Bronx County Court Records
Bronx County court records include filings, statements, exhibits, orders, and decisions produced during court cases within the judicial district. These records are critical in keeping the public abreast of legal proceedings in Bronx County, New York. They ensure the proper functioning of the judiciary and enable individuals to seek redress and obtain fair hearings.
In Bronx County, judicial records are typically filed with the Bronx County Clerk, who serves as the primary custodian of legal records emanating from the county's courts. Individuals who want to access these records can contact the clerk's office. Section 255 of the New York Judiciary Law (N.Y. Jud. Law § 255) mandates clerks of courts to search for and provide court records upon request from members of the public. However, if the records are excluded from Bronx County Public Records, their disclosure may be limited to selected persons.
Are Court Records Public in Bronx County?
Yes, most records from courts in the Bronx are accessible to the public. Section 4 of the New York Judiciary Law establishes access to court proceedings. However, there are statutory exemptions.
The law allows courts to restrict access in specific cases, such as cases involving a criminal sexual act, assault with intent to commit rape, divorce, and rape. Courts are also authorized to seal some court records to protect trade secrets and sensitive information that may bring harm to individuals if released to the public.
Besides Section 4, other state statutes prohibit or limit access to court proceedings and documents, allowing courts to determine when and how to release these records. For example, N.Y. Family Court Law § 166 limits access to court information but grants courts the power to release the associated records.
What Do Bronx County Court Records Contain?
The following information is contained in Bronx County court records:
- Case details: Case details are basic information about a court case, such as case ID (number), dates, parties involved, judge, and attorneys.
- Summons and notices: These official documents notify parties about court hearings, dates, motion approval/denial, and other legal proceedings and obligations.
- Docket Entries: These are used to record actions and events during a case chronologically.
- Motions and pleadings: They are legal documents that case parties and attorneys use to lodge complaints, make legal arguments, and file responses with the court.
- Witness lists: The list of people a party to a case plans to call for testimonies.
- Deposition transcripts/stenographic tapes: Materials that record witness statements under oath before trial.
- Discovery materials: They include every piece of evidence each party intends to use in court to make their case. Discovery materials are shared between both parties before trial.
- Witness statement: A document that records a person's accounts of events related to the case.
- Decisions and orders: These include sentencing, judgments, rulings on motions/complaints, injunctions, and protective orders issued by a court during, before, or at the end of a trial.
- Courtroom transcripts/stenographic tapes: Stenographic records are created by court stenographers, who use a machine called a stenotype to capture words spoken in court in shorthand. This tape can later be used to produce court transcripts by converting the shorthand notes into readable text.
- Agreements/settlements: Documents that contain out-of-court resolutions.
Where to Conduct a Bronx County Case Lookup
People who want to search for court records produced by courts in the Bronx can do the following:
- Appear in person at the county clerk's office.
- Send a request to the clerk's office via mail.
- Use case lookup tools provided by the Bronx County Clerk's Office and the New York Unified Courts System.
How to Conduct a Bronx County Case Records Search
Individuals who want to find court records in person may do one of the following:
Search Case Records Online
The Bronx County Clerk offers various online resources to search for different types of case records.
The County Clerk's Records Database
This site allows members of the public to search for records of cases filed with the Bronx County Clerk. Individuals can search for court cases as guests without creating an account.
Site visitors will be redirected to the Case Search page once they select the "Search as Guest" option. They can then start the search by providing the index number, name of a party to the case, or name of an attorney. They must also provide a file date range in the right format (Month/Day/Year).
Guest search results do not offer in-depth information about cases. Searchers will only get to see the case's index number, the names of the defendants and plaintiffs, the date the case was filed, the type of case, and a list of the documents filed during the case. This type of search helps individuals to find index numbers to request physical copies.
People who want to view more information about cases can request a user account. Attorneys authorized to practice in New York State can also request an attorney account to view more case information.
New York State Courts Electronic Filing Search
This application allows visitors to search for cases filed through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF). NYSCEF allows members of the public to electronically file legal papers with specific courts (for specific case types).
