Rockland County Court Records

What Is Rockland County Court Records

Court records in Rockland County encompass all official documentation generated during legal proceedings within the county's court system. These records serve as the comprehensive documentation of judicial activities and decisions rendered by courts operating within Rockland County, New York.

Court records typically include:

• Case files containing pleadings, motions, and supporting documentation
• Docket sheets chronicling case events and filing chronology
• Court orders and judicial decisions
• Judgments and decrees
• Hearing and trial transcripts
• Evidence and exhibits admitted during proceedings
• Sentencing information in criminal matters
• Settlement agreements in civil cases
• Jury verdicts and judicial findings

Pursuant to New York Judiciary Law § 255, court clerks are designated as the official custodians of court records and are responsible for their maintenance and accessibility. These records differ from other public records such as vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) and property records (deeds, mortgages, liens), which are maintained by separate county departments.

The courts maintaining records in Rockland County include:

Rockland County Supreme Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8310
New York State Unified Court System

Rockland County Family Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8210
New York State Unified Court System

Rockland County Surrogate's Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8330
New York State Unified Court System

Additionally, local courts including town and village courts maintain their own records for cases within their jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public In Rockland County

Court records in Rockland County are generally accessible to the public in accordance with New York's commitment to judicial transparency. The New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and New York Judiciary Law § 255 establish the presumption that court records are open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute or court rule.

The following court records are typically available for public access:

• Civil case files (with certain exceptions for sealed cases)
• Criminal case files (post-arraignment)
• Judgments and court orders
• Docket sheets and case indices
• Court calendars and hearing schedules
• Property records related to judgments and liens

However, certain categories of records may be restricted or sealed from public view, including:

• Family Court proceedings (pursuant to Family Court Act § 166)
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Adoption proceedings
• Mental health proceedings
• Sealed criminal records following dismissal or acquittal
• Records containing confidential personal information as defined by court rules

The New York State Unified Court System has established comprehensive rules governing public access to court records through the Rules of the Chief Administrative Judge, which balance the public's right to information with privacy concerns and the administration of justice.

It is important to note that federal court records for cases heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (which includes Rockland County) are governed by federal access rules and are available through the federal PACER system rather than county resources.

How To Find Court Records in Rockland County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Rockland County may utilize several methods to locate and access these documents. The county currently maintains multiple access points for court record retrieval:

In-Person Requests:

1. Identify the specific court where the case was filed
2. Visit the court clerk's office during regular business hours
3. Complete a records request form providing case information
4. Present valid photo identification
5. Pay applicable copy fees (currently $0.65 per page for most documents)
6. Wait for records to be retrieved by court staff

Written Requests:

1. Prepare a written request including case number, party names, and specific documents needed
2. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for response
3. Enclose payment for anticipated copy fees
4. Mail request to the appropriate court clerk's office

Online Access:

1. Visit the New York State Unified Court System WebCrims portal for criminal case information
2. Access the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF) for electronically filed cases
3. Create an account if required by the system
4. Search using case number, party name, or filing date
5. Pay any applicable online access fees

For certified copies of court records, requesters must specifically indicate this requirement on their application. Certification fees are assessed in addition to standard copy charges pursuant to CPLR § 8019.

Researchers seeking historical court records predating current electronic systems may need to contact the Rockland County Archives for assistance with older case files that may have been transferred from active court storage.

How To Look Up Court Records in Rockland County Online?

Rockland County residents and interested parties can access various court records through several online portals maintained by the New York State Unified Court System. Each system provides access to different types of records:

New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF)
This system provides access to electronically filed cases in Supreme Court and other participating courts:

1. Navigate to the NYSCEF website
2. Select "Public Inquiry" for non-attorney access
3. Search by index number, party name, or filing date
4. View docket entries and, in many cases, full document content
5. Download available documents (some may require in-person retrieval)

WebCrims
For pending criminal cases in Rockland County courts:

1. Access the WebCrims portal
2. Create a user account or log in as a guest
3. Search by defendant name or case number
4. View case status, appearance dates, and basic case information
5. Note that full criminal case documents typically require in-person requests

eCourts
For case scheduling and appearance information:

1. Visit the eCourts website
2. Select the appropriate court type
3. Enter search criteria (case number, party name, attorney)
4. View calendar information and basic case status
5. Access limited information about scheduled appearances

WebCivil Supreme
For Supreme Court civil case information:

1. Navigate to WebCivil Supreme
2. Search by index number, party name, or attorney
3. View case status, appearances, and motions
4. Access information about judgments and case dispositions

Users should note that online access to court records in New York is currently limited to basic case information and docket entries for most cases. Complete case files, including pleadings and exhibits, often require in-person requests at the appropriate courthouse unless the case was electronically filed through NYSCEF.

