St. Lawrence County, New York State Court Records
St. Lawrence County court records are official documents filed with or generated by a local court during a particular case it handles. The St. Lawrence County Clerk and the clerk's offices of other local courts are the primary custodians of these records. Notably, the County Clerk is responsible for maintaining court records and filings of cases heard by the County Supreme Court and County Court.
Generally, certain information in St. Lawrence County court records may be featured in or essential to creating other government records, such as arrest and vital records, and vice versa. For example, court records of criminal cases may contain information about relevant arrests. Additionally, divorce certificates issued by the New York Department of Health are derived from court records of divorce proceedings handled by the Supreme Court.
Are St. Lawrence County Court Records Public?
Yes. St. Lawrence County court records are public pursuant to §255 and §225-B of the New York Judiciary Law. The former states that records maintained by a court's clerk are public. Upon request, a court's clerk must search files, records, and dockets in their custody to furnish copies of court records to requesters or certify that the requested record can not be found. Meanwhile, docket books maintained by a court's clerk are open to the public for search and examination by any person under the New York Judiciary Law §225-B.
Notwithstanding, certain court records are exempt from public access. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sealed records
- Divorce records
- Adoption records
- Records whose public disclosure would reveal the identity of a sex offense victim (Civil Rights Law §50-B)
- Records detailing arrest and disposition of juveniles (Family Court Act §784).
- Records concerning a criminal offense that was dismissed in the accused's favor (Criminal Procedure Law §160.50).
What Information is Available in St. Lawrence County Court Records?
Information and documents available in St. Lawrence County court records include, but are not limited to:
- Case number
- Case parties names
- Case parties attorneys details
- Filing date
- Disposition
- Presiding court and judge name
- Summons and complaint
- Exhibits
- Motions
- Court orders
- Dockets
- Briefs
- Answers
- Judgments
St. Lawrence County Court Records Search
There are numerous courts in St. Lawrence County, and each court clerk's office is responsible for maintaining and issuing court records of cases handled by their respective court. For instance, the St. Lawrence County Clerk is responsible for the clerical duties of the County Supreme Court and County Court. Meanwhile, other local courts have independent Court Clerk's offices. Thus, the first step record seekers must take to conduct a St. Lawrence County court record search is to ascertain which court handled the case in question.
Additionally, record seekers must gather identifiable information about the case, such as the case number, filing date, and the names of the involved parties. This information is required to facilitate searches. There are different avenues for conducting St. Lawrence County court record searches, which may be summarized into the following:
Online Access
Interested persons may use the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts website to conduct online searches for court records. The website provides links to resources that individuals may use to search court records for various types of local cases, including criminal, civil, Family Court, and Supreme Court civil cases. Searches on these resources may be conducted by index number, case party name, attorney name, or judge name.
In-Person Access
Record seekers may visit the clerk's offices of local courts during regular business hours to submit a request for copies of court records. They are usually charged certain fees for copies of records that are furnished to them. On-site computer terminals may also be available in local courthouses and the St. Lawrence County Law Library for interested persons to access public court records electronically.
Mail and Phone Requests
Individuals may draft a written request containing sufficient identifiable information about the sought case and mail it to the clerk's office of the appropriate court. Some clerks provide a dedicated request form that record seekers may use to make requests. A good example is the St. Lawrence County Clerk's Criminal/Civil search request form. It is generally advisable to contact a court clerk in advance to confirm whether mail-in requests are accepted and to inquire about any applicable search fees. Individuals may find the contact information for some St. Lawrence County courts through the New York Unified Court System's 4th Judicial District Court Locator.
Fees for Court Records in St. Lawrence County
According to the St. Lawrence County Clerk's Fee Schedule, record seekers may be charged the following fees for copies of court records they request:
- Regular copies: 65 cents per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 for the first 10 pages and 65 cents for each additional page
- Exemplified plus certified: $15.00
- Judgments transcripts or certificate: $5.00
Although individuals are usually charged a fee for copies of records they request, they may be allowed to inspect records in person for free. Additionally, there is no fee for viewing court records through public computer terminals. However, documents may be printed through the terminal at 25 cents per page.
