How to Search New York Public Records
New York's court system runs through the Unified Court System — WebCrims for criminal, eCourts for civil filings. Property is handled at the county level by County Clerks. NYC uses entirely different portals (ACRIS, WebCrims) from upstate.
- Criminal cases: WebCrims — pending criminal cases statewide.
- Civil filings: eCourts (NYSCEF) — Supreme Court, Court of Claims, Surrogate's.
- Criminal history: OCA CHRS — $95, returns convictions statewide.
- Business entities: DOS Corporation and Business Entity Database.
- Property: County Clerk in each county. NYC uses ACRIS for deeds.
New York Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Jail & Inmate Records
Sex Offender Registry — DCJS
DOCCS — Incarcerated Lookup
Vital Records
Vital Records — Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce
How to Search New York Criminal Records
In NYC: start with WebCrims (iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim) for criminal court cases. Outside NYC: go to the County Clerk for Supreme and County Court criminal records. There is NO free statewide criminal name search — DCJS requires fingerprints for background checks. For current state inmates, use the DOCCS inmate lookup. For NYC jail inmates, use the NYC DOC inmate lookup. Only use DCJS if you're an authorized entity with legal authorization for a fingerprint-based check.
How to Search New York Court Records
In NYC: Criminal Court handles misdemeanors, Supreme Court handles felonies and major civil. Civil Court handles civil cases under $25,000. Family Court, Surrogate's Court (probate), and Housing Court are separate. Outside NYC: Supreme Court handles major civil and felonies, County Court handles felonies and mid-level civil, Town/Village Justice Courts handle traffic, misdemeanors, and small claims. Remember: 'Supreme Court' is the TRIAL court, not the appeals court — the Court of Appeals is New York's highest court.
How to Search New York Property Records
In NYC (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx): use ACRIS (Automated City Register Information System) at a836-acris.nyc.gov for deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents. In Staten Island: go to the Richmond County Clerk. Outside NYC: go to the County Clerk for recorded property documents. For property valuations and tax assessments, check the city/town assessor's office. NYC's ACRIS is one of the best online property search tools in the country.
How to Get New York Vital Records
For NYC vital records (birth, death): go to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — NOT the state DOH. Outside NYC: go to the New York State Department of Health for records from 1881 forward, or the local registrar. For marriage licenses outside NYC, go to the Town or City Clerk. In NYC, go to the City Clerk. For divorce records, search at the County Clerk where the divorce was granted.
Why does my New York search return no results? ▼
The most common reason is searching the wrong system. Many records are split between state and county offices. Try switching to the correct office for your record type — court records are not stored with property or vital records.
Is there a single database for all New York records? ▼
No. New York records are maintained by separate offices with separate systems. There is no unified search that covers everything in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WebCrims and how do I use it? ▼
WebCrims is the statewide criminal case search portal run by the NY Unified Court System. It shows arraignments, appearances, and dispositions for criminal cases across all counties. Access it at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney.
Are NYC records searched differently than upstate? ▼
Yes. NYC property uses ACRIS (acris.nyc.gov) instead of county clerk portals. NYC criminal cases still appear in WebCrims, but NYC-specific court calendars and housing court records have separate portals.
Is there a free statewide criminal background check in New York? ▼
No free statewide criminal database. CHRS (Court History Records Search) provides conviction records but charges a fee. WebCrims shows pending and recent criminal cases for free but is not a full background check.
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