OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. Because New York City handles vital records and some arrest records separately from the state, note whether your event happened within the five boroughs.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through the NY Unified Court System
🔍 Arrest records from NYPD, NYSP, and county sheriffs
📋 Criminal history checks through NYS DCJS
🏛️ Vital records (state and NYC separately)
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county or borough where the record was created

How Records Work in New York

New York organizes court and arrest records across state, county, and — uniquely — New York City systems. The Unified Court System under the Court of Appeals maintains court records. DCJS holds statewide criminal history. Most vital records, property deeds, and local court filings live at the county level, with NYC operating its own parallel registries.

New York has 62 counties. Five of them are the boroughs of New York City: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (Manhattan), Queens, and Richmond (Staten Island). The borough-equals-county structure means NYC residents deal with both the city agency (NYPD, NYC DOHMH) and the county structure (county clerk, surrogate) depending on the record. Outside NYC, each county has its own clerk, sheriff, and Supreme Court that maintain local records separately.

Counties in New York

New York has 62 counties (the 5 boroughs of New York City are each a county: New York = Manhattan, Kings = Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Richmond = Staten Island). Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. Family and criminal court records often require a clerk's office visit. NYC records run on a separate track from state records for vital statistics and some other categories. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026