St. Lawrence County Courthouse Locations
The St. Lawrence County court system is made up of six (6) types of courts: Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate Court, City Court, and Town/Village Courts. The courthouse addresses and contact information of these courts are outlined below:
St. Lawrence County Supreme Court and County Court
St. Lawrence County Courthouse
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-2219
Fax: 315-379-2423
St. Lawrence County Family Court
St. Lawrence County Courthouse
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-2410
Fax: 315-386-3197
St. Lawrence County Surrogate's Court
St. Lawrence County Courthouse
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-2217
Fax: 315-379-2372
330 Ford Street
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Phone: 315-393-3941
Fax: 315-393-6839
PO Box 358,
Brasher Falls, NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-4223 ext. 5
Municipal Building
60 Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-9844
Fax: 315-386-4350
3441 County Route 27,
Russell, NY 13684
Phone: 315-386-3084
7171 State Highway 3,
PO Box 679,
Cranberry Lake, NY 12927
Phone: 315-848-5522
Fax: 315-848-2683
9 Sugar Bush Lane,
PO Box 475,
South Colton, NY 13687
Phone: 315-262-2380
Fax: 315-262-2027
2907 County Route 17,
PO Box 133,
De Kalb Junction, NY 13630
Phone: 315-347-2071
3999 County Route 10
PO Box 41,
DePeyster, NY 13633
Phone: 315-344-7259
161 Main Street,
PO Box 24,
Edwards, NY 13635
Phone: 315-562-3274
4078 State Highway 3,
PO Box 455,
Star Lake, NY 13690
Phone: 315-848-3121 ext. 303
Fax: 315-848-3152
Town Hall
87 Little York Road,
Gouverneur, NY 13642
Phone: 315-287-9996
Fax: 315-535-4300
33 Clinton Street,
Gouverneur, NY 13642
Phone: 315-287-4623
PO Box 219,
Hammond, NY 13646
Phone: 315-324-5433
Fax: 315-324-6963
109 Church Street
Town hall
Hermon, NY 13652
Phone: 315-287-6519
Fax: 315-347-4547
7 Church Street
Hopkinton, NY 12965
Phone: 315-328-4187 ext. 6
Fax: 315-674-0032
11403 US Highway 11
North Lawrence, NY 12967
Phone: 315-389-4487
6963 County Route 10,
PO Box 8,
Lisbon, NY 13658
Phone: 315-393-0489
Fax: 315-393-4483
14180 State Highway 37,
Massena, NY 13662
Phone: 315-764-1424
6663 State Highway 58,
Hammond, NY 13646
Phone: 315-578-2212
3529 County Road 14,
Madrid, NY 13660
Phone: 315-528-3399
60 Main Street,
Massena, NY 13662
Phone: 315-769-5431
Fax: 315-705-0938
Massena Village Court
60 Main Street,
Massena, NY 13662
Phone: 315-769-5431
Fax: 315-705-0938
604 Main Street,
PO Box 240,
Morristown, NY 13664
Phone: 315-375-4148
Fax: 315-375-6385
5 Main Street,
PO Box 481,
Norfolk, NY 13667
Phone: 315-384-4721
Fax: 315-384-3201
51 State Street,
PO Box 408,
Heuvelton, NY 13654
Phone: 315-344-7284
Fax: 315-344-7963
Town Hall
1772 State Highway 72,
PO Box 155,
Parishville, NY 13672
Phone: 315-265-2131 ext. 5
Town Hall
48 Waller Street,
PO Box 220,
Piercefield, NY 12973
Phone: 518-359-2237
864 State Highway 68,
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-0415
Fax: 315-728-7526
Town Hall
10 Edwards Road,
Harrisville, NY 13648
Phone: 315-543-2111 ext. 12
Fax: 315-543-9577
35 Market Street,
Potsdam, NY 13676
Phone: 315-265-4318
908 County Route 3,
Redwood, NY 13679
Phone: 315-324-5166
Fax: 315-324-6870
9 Pestle Street,
PO Box 628,
Russell, NY 13684
Phone: 315-347-4824
Fax: 315-347-2570
540St. Hwy 11C
Winthrop, NY 13697
Phone: 315-262-8061
46A Maple Street,
PO Box 338,
Waddington, NY 13694
Phone: 315-388-5629
Criminal Records Access in St. Lawrence County
In St. Lawrence County, a statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) may be conducted through the New York State Office of Court Administration(OCA) for a $95.00 fee. Information included in CHRS includes convictions and pending records of felony and misdemeanor cases from Supreme, County, City, Village, and Town Courts across New York, including those in St. Lawrence County. Sealed records, noncriminal offenses, and Town/Village Court cases (from 1991 to 2002) are generally not reported. Information required to conduct a CHRS is an individual's name and date of birth.