Site visitors can search cases e-filed in Bronx County without having to create an account. Unlike the county clerk's record database, NYSCEF offers more case details, such as the court handling the case and the case status.
Searchers can use the following information to search for cases:
- Case identifier: An attorney's file number, the case number, a third-party index number, or a local civil court index number.
- Name: An organization/business, case party, or attorney's name
- Tax Certificate and Small Claim Assessment Review: Tax cert and SCAR details
- New Cases: A presiding court's name and filing date
Local Civil Court Cases (WebCivil Local)
The WebCivil Local application is another New York State Unified Court System application. It allows members of the public to search for cases filed in the state's local civil courts, including the Bronx County Civil Court. Site users can look up cases by party name, index number, attorney/firm name, or judge.
The system provides basic details of court cases, including a case's index number, caption, type, classification, filing date, parties, judge, and attorneys.
Criminal Court Cases (WebCriminal)
Individuals can access ongoing criminal court case information in Bronx County Courts using the Unified Court System's WebCriminal portal. Intending users must create an eTrack account to access this application.
Search Case Records in Person or by Mail
Individuals can request to search court documents, exemplify court records, and certify copies of Supreme Court documents at the Records Search Department or by mail. They can visit or mail the following address:
Bronx County Clerk's Office
851 Grand Concourse
Room 118
Bronx, NY 10451
They can also walk into the clerk's office at the court where a case was heard to obtain copies of court records.
Upon arriving at a clerk's office, individuals will need to fill out a requisition form. The clerk or staff at the office can provide the record while they wait. In some cases, records may take up to two weeks to retrieve because they are no longer on-site.
People requesting copies by mail must send their requests in a stamped self-addressed envelope accompanied by fees for the records request.
Generally, requesters are required to provide case index numbers to facilitate their orders. They can use the online tools mentioned earlier to find case index numbers if they do not have that information. If the index numbers are still not available, they must pay for a search. Each search covers a two-year period and costs $10, inclusive of a search certificate that certifies the success - or lack thereof - of the inquiry.
Fees
Copies of court documents, certifications, and exemplifications are not free. Copying any court document costs 65 cents, and requesters must copy pages worth at least $1.50. To certify a Supreme Court document, requesters must pay $8 if requesting in person and $8.65 if ordering by mail. Obtaining exemplified copies costs an extra $25 for certified Supreme Court documents and other records.
Bronx County Civil Court Case Records
Bronx County Civil Court case records are produced during non-criminal legal proceedings involving two or more disputing parties (plaintiffs and defendants). These cases are held in the Bronx County Supreme Civil, Civil Family, and Surrogate Courts. The records are typically maintained and distributed by the clerks of courts in charge of cases. However, records are generally archived with the Bronx County Clerk.
Bronx County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records in Bronx County are generated during court proceedings that seek to ascertain the guilt or innocence of people accused of breaking the law. These cases are heard in the county's Criminal and Supreme Criminal Courts. The Bronx County Clerk and clerks of courts that hear criminal cases are the main custodians of criminal records.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The Bronx County Clerk's Office and the New York State Unified Court System offer different online options for viewing Bronx County court records. They include the WebCivil Local portal, NYSCEF, and the county clerk's records database. Although these options are free, users cannot obtain in-depth information or copies of court documents.
To obtain a copy of a court record in Bronx County, one may visit or mail the courthouse where a case was filed.
Courts in Bronx County, New York
The following are the locations and contact numbers of courthouses in the Bronx:
Bronx County Family Court
900 Sheridan Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2098
Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx County Supreme Court
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-1400
Bronx County Supreme Court, Criminal
265 East 161st Street
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-3100
Bronx County Surrogate's Court
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx County Supreme Court
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2300
NYC Civil Court, Bronx County Branch
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx County Supreme Court
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2500
NYC Criminal Court, Bronx County Branch
215 East 161st Street
Bronx Criminal Court
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2460
NYC Criminal Court, Bronx County Branch
265 East 161st Street
Bronx Criminal Court
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2460
NYC Housing Court, Bronx County Branch
1118 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10456
Phone: (718) 466-3000
