Schenectady County, New York State Court Records
Schenectady County Court records are legal files, paperwork, and documentary materials that provide detailed information about cases decided by the local courts in the County. These court records are vital legal documents, as they help concerned persons follow the progress of a case, ascertain its status, and review case decisions and dispositions. Court records are also useful for legal research purposes as they provide insight into past adjudications and court proceedings.
The Supreme Court in Schenectady County being the trial court creates and maintains official court records for the county in accordance with stipulated court rules and the state’s public records law. Court records in Schenectady County are generally considered public records and may be requested from record custodians, along with vital records, arrest files, and federal case records.
Are Schenectady County Court Records Public?
Yes, Schenectady County court records are generally considered public and open to public inspection. According to Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law, court clerks are mandated to maintain case files and documents as they are typically the custodians of court records created at the county level. They are also required to provide court documents/case files to requestors or confirm the non-existence of requested records where applicable.
Residents of the county and the general public may request access to court dockets, case files, court calendars, and other filings from the clerk’s office. However, certain case files and records may be redacted or prohibited from public access. Examples of such prohibited court records and case files include records of divorce proceedings, adoption records, juvenile case files, sealed/expunged records, active investigation files, and mental health or medical reports.
What Information is Available in Schenectady County Court Records
Schenectady County court records furnish requestors with a plethora of information dependent on the type of court records requested and the court process(es) that produced such records. Generally, one may find the following information in Schenectady County court records:
- Full names and aliases of case parties-defendants and complainants
- Case details such as case number, case type, case status, and/or disposition
- Filing information like the filing date, docket number
- Court calendar, schedule, and hearing dates
- Information about filed charges and claims including alleged crime type, class, or level
- Evidentiary material like photos, instruments, documents, and other exhibits tendered during the investigation
- Information about case victims, witness statements, affidavits, and oaths
- Details of filed actions such as warrants, subpoenas, pleas, motions, case appeals, petitions, and amendments
- Basic arrest and booking information was available
- Recordings, transcripts, and minutes of court proceedings
- Information about the deciding judge(s) and attorneys representing each case party
- Details about the verdicts, decisions, judgments, or sentences issued by the presiding judge(s)
Schenectady County Court Records Search
The court clerks in Schenectady County have provided various options for residents and concerned persons to request and access publicly available court records in their custody. These search options usually include online access, in-person searches, and mail/phone requests. Persons who wish to obtain Schenectady County court records may utilize the following options:
Online Access: The New York State Unified Court System (NYSCEF) case search portal is the primary online search tool for public access to Schenectady County court records. This search portal allows inquirers to search for case information and files by name, case identifiers, new cases, and tax cert/SCAR cases free of charge. To search by name, interested persons may be required to provide an attorney’s name, a business name, or an individual’s name. Searching by case identifiers will require inquirers to enter a case number, third-party number, or attorney number. Researchers may also narrow their search results by providing a specific county, filing date, and case type.
In-Person Access: Residents of Schenectady County may walk into the clerk’s office of a relevant court within official hours to request access to court records provided such records are publicly available. Concerned persons may visit the clerk’s office at the physical location of a courthouse in Schenectady between 9:00am to 5:00pm weekdays to make requests for court records and case information. Some courthouses also provide public access terminals for access to court records and documents at no cost. Note that while reviewing court records may be free of charge at the courthouse, requesting copies of the records may attract fees.
Mail/Phone Requests: Interested persons may also request court records in Schenectady County by mailing written requests enclosed in self-addressed stamped envelopes to the county clerk’s office. These requests must contain adequate information about the requested records and payment details for search/copy fees. Acceptable payment methods usually include checks and money orders made payable to the Schenectady County Clerk. Court records and case information may not be available to the public via phone calls; however, one may be able to obtain information on how to request court records by phoning the clerk’s office.
Fees for Court Records in Schenectady County
The exact fees for obtaining copies of court records in Schenectady County typically vary depending on the custodial office, the type of record, the size/ format of the record and certification. However, one may generally be able to obtain standard photocopies of Schenectady County court records at $0.25 per page for standard photocopies while certified copies may require an additional $5.00 per document plus the copy fees. The city of Schenectady clerk’s office also provides certified copies of vital records such as marriage certificates, birth certificates or death certificates at $10 per copy.
Schenectady County Courthouse Locations
Schenectady County’s court system has six different types of courts with varying jurisdictions and case types- a Supreme Court, a County Court, a Family Court, a Surrogate’s Court, two City Courts, and six Town/Village Courts.