Interested persons may make CHRS requests through the OCA using the agency's Online Direct Access program. Alternatively, they may complete the CHRS application form and mail it along with the relevant fee (via checks or money orders payable to the N.Y.S. Office of Court Administration) to:
NYS Office of Court Administration
Division of Technology and Court Research
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street (Room 940)
New York, NY 10004
On the other hand, public information about criminal cases heard by St. Lawrence County Courts and other courts with criminal jurisdiction across New York is accessible online through the New York State Unified Court System's WebCriminal portal. The portal is searchable by case identifier (i.e., case number or summons number) or defendant's name.
Alternatively, record seekers may visit or contact the clerk's office of the local court that heard a criminal case to inspect or request copies of the case's court records. Depending on the specifics of a criminal case, it may fall under the jurisdiction of different courts in St. Lawrence County. For instance, the St. Lawrence County Supreme Court has jurisdiction over felony charges, and the County Court handles the prosecution of all crimes committed within the county. The County Clerk serves as the record custodian of both courts. Thus, record seekers may direct all queries for court records of criminal cases handled by the St. Lawrence County Supreme Court and County Court to the County Clerk.
St. Lawrence County Probate Records
St. Lawrence County probate records are official documents that contain information about the distribution of a decedent's assets, property, and other possessions to their beneficiaries after their debts are paid off. These records are generally public, albeit there are certain exceptions. For instance, a will deposited with a Surrogate's Court for safekeeping remains confidential until the testator's death (i.e., the person who prepared the will) under the New York Surrogate's Court Procedure Act (SCPA) § 2507. Additionally, a court may issue an order to seal probate records at the request of the estate administrator or executor due to privacy concerns.
St. Lawrence County Family Court Records
In St. Lawrence County, family law cases are heard by the county Family Court. These cases include matters involving children and families, such as guardianship, adoption, family violence, juvenile delinquency, foster case approval and review, child support, custody, visitation, and child abuse. Due to their sensitive nature and contents, family court cases are confidential and not open to public inspection per New York Family Court Act §166. They are typically only accessible by certain eligible persons and entities, such as:
- Case parties and their attorneys
- Court personnels
- Authorized agencies, such as child protective services.
Notwithstanding, interested persons may use the New York Unified Court System's WebFamily Portal to access limited information about family court cases online. Meanwhile, eligible parties may obtain certified copies of family court records through the St. Lawrence County Family Court clerk's office. They may visit the clerk's office during regular business hours to make requests and may be required to present proper identification or documentation proving their eligibility to access the record.
Federal Court Records in St. Lawrence County
Federal cases originating in St. Lawrence County fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York (NDNY). The court has five (5) federal courthouse locations across New York. However, none of these courthouses are situated in St. Lawrence County. The closest are located in Plattsburgh and Syracuse at:
US District Court
Northern District of New York
The Gateway Building
14 Durkee St.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
US District Court
Northern District of New York
James M. Hanley Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
100 S. Clinton St.
Syracuse, NY 13261
There are different ways record seekers may access court records of federal cases handled by the NDNY. For instance, public terminals are available in NDNY federal courthouses that individuals may use to access public court records of federal cases. They may access or print copies of records or documents from these terminals at 10 cents per page. They may also request photocopies directly from the court clerk's office at 50 cents per page.
Alternatively, interested persons may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) website to access records online. They would need to register for an account or log in to use the website. Additionally, they would be charged 10 cents per page, capped at $3.00 for a single document, to access case information on PACER. However, these fees are waived for users who accrue $30 or less in charges in a given quarter.
