How to Search New York City & County Records (Start Here)
NYC splits public records across city agencies — not county offices. This is the biggest difference from the rest of New York State.
- Criminal cases with upcoming court dates: WebCrims, run by the state court system, covers all five boroughs. It shows pending cases only — not closed or sealed cases.
- Civil, Supreme Court, and Surrogate's filings: eCourts (NYSCEF) has electronically filed cases in Supreme Court, Court of Claims, and Surrogate's Court.
- Property deeds, mortgages, and liens: ACRIS, run by the NYC Department of Finance, covers Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn. Staten Island deeds are filed separately through the Richmond County Clerk.
- the Department of Finance property search — not a county assessor.
- Marriage records: NYC City Clerk.
- Statewide criminal history: OCA's CHRS system charges $95 and returns conviction records statewide.
Each borough is also a county with its own Supreme Court and County Clerk, but most searches go through the city-level portals above.
Criminal & Court Records
New York eCourts
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Statewide New York court case records.
iapps.courts.state.ny.us
PACER Federal Courts
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
.gov
Federal court electronic records (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
pacer.gov
Jail & Inmate Records
New York Sex Offender Registry
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
.gov
Statewide New York registry.
criminaljustice.ny.gov
National Sex Offender Registry
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
.gov
Dept. of Justice national sex offender public website.
nsopw.gov
Property & Tax Records
BLM General Land Office Records
Visit →Property & Tax Records
.gov
U.S. Bureau of Land Management federal land records.
glorecords.blm.gov
Birth/Death/Marriage
FamilySearch US Records
Visit →Birth/Death/Marriage
Free U.S. genealogy and vital records (non-profit).
familysearch.org
Business, Voter & Other
USCIS Business Verification
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
.gov
US Citizenship & Immigration Services.
uscis.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in New York City & County? ▼
Go to the County Clerk (Supreme Court) / City Court Clerk for court records in New York City & County. For online case lookups, use eCourts / WebCivil — it covers New York Supreme Court (trial level) cases statewide.
Who handles property records in New York City & County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Clerk. For property values and assessment data, go to the Municipal Assessor. For tax bills and payments, go to the Municipal Tax Receiver / County Treasurer.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in New York City & County? ▼
In New York, vital records are handled by each city or town, not the county. Go to the City/Town Clerk for birth, death, and marriage records. The state also keeps copies.
Are New York City & County records available online? ▼
Yes — New York City & County has good online coverage. This page lists 21 searchable databases covering court records, jail and inmate records, property records, vital records, and business filings. Each links directly to an official government portal.
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