How To Search Rockland County Court Records for Free?

Rockland County residents have several options for accessing court records without payment, though some services may involve nominal fees for copies or certified documents. Under New York Judiciary Law § 255, the public has the right to inspect publicly available court records without charge during regular business hours.

Free access options include:

In-Person Inspection:

• Visit the clerk's office at the appropriate courthouse
• Request to view specific case files using case number or party names
• Examine records under staff supervision at no cost
• Pay only if copies are requested ($0.65 per page currently)

Free Online Resources:

• WebCivil Supreme - Basic civil case information in Supreme Court
• WebCrims - Limited criminal case information (guest access available)
• eCourts - Court calendars and appearance information
• Rockland County Clerk Records Search - Limited index information for county records

Public Access Law Libraries:

• The Rockland County Law Library provides free public access to legal research tools and assistance with locating court records
• Public computer terminals may be available for accessing court databases

FOIL Requests:

• Submit a Freedom of Information Law request for court administrative records
• First 20 pages may be provided free of charge under certain circumstances

While basic record searches are available without cost, users should be aware that fees apply for:

• Copies of documents (currently $0.65 per page)
• Certified copies (additional certification fee)
• Exemplified copies for use in other jurisdictions
• Extensive searches requiring staff research time
• Expedited processing requests

The New York State Unified Court System maintains these free access points as part of its commitment to transparency and public access to court proceedings.

What's Included in a Rockland County Court Record?

Rockland County court records contain comprehensive documentation of legal proceedings, with content varying by case type and court jurisdiction. Pursuant to New York Judiciary Law § 255, these records must be maintained in a manner that preserves their integrity and accessibility.

Civil Case Records typically include:

• Summons and complaint initiating the action
• Defendant's answer and counterclaims
• Motions and supporting affidavits
• Discovery documents (if filed with the court)
• Exhibits entered into evidence
• Transcripts of hearings and trials
• Court orders and decisions
• Final judgment or settlement documents
• Notice of appeal (if applicable)

Criminal Case Records generally contain:

• Charging documents (indictment or information)
• Arraignment records
• Bail determination documents
• Pre-trial motions and decisions
• Plea agreements or trial records
• Sentencing information
• Probation reports (may be confidential)
• Appeal documentation

Family Court Records may include:

• Petitions for custody, support, or protection
• Financial disclosure forms
• Home study reports
• Guardian ad litem reports
• Court orders regarding custody and visitation
• Child support calculations and orders
• Domestic violence protection orders
• Adoption proceedings (typically sealed)

Surrogate's Court Records contain:

• Wills and codicils
• Probate petitions
• Letters testamentary or administration
• Inventory of assets
• Accounting of estate administration
• Guardianship proceedings
• Trust documents
• Estate tax filings

Case Docket Sheets document:

• Chronological listing of all filings
• Court appearances and adjournments
• Judicial assignments
• Filing dates and deadlines
• Fee payments
• Service of process verification

Each court record also includes metadata such as case numbers, filing dates, party names, attorney information, and judge assignments. Records may exist in paper format, electronic format, or both, depending on the age of the case and the court's record-keeping systems.

How Long Does Rockland County Keep Court Records?

Rockland County courts adhere to the records retention schedules established by the New York State Unified Court System and the New York State Archives. These schedules, authorized under Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.25, prescribe minimum retention periods for various court documents.

