Rockland County, New York Court Records
Rockland County court records are the official files created from legal cases in the county’s judicial system. These documents track the progress and outcomes of various matters, including civil disputes, criminal cases, family law issues, and other actions handled at the trial level. The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Rockland County, is the main keeper of these records, along with other local trial courts in the county. Court records are generated as cases progress through filing, hearings, motions, and final rulings. They are kept in accordance with New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts. Many records are available for public viewing, but access can be limited when confidentiality is legally required. Rockland County court records often link to other public documents, such as arrest reports, marriage or divorce records, and sometimes related federal court filings. Together, they form part of the larger public records system.
Are Rockland County Court Records Public?
Rockland County court records are mostly available to the public under New York law (Freedom of Information Law), which promotes openness in judicial proceedings. Generally, the public can review records from civil lawsuits, criminal cases, and many family court matters unless a law or court order restricts access. Some records are not open to the public, such as juvenile delinquency cases, adoption proceedings, sealed criminal cases, and mental health or guardianship matters. Courts also limit access to documents that have sensitive personal information. When confidentiality is in place, only authorized parties can access the records. This protects privacy while still allowing public transparency where the law allows.
What Information is Available in Rockland County Court Records?
Rockland County court records provide detailed information on how a case starts, is handled, and is resolved in the court system. A standard record identifies the individuals or groups involved, their legal representatives, and the specific court overseeing the case. Case files usually include the assigned docket or index number, the type of case, key filing dates, and its procedural status. Many records contain submitted documents, such as pleadings, affidavits, motions, and related exhibits. Scheduling details, such as court appearances, hearings, or trial dates, are also commonly noted. As the case progresses, the record is updated with judicial decisions, signed orders, verdicts, and final judgments. Criminal case files may include charge details, outcomes, and sentencing terms. In civil or family cases, records often show settlements, custody decisions, support orders, or divorce judgments, providing a clear legal overview.
Rockland County Court Records Search
Rockland County court records can be accessed in several ways, depending on the court and the type of case.
Online Access: New York’s Unified Court System provides electronic case search tools. These tools let users look up some Rockland County cases by name, index number, or court. Not all cases are fully viewable online, as some family, criminal, or sealed matters have restrictions.
In-Person Access: The public can visit the Rockland County courthouse to use public access terminals or to get help from the clerk’s office. Clerks can assist with finding files and explain how to view or copy them. Identification or fees may be required.
Mail and Phone Requests: You can submit written requests by mail, including specific case information and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Copy fees are often paid by check or money order. Phone inquiries usually offer procedural guidance and do not include document delivery.
Fees for Court Records in Rockland County
Requesting court records in Rockland County comes with fees set by the New York Unified Court System and county offices.
Standard, non-certified photocopies of court documents usually cost $0.25 per page. This charge applies whether the request is made in person or by mail. More pages will increase the total cost.
If an official certification is needed for legal or administrative purposes, there is an extra $8 certification fee, along with the per-page copy charges. Exemplified copies, which include various levels of authentication, typically cost $25, plus copy fees.
Basic case summaries are often available online for free. However, New York does not widely offer paid subscriptions for downloading full court documents across the state.
For vital records, the fees are separate. Marriage certificates issued by the Rockland County Clerk usually cost about $30. Birth and death certificates obtained through New York State also typically cost around $30 per copy.
Rockland County Courthouse Locations
Rockland County Courthouse locations across the county are as follows:
Supreme Court in Rockland County
The Supreme Court in Rockland County handles civil cases, including commercial contract disputes, consumer credit cases, personal injury, and general tort cases. It also handles criminal cases.
Rockland County Supreme Court
1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-483-8310
Fax: 845-638-5312
County Courts in Rockland County
County Courts in Rockland County handle criminal cases, including felonies and those with a potential jail term exceeding one year, and have limited civil jurisdiction.
Rockland County Court
1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-483-8310
Fax: 845-638-5312
Family Courts in Rockland County
Family Courts in Rockland County attend to child-related cases, domestic violence cases, and monetary cases for children, spouses, and ex-spouses.
Rockland County Family Court
1 South Main Street, Suite 300, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-483-8210
Fax: 845-638-5319
Surrogate Courts in Rockland County
Surrogate courts in Rockland County attend to estate-related matters and guardianships.
Rockland County Surrogate Court
1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-483-8260
Fax: 845-638-5632
Town Courts and Village Courts in Rockland County
Rockland County town and village courts handle misdemeanor offenses, felony cases, traffic matters, civil cases, and landlord-tenant cases.
