New York court records are filed with the County Clerk (Supreme Court) / City Court Clerk. The Supreme Court (trial level) / County Court / City Court / Family Court handles trial-level cases. New York offers a statewide court search through eCourts / WebCivil, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: New York state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use eCourts / WebCivil for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the County Clerk (Supreme Court) / City Court Clerk in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: eCourts / WebCivil covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in New York (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
How New York Court Records Work — Deep Dive
The structure of the New York Unified Court System
At the top sits the Court of Appeals (the highest court), followed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (four departments) and the Appellate Term in some districts. Below those, the trial courts include the Supreme Court (unlimited civil and felony jurisdiction in all 62 counties), County Court (felonies and limited civil outside NYC), Surrogate's Court (probate and estates), Family Court, and the Court of Claims (suits against the State). In New York City the structure narrows: Civil Court handles civil claims up to $25,000 and Criminal Court handles misdemeanors and arraignments. Outside NYC, City, Town and Village Justice Courts hear local matters [nycourts.gov] [ww2.nycourts.gov].
Online case search portals
NYSCEF Case Search covers cases filed through the Unified Court System's e-filing platform across the Supreme Court, Court of Claims and Surrogate's Court [iapps.courts.state.ny.us]. CourtPass Public Search exposes a wider set of state-court records [courtpass.nycourts.gov]. The state Department of State also publishes a public-friendly overview of the judicial system [video.dos.ny.gov].
Federal cases in New York
Cases in the federal district courts (Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York) are searched through PACER. The Southern District of New York publishes guidance on PACER access [nysd.uscourts.gov]. State and federal records are not cross-indexed — search both separately if you need a complete picture.
Frequently Asked Questions: New York Court Records
What's the trial court in New York?▼
The Supreme Court is the trial court of unlimited civil and felony jurisdiction in each of New York's 62 counties — confusingly, despite the name. The Court of Appeals is the state's highest court [nycourts.gov].
How do I search New York court records online?▼
Use NYSCEF Case Search for civil e-filed cases and CourtPass for broader case-history queries — both are official Unified Court System portals.
Does New York have "Superior Courts"?▼
No. New York does not use the name "Superior Court." The trial courts of general jurisdiction are the Supreme Court (statewide) and the County Court (outside NYC). The term "Superior Court" is used in California, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine and several other states — not New York.
Where do I find federal cases filed in New York?▼
Federal district courts (SDNY, EDNY, NDNY, WDNY) make case dockets available through PACER. The Southern District publishes a PACER access primer [nysd.uscourts.gov].
Where do criminal cases go in NYC?▼
Misdemeanors and arraignments are heard in the New York City Criminal Court; felonies are transferred to the Supreme Court after grand-jury indictment [ww2.nycourts.gov].
Court Records Databases
11 official New York court records sources.