Nassau County Court Records

Pursuant to New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations Title 22 Section 104.1(b), Nassau County court records are defined as the papers, books, calendars, statistical schedules, and other documents related to a court case file. These records include filings, decisions, and documents from various trial courts, such as the Nassau County Supreme Court, Nassau County Court, Nassau County District Court, Nassau County Family Court, and Nassau County Surrogate Court. The courts generate these records to ensure openness, accountability, and the proper administration of justice. The Nassau County Clerk and other court clerks serve as the primary custodians of these records. Their responsibility is to store, index, and make these records available to the public as provided by New York's Judiciary Law and court rules. During cases, courts generate records by filing complaints, motions, judgments, and other legal documents. These court records also connect to other public records. For example, vital records like marriage certificates kept by the County Clerk may refer to family court decisions. Arrest records from local law enforcement are often linked to criminal court files. Federal cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York may also include state matters that culminate in federal appeals.

Are Nassau County Court Records Public?

Yes. According to the provisions of the state law, interested individuals may view and copy Nassau County records. This access is not covered by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), but the New York State Judiciary Law Section 225. The law mandates court clerks to search files, records, and dockets and provide transcripts or certificates that confirm the results or note missing documents upon request and payment of a fee. Section 255-b also says that docket books must be open to the public during business hours.

The New York Unified Court System enforces this law by allowing inspection of most records while redacting sensitive data, such as Social Security numbers or victim details. It withholds access to Family Court juvenile delinquency cases, sealed adoptions, and domestic violence or mental health cases to protect privacy, and it requires permission to access criminal records that have been sealed, expunged, or classified as juvenile records.

What Information is Available in Nassau County Court Records?

Nassau County court records typically contain detailed information about legal proceedings. These elements include the following:

• The case index or docket number
• The names of the parties (plaintiffs, defendants, and petitioners)
• The names of attorneys
• Filling dates
• Summaries of motions or hearings
• Complaints
• Court orders
• Judgment
• Trial transcript
• Arrest warrants
• Indictments
• Plea deals
• Sentencing details
• Probation reports

Nassau County Court Records Search

Requesters may use a variety of methods to find and access specific Nassau County court records, as highlighted below:

Online Access

The New York State Unified Court System operates several free online portals through its eCourts program. These portals allow users to search for information at no cost. They include:

• WebCivil Local: This portal allows searches for civil cases in the District Court by index number, party name, attorney, or judge.
• WebCivil Supreme: This portal provides searches for both open and closed higher-value civil cases in the Supreme Court by party name.
• WebCriminal: This portal provides information on open criminal cases and upcoming court dates, with search capabilities by case number or party.
• WebFamily: This portal assists with ongoing Family Court and Integrated Domestic Violence cases. Users can search by file number or attorney name.
• WebSurrogate: This portal has records of estate proceedings and other filings made in New York State Surrogate's Courts.

These portals work uniformly across Nassau County but do not include sealed or juvenile cases. They provide detailed information for civil cases, but redact some information in criminal and family records for privacy purposes.

In-Person Access

Requesters may also access records directly at the Clerk's office, which offers public terminals and clerk assistance at:

The Clerk's Office staff can help locate physical records, but requesters must provide case details and may experience a waiting period during rush hour.

Mail and Phone Requests

The County Clerk and court offices handle mail requests. Requesters must send a written application with case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for copies. Requesters may also check case status by calling the Supreme Court at (516)-493-3400, but clerks generally do not send full document copies. They usually direct interested persons to make a formal request. Requesters may pay with cash in person, checks by mail, or credit cards for some online or phone verifications.

Fees for Court Records in Nassau County

Nassau County imposes various fees for obtaining court records through the County Clerk's office. Standard copy charges apply at 65 cents per page for non-certified documents, with a minimum fee of $1.30. A prepared copy also costs 65 cents per page to certify, and is subject to a $5.20 minimum. Full certified copies incur $1.25 per page, with a minimum of $5. Name searches cost $5 per name for each consecutive two-year period, and $5 specifically for judgments of divorce or annulment. For federal tax liens or UCC filings, copies cost $25, searches run at $5 per document, and additional copies of such documents are $10 each. Online portals like WebCivil remain free for basic searches and views. These fees support administrative handling, and payments are accepted in cash, checks, money orders, or major credit cards at clerk locations.

Nassau County Courthouse Locations

The Nassau County court system assigns different case types to specific courthouse divisions. The Supreme Court hears civil and criminal cases that exceed the jurisdiction of lower courts. The County Court has jurisdiction over most criminal cases and some civil disputes. The Family Court handles juvenile matters, domestic relations, abuse prevention, and some criminal issues. The Surrogate Court oversees probate, estate administration, guardianship, and trusts. The District Court handles civil and criminal cases within its set limits. Each courthouse location provides contact numbers and addresses for the public seeking access to case services, as seen below:

Criminal Records Access in Nassau County

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) conducts official state-level criminal history checks and provides comprehensive background reports for employment or licensing purposes. Interested persons can access these records through the agency's fingerprint-based searches, which show arrests, convictions, and dispositions across the state.

It is important to note that the county court does not perform a criminal history record check. However, requesters can get case-specific criminal records through portals like WebCriminal for pending cases or in person at the District or County Court. Individuals seeking information about misdemeanors or felonies can use case numbers or party names to view dockets, charges, and outcomes. The County Court handles serious felonies, while the District Court handles traffic and violation records. There are rules about sealed records, but public cases are still available without a subscription, which helps hold local justice accountable.

Nassau County Probate Records

The Surrogate Court in Nassau County keeps track of probate records, which detail the legal steps that need to be taken to settle an estate after the owner dies or becomes unable to do so. These records include wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Requesters can find more recent filings online through the WebSurrogate portal or eCourts. For cases that happened after the 1990s, they can search by the name of the deceased or the file number. However, some records are restricted, such as sealed adoptions or guardianships for mental health, and only heirs or court-approved parties can view them. If they go to the Mineola courthouse in person, they can get full files and pay for certified copies.

Nassau County Family Court Records

The Family Court in Nassau County handles records for domestic relations. Divorces (though often in the Supreme Court), child custody and visitation arrangements, adoptions, and child support orders are all examples of cases handled in this court. Requesters may access this record through the WebFamily portal, which lets them search for active cases by docket number or attorney for free and shows calendars for each judge. At the Westbury courthouse, record seekers can use public terminals to look at non-sealed files, and they can also get copies by sending a letter to the clerk.

Federal Court Records in Nassau County

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has federal jurisdiction over Nassau County. It hears cases involving federal laws, constitutional issues, bankruptcy, and disputes between states. This court, which is in Brooklyn but serves Long Island, handles cases involving civil rights violations, federal crimes, and patents. Interested persons may get records from the clerk's office at:

The staff at the clerk's office provides dockets and filings, while the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system allows users to obtain documents, case summaries, and opinions online for a per-page fee. Users must register to access PACER. These records do not apply to a single county but link to state files in appeals or removals, ensuring federal involvement in relevant cases.