- The Schenectady County Supreme Court-the county’s trial Court with general, original and unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil cases and felonies not assigned to other courts. It also has specialized jurisdiction to hear divorce cases
- The County Court in Schenectady County-primary jurisdiction to resolve felony cases and few civil matters. Also reviews cases from lower courts
- The Schenectady County Family Court-decides family matters and cases involving adoption, child custody/visitation, paternity, child support, foster care, juvenile delinquency, and guardianships
- The Schenectady County Surrogate’s Court-handles probate matters, decedents’ estate administration, wills, conservatorships, and guardianships for minors
- The Schenectady County City Courts-resolves landlord/tenant disputes, civil claims not more than $50,000, traffic offenses, and criminal/civil matters within city limits
- The Schenectady County Town/Village Courts-have jurisdiction over small claims, eviction cases, vehicle/traffic issues, civil and criminal offenses
The physical addresses and contact information of the courthouses in Schenectady County are outlined below:
Schenectady County Supreme Court
Schenectady County Judicial Building
612 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 285-8401
Fax: (518) 451-8731
Schenectady County Court
Schenectady County Judicial Building
612 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 285-8401
Fax: (518) 451-8731
Schenectady County Family Court
Schenectady County Office Building
620 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 285-8435
Fax: (518) 393-1565
Schenectady County Surrogate’s Court
Schenectady County Judicial Building
612 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 285-8455
Fax: (518) 451-8732
Schenectady County City Courts
Schenectady City Court - Criminal
531 Liberty Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 453-6989 (Option 4)
Schenectady City Court - Civil and Traffic
City Hall
105 Jay Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: (518) 453-6989 (option 5) (Civil)
Phone: (518) 453-6989 (option 3) (Traffic)
Schenectady County Town Courts and Village Courts
Duanesburg Town Court
Town Court’s Office
5853 Western Turnpike
Duanesburg, NY 12056
Phone: (518) 895-8922
Fax: (518) 453-5948
Glenville Town Court
Glenville Municipal Center
18 Glenridge Road
Glenville, NY 12302
Phone: (518) 688-1200 ext. 4
Fax: (518) 688-1468
Niskayuna Town Court
One Niskayuna Circle
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Phone: (518) 386-4560
Fax: (518) 386-4515
Princetown Town Court
165 Princetown Plaza
Schenectady, NY 12306
Phone: (518) 357-4047
Fax: (518) 357-4049
Rotterdam Town Justice Court
101 Princetown Road
Schenectady, NY 12306
Phone: (518) 355-7911
Fax: (518) 881-0187
Scotia Village Court
4 North Ten Broeck Street
Scotia, NY 12302
Phone: (518) 374-2099
Fax: (518) 374-5620
Criminal Records Access in Schenectady County
State-level public criminal history record checks for Schenectady County are managed by the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) instead of the local courthouses. The OCA provides interested members of the public with a New York Statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) for a fee of $95.00 per search. The Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office and the municipal police departments in the County may also be queried for information regarding criminal records access within County limits.
Moreover, concerned persons may make in-person queries to the clerk’s office in a deciding court to review local criminal case records for free. Inquirers may also search the New York State Unified Court System (NYSCEF) portal for county level criminal court records and case files.
Schenectady County Probate Records
The Schenectady County Surrogate’s Court has jurisdiction over probate matters, administration of wills and adoptions. Schenectady County probate records consist of case files, documentary materials and court documents created during proceedings related to administration of a deceased’s estates, conservatorships, guardianships for minors, probate of wills and adoptions.
Recent wills and probate filings are generally public in Schenectady County and may be accessed online via the WebSurrogate portal. However older and more detailed probate and estate records are usually available only through in-person visits to the clerk office of the Surrogate’s Court. It is important to note that some probate records such as adoption records, records of juveniles/ minors or those sealed under law may only be available to authorized entities or persons with a court order.
County | Court Name | Address | Phone Number | Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Schenectady County | Schenectady County Surrogate’s Court | 612 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305 | (518) 285-8455 | 9:00am to 5:00pm |
Schenectady County Family Court Records
Family law cases such as child custody or visitation, adoption, paternity, child support, foster care, juvenile delinquency, and guardianships are handled by the Schenectady County Family Court. The Family Court hears and resolves all family and domestic matters with the exception of divorce cases. Schenectady County family court records are generally considered public with certain restrictions and limitations to public access. For instance, juvenile information, adoption records and certain sensitive information contained in family court records are typically redacted from public access. Concerned persons may find family court records online via the WebFamily search tool or in person at the clerk’s office. The clerk of the Schenectady County family court provides certified copies of publicly available records to requesters at $5 per copy plus copy fees.
Federal Court Records in Schenectady County
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York has jurisdiction to handle federal civil and criminal cases in Schenectady County. Schenectady County federal court records are available to the public electronically through the federal judiciary’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Interested persons may create an account on PACER for free and login to access federal court records at $0.1 per document page.