Criminal Case Records:

• Felony cases: Permanent retention for cases resulting in conviction
• Misdemeanor cases: 25 years after case disposition
• Violations and infractions: 6 years after case disposition
• Dismissed or acquitted cases: Sealed upon dismissal/acquittal, but maintained under seal

Civil Case Records:

• Supreme Court civil cases: 25 years after disposition
• Contract and commercial disputes: 6 years after final judgment
• Real property actions: 25 years after disposition
• Matrimonial actions: 25 years after judgment
• Tort claims: 6 years after final disposition

Family Court Records:

• Child custody and visitation: Until youngest child turns 28
• Child support proceedings: 25 years after youngest child turns 21
• Juvenile delinquency: Sealed at age 16 for most cases, but maintained
• Child protective proceedings: 28 years after case initiation
• Adoption records: Permanent retention (sealed from public access)

Surrogate's Court Records:

• Probate proceedings: Permanent retention
• Estate administration: Permanent retention
• Guardianship records: 25 years after termination of guardianship
• Trust administration: 25 years after trust termination

Court Administrative Records:

• Court calendars: 2 years
• Attorney registration records: 7 years
• Juror records: 4 years after service
• Court reporter notes: 6 years after transcription

The Rockland County Clerk's Office maintains certain court records beyond these minimum periods, particularly for cases with historical significance or continuing legal relevance. Additionally, the county may transfer older records to the Rockland County Archives for permanent preservation while maintaining their legal status.

Digital preservation initiatives are currently underway to convert older paper records to electronic format, though this process is ongoing and not yet comprehensive for all historical court documents.

Types of Courts In Rockland County

Rockland County's court system operates as part of New York State's Unified Court System, with various courts handling different types of cases according to jurisdiction and subject matter. The county's court structure includes:

Rockland County Supreme Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8310
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New York State Unified Court System

Supreme Court is New York's trial court of general jurisdiction, handling major civil cases, divorces, and serious criminal matters.

Rockland County Family Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8210
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New York State Unified Court System

Family Court handles matters involving children and families, including custody, support, juvenile delinquency, and family offenses.

Rockland County Surrogate's Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8330
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New York State Unified Court System

Surrogate's Court oversees probate proceedings, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions.

Rockland County Court
1 South Main Street
New City, NY 10956
(845) 483-8300
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New York State Unified Court System

County Court handles felony criminal cases and civil matters with claims between $25,000 and $100,000.

Town and Village Courts (Justice Courts)
Each of Rockland's five towns maintains local courts:

Clarkstown Town Court
20 Maple Avenue
New City, NY 10956
(845) 639-5100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Town of Clarkstown

Haverstraw Town Court
One Rosman Road
Garnerville, NY 10923
(845) 429-2188
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Town of Haverstraw

Orangetown Town Court
26 Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962
(845) 359-5100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Town of Orangetown

Ramapo Town Court
237 Route 59
Suffern, NY 10901
(845) 357-5100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Town of Ramapo

Stony Point Town Court
79 South Liberty Drive
Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 786-2716
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Town of Stony Point

The court hierarchy for cases originating in Rockland County typically follows this progression:

1. Town/Village Courts (limited jurisdiction)
2. County Court/Supreme Court (trial courts)
3. Appellate Division, Second Department (intermediate appeals)
4. New York Court of Appeals (highest state court)

What Types of Cases Do Rockland County Courts Hear?

Rockland County's court system handles a diverse range of legal matters, with each court assigned specific jurisdictional authority under New York State law. The distribution of case types among the county's courts is as follows:

Supreme Court handles:

• Major civil litigation with claims exceeding $25,000
• Matrimonial actions (divorce, separation, annulment)
• Corporate and commercial disputes
• Real property actions (foreclosures, partitions)
• Article 78 proceedings (challenges to government actions)
• Medical malpractice and complex tort cases
• Equity matters (injunctions, specific performance)
• Some felony criminal cases (concurrent with County Court)

County Court presides over:

• Felony criminal prosecutions
• Appeals from Town and Village Courts
• Civil matters with claims between $25,000 and $100,000
• Criminal forfeiture proceedings
• Certificate of relief from disabilities applications
• Pistol permit applications and hearings

Family Court adjudicates:

• Child custody and visitation disputes
• Child and spousal support proceedings
• Juvenile delinquency cases
• Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) petitions
• Child abuse and neglect proceedings
• Family offense (domestic violence) cases
• Paternity determinations
• Adoption proceedings
• Guardianship of minors

Surrogate's Court manages:

• Probate of wills
• Administration of estates
• Trust administration and accounting
• Guardianships for incapacitated persons
• Adoptions (concurrent with Family Court)
• Estate litigation and will contests
• Kinship hearings
• Estate tax proceedings

Town and Village Courts (Justice Courts) handle:

• Misdemeanor criminal cases
• Traffic violations and DWI/DWAI cases
• Small claims up to $3,000
• Civil cases up to $3,000
• Landlord-tenant proceedings
• Local ordinance violations
• Preliminary hearings in felony cases
• Arraignments and bail determinations

Specialized parts or programs within these courts may also exist for:

• Drug treatment court
• Mental health court
• Veterans court
• Domestic violence court
• Integrated domestic violence court
• Commercial division (for business disputes)

The jurisdiction of these courts is established by the New York State Constitution Article VI and further defined by the Judiciary Law, Civil Practice Law and Rules, and Criminal Procedure Law.

