office

Persons with proper identification and authorization may obtain less comprehensive criminal records for a fee of $75 during normal business hours at the Sheriff’s Office located at:

Warren County Sheriff
1400 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 743-2500

Get Warren County Civil Court Records

Civil court records refer to the official files, documents, and information collected, received, or generated during civil court proceedings. They may include court judgments, exhibitions, motions, and papers filed in the court concerning personal injury cases, contract disputes, and small claims cases. Civil court records are maintained by the clerks of the courts (Supreme, County, and City/Village Courts) that handle civil cases within Warren County.

Being the primary custodian for many civil court records in Warren County, requesters should contact the Warren County Clerk's Office to access civil court records in the County. The County Clerk’s Office provides a dedicated area for searching Warren County Recorded and Filed Documents. They provide computerized indexes with electronic imaging of records, original volumes, and manual indexes. To copy civil court records, requesters are required to pay $0.65 for plain copy, $1.25 for certified copies, and $10 for exemplified copy. Requesters may visit their office during working hours at:

County Clerk
Warren County Municipal Center
1340 State Route 9
Lake George NY 12845
(518) 761-6484

The New York State Unified Court System offers online access to a variety of court information, including case files, judicial decisions, and calendars. Their e-Track platform provides real-time updates on active civil court cases statewide. Users must have an active account to access this service. The WebCivil Supreme database also contains information on cases filed in New York State Civil Supreme Courts. Individuals can search this database by case number, party name, attorney, firm, or presiding justice.

Warren County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Warren County are managed by the specific town where the marriage took place. To access these records, individuals should contact the town clerk of the appropriate city.

Also, requesters can submit a request to the New York State Department of Health to obtain marriage records in Warren County. There is an associated request fee of $45 for walk-in submissions and $30 for mail-in submissions. Additionally, requesters will need to provide a government-issued I.D. The completed Marriage Record Application Form, along with the required fee and identification, should be submitted to:

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

Warren County Divorce Records

According to Section 235 of the New York Domestic Relations Law, only the parties involved in a divorce case, their legal counsel, or individuals with a court order in Warren County can obtain divorce records. These records include divorce decrees and divorce certificates. Divorce decrees in Warren County are maintained by the Warren County Clerk's Office. To obtain a divorce decree, individuals must visit the clerk's office in person located at:

Warren County Clerk
Warren County Municipal Center
1340 State Route 9
Lake George NY 12845
(518) 480-6335 (County Clerk)

To obtain a divorce certificate in Warren County, requesters can submit a request to the New York State Department of Health. There is an associated request fee of $45 for walk-in submissions and $30 for mail-in submissions. Additionally, requesters will need to provide a government-issued I.D. The completed Divorce Records Request form, along with the required fee and identification, should be submitted to:

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

Warren County Birth and Death Records

Birth and Death records are essential as they can be used in a variety of ways. Birth records help to establish identity, trace family history, assist in legal proceedings, and access medical records, particularly for children. Death records are essential for handling pension payments, processing Social Security and life insurance payouts, and settling estates, among other legal and administrative tasks. Warren County birth records are managed by the local Registrar of Vital Statistics and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). To access these records, individuals may contact the town clerk (the Registrar of Vital Statistics) of the appropriate town.

Also, per the New York Vital Statistics Record Law, birth certificates and death certificates are restricted from the public for 75 and 50 years, respectively. However, they are issued upon request by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to authorized persons like the subject listed on the record (in the case of birth records only), their parents, children, siblings, spouses, or legal representatives with proper documentation. Eligible persons can acquire birth and death certificates by downloading and completing the Birth Record Application or Death Record Application. The requester must include the completed form and one of the following: a government-issued photo I.D., utility bill, phone bill, or letter from a government agency naming the requestor. Additionally, a $30 money order or check payment (per record requested) must be included with the documents and sent in person or by mail to:

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

Warren County Probate Court Records

The Surrogate's Court handles Probate cases in Warren County. This court oversees the administration of estates, trust proceedings, probate of wills, adoptions, and other related legal matters. The records maintained by the Surrogate's Court can be valuable for genealogical research, legal proceedings, and family history.

To access probate court records in Warren County, requesters can visit the Warren County Surrogate's Court office during work hours at:

Surrogate’s Court
Warren County Municipal Center
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 480-6360
Email:WarrenSurrogate@nycourts.gov

Warren County Property Records

Property records offer important details on boundaries, assessments, and other pertinent information related to real estate ownership. Property records typically include legal documents such as deeds, mortgages, easements, and liens. The Warren County Clerk primarily maintains these records as he also functions as the Recorder and Registrar of Titles. They also contain information about property tax assessments, property boundaries (through surveys), and building permits issued for construction or renovation projects.

The County Clerk’s Office provides a dedicated area for searching Warren County Recorded and Filed Documents. They offer computerized indexes with electronic imaging of records, original volumes, and manual indexes. To copy property records, requesters are required to pay $0.65 for plain copy, $1.25 for certified copies, and $10 for exemplified copy. Requesters may visit their office during working hours at:

County Clerk
Warren County Municipal Center
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 761-6484

Warren County Court Records Online

An alternative means of obtaining Warren County public court documents is through third-party websites, such as newyorkcourtrecords.us. These websites frequently have easy-to-use interfaces that let users search for certain cases by entering information such as dates, party names, or case numbers. Furthermore, when compared to more conventional approaches, these platforms allow users to read and download court documents straight from their website, saving time and effort.

However, because government organizations do not govern them, third-party web resources might not always include the most recent or correct information. Furthermore, not all court records may be accessible through these platforms; some data can be restricted or available only through official means. While basic searches are usually free, specific third-party sites charge for accessing or downloading documents.