Airmont Justice Court
251 Cherry Lane, PO Box 578, Tallman, NY 10982
Phone: 845-357-3980
Chestnut Ridge Village Court
277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Phone: 845-425-3108
Fax: 845-352-6277
Clarkstown Justice Court
20 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-639-5960
Fax: 845-639-5910
Grand View-on-Hudson Village Court
282 South Broadway, South Nyack, NY 10960
Phone: 845-358-5078
Fax: 845-358-2714
Haverstraw Town Justice Court
1 Rosman Road, Garnerville, NY 10923
Phone: 845-947-0020 ext. 136
Fax: 845-947-0097
Haverstraw Village Justice Court
40 New Main Street, Haverstraw, NY 10927
Phone: 845-947-4063
Fax: 845-429-0109
Hillburn Village Court
Village Hall
31 Mountain Avenue, Hillburn, NY 10931
Phone: 845-357-2036
Fax: 845-357-4933
Montebello Village Court
Village Hall
1 Montebello Road, Montebello, NY 10901
Phone: 845-368-2211
Fax: 845-368-2044
New Hempstead Justice Court
108 East Schoolhouse Lane, New City, NY 10956
Phone: 845-354-8110
New Square Village Court
766 North Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Phone: 845-354-5778
Nyack Justice Court
9 North Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960
Phone: 845-358-4464
Fax: 845-358-0544
Orangetown Justice Court
26 Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962
Phone: 845-359-5100 ext. 2272
Fax: 845-359-5115
Piermont Justice Court
478 Piermont Avenue, Piermont, NY 10968
Phone: 845-359-1258 ext. 2
Fax: 845-359-5792
Ramapo Justice Court
237 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901
Phone: 845-357-5100 ext. 239
Sloatsburg Justice Court
96 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg, NY 10974
Phone: 845-753-5506
Fax: 845-753-5512
South Nyack Justice Court
282 South Broadway, South Nyack, NY 10960
Phone: 845-358-5078
Spring Valley Justice Court
200 North Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Phone: 845-573-5820
Fax: 845-352-2245
Stony Point Justice Court
6 Patriot Hills Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
Phone: 845-786-2506
Fax: 845-786-3087
Suffern Village Court
61 Washington Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901
Phone: 845-357-6424
Wesley Hills Village Justice Court
432 Route 306, Wesley Hills, NY 10952
Phone: 845-354-0404
Fax: 845-354-4097
West Haverstraw Justice Court
130 Samsondale Avenue, West Haverstraw, NY 10993
Phone: 845-947-1013
Fax: 845-947-1560
Criminal Records Access in Rockland County
Access to criminal records in Rockland County depends on whether the request involves an official background check or local court case information. County courts do not issue statewide criminal history reports. Instead, New York State handles formal criminal background checks through authorized agencies. These checks usually involve fingerprint-based searches done by the state’s criminal justice system. Reports are often needed for jobs, licenses, immigration, or other regulatory purposes and must be requested through state-approved channels.
At the county level, Rockland County courts keep records related to criminal cases filed and heard within the county. These records include case dockets, charges, court appearances, dispositions, and sentencing details. The public can search eligible criminal case information via New York’s online court case lookup systems or by visiting the courthouse in person. On-site access is available through public terminals, and clerks can help locate files. Access may be limited for sealed, expunged, or juvenile cases, and there may be fees for copies.
Rockland County Probate Records
Rockland County Probate Records provide official documentation of legal matters concerning the management of estates and the oversight of individuals who require court-appointed guardians or conservators. These records include wills, trusts, estate records, estate administrations, and probate filings related to guardianships and conservatorships. They help ensure that a decedent’s assets are properly distributed and that minors or incapacitated adults have legal protections in place.
Common filings in Rockland County probate records include last wills and testaments, petitions for estate administration (with or without a will), estate asset inventories, and final accounting reports. Guardianship records document court authorization to care for a minor or an incapacitated adult, while conservatorship filings document court-supervised management of finances or personal matters.
Many recent probate filings are available online through New York’s eCourts system, allowing users to check case status and basic information. Older or more detailed estate files may require an in-person visit to the courthouse or a formal request through the clerk’s office. Certain records remain confidential or restricted by law, including sensitive guardianship matters or sealed estate files, limiting public access.
Rockland County Family Court Records
Rockland County Family Court records relate to legal matters involving household and domestic relationships. These cases often involve divorce filings, child custody and visitation, child or spousal support, adoption proceedings, and family offense matters. Since these cases involve sensitive personal information, access is regulated by New York court rules that balance public visibility with privacy protections. Some family law records are available for public viewing, while others, such as adoption files, juvenile matters, and certain protection proceedings, are confidential and not accessible to the public.
You can view limited case details, including party names and case status, through New York’s online court case lookup systems, depending on the type of case. Most full documents must be accessed in person at the Rockland County Family Court, where public terminals and clerk assistance are available. To obtain certified copies, individuals must submit a written request to the clerk’s office, provide valid identification and case information, and pay the required certification and copy fees. Processing times and access levels vary based on record type and court order.
Federal Court Records in Rockland County
Federal court records related to Rockland County are under the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Federal courts do not function on a county-by-county basis. Instead, cases involving federal law from Rockland County are filed in this judicial district. These cases may include civil lawsuits that raise federal issues, disputes between parties from different states that meet jurisdictional criteria, bankruptcy cases, and criminal prosecutions initiated by the federal government.
The Clerk of Court for the Southern District of New York keeps records for these cases. The public can review filings, orders, and case activity through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This nationwide system allows registered users to access federal court documents electronically, usually for a small fee per page. Additionally, people can access federal records in person at the clerk’s office, where public terminals are often available. Some filings may be sealed or restricted by court order, limiting public access.