How To Find a Court Docket In Rockland County

Court dockets in Rockland County provide the official chronological record of proceedings in a case, including filings, appearances, and judicial actions. Members of the public can access docket information through several methods:

Online Docket Access:

1. WebCivil Supreme - For Supreme Court civil cases:

   • Visit the WebCivil Supreme portal
   • Search by index number, party name, or attorney
   • View case history, appearances, motions, and decisions
   • Note that full document content is not available through this system

2. WebCrims - For criminal cases:

   • Access the WebCrims system
   • Search by defendant name or case number
   • View case status, charges, and appearance dates
   • Information is limited to basic docket entries

3. eCourts - For case calendars and scheduling:

   • Navigate to the eCourts website
   • Select the appropriate court type
   • Search by case parameters
   • View scheduled appearances and case status

In-Person Docket Access:

1. Visit the clerk's office for the specific court where the case is filed
2. Provide the case number or party names to the clerk
3. Request to view the docket sheet or case history
4. Review the information on-site or request copies (fees apply)

For Town and Village Court Dockets:

Town and Village Courts maintain their own docket systems, which are generally not available online. To access these dockets:

1. Contact the specific Town or Village Court clerk's office
2. Provide case information and identification
3. Request docket information during regular business hours
4. Note that some courts may require written requests for docket information

For Historical Docket Information:

Older cases may not be included in electronic systems. For historical docket information:

1. Contact the Rockland County Clerk's Office
2. Provide as much case information as possible
3. Request a search of archived records
4. Allow additional time for retrieval of historical information

When requesting docket information, be prepared to provide:

• Case number (preferred)
• Full names of parties involved
• Approximate date of filing
• Case type or nature of action
• Court where case was filed

Access to certain dockets may be restricted by law, particularly for sealed cases, juvenile matters, and other confidential proceedings as specified in New York Judiciary Law § 4.

Which Courts in Rockland County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Rockland County, as throughout New York State, certain courts do not maintain verbatim transcripts of all proceedings and are classified as "courts not of record" under state law. Pursuant to New York Uniform Justice Court Act § 2001, Town and Village Courts (also known as Justice Courts) are designated as courts not of record.

The Town and Village Courts in Rockland County that operate as courts not of record include:

Clarkstown Town Court
20 Maple Avenue
New City, NY 10956
(845) 639-5100
Town of Clarkstown

Haverstraw Town Court
One Rosman Road
Garnerville, NY 10923
(845) 429-2188
Town of Haverstraw

Orangetown Town Court
26 Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962
(845) 359-5100
Town of Orangetown

Ramapo Town Court
237 Route 59
Suffern, NY 10901
(845) 357-5100
Town of Ramapo

Stony Point Town Court
79 South Liberty Drive
Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 786-2716
Town of Stony Point

Additionally, several village courts operate within Rockland County's towns, including courts in the villages of Suffern, Spring Valley, Nyack, and others.

As courts not of record, these Justice Courts:

• Do not automatically create verbatim transcripts of proceedings
• May use audio recording systems rather than court reporters
• Maintain case files and basic records of proceedings
• Issue written decisions and orders that become part of the case file
• May produce transcripts upon specific request (typically at additional cost)

In contrast, Rockland County's "courts of record" include:

• Supreme Court
• County Court
• Family Court
• Surrogate's Court

These courts of record maintain complete stenographic or digital verbatim records of all proceedings as required by Judiciary Law § 295.

The distinction between courts of record and courts not of record is significant for appeal purposes. Appeals from courts not of record may involve a trial de novo (new trial) at the County Court level rather than a review of the transcript, depending on the circumstances and availability of records from the original proceeding.

Lookup Court Records in Rockland County