Orange County Court Records
Orange County court records are official documents created in the course of legal proceedings within the county. They include exhibits, evidence, or other materials used during a hearing or trial. These records are especially relevant when looking to track the progress of a case, research legal issues, or make informed decisions about another person’s character.
Orange County court records are generated and maintained by the county’s court clerks and are made public by provisions in the New York State law. The Office of the County Clerk maintains a searchable online database of court case records which offers the public access to non-confidential court records and judicial information.
Are Court Records Public in Orange County
Yes. The State of New York operates with the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which gives citizens the right to access public records, including court records. However, certain criminal case records may be sealed and restricted from public if a defendant is acquitted of the charges or the case is dismissed.
Also, the public may not have access to court records or certain portions thereof if they contain confidential information. Confidential court documents include orders of commitment of mentally ill inmates, records of adoption proceedings, probation reports and pre-sentence memoranda, records that disclose the names and addresses of jurors, alcohol and drug treatment reports, and mental health records.
Where to Conduct an Orange County Case Lookup
Interested members of the public may visit the clerk of the courthouse where a case was handled to conduct an Orange County case lookup. The Office of the County Clerk maintains a database of Orange County court records and may allow public inspection of the records during business hours. Online lookup options are made available by the aforementioned offices, as well as other third-party internet service providers. The County Clerk can be contacted at:
Office of the Orange County Clerk
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 291-2690
Fax: (845) 378-2368
How to Conduct an Orange County Case Records Search
The Orange County Clerk facilitates case records searches at its office for visitors interested in obtaining non-exempt court records. In-person visits can be done Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Record requesters are typically requested to provide information about the case of interest such as:
- The names of the parties involved
- The case’s filing date
- The case’s index number
For online searches, inquirers can access court records when they create an account on an online search tool provided by the County Clerk. Keep in mind that searches done on this site usually require a fee. Furthermore, only court records created from 08/02/1993 – present are available on this site.
Orange County Civil Court Case Records
Orange County civil court records are generated in the course of civil litigations and are public record. Inquirers may obtain civil court records except matrimonial records, family law cases related to domestic violence, juvenile cases, and other court records sealed by a court order.
Portions of civil court records that contain confidential information such as social security numbers and financial records are typically redacted from public records. Furthermore, documents that are part of an ongoing lawsuit such as testimony or depositions may be exempt from public court records.
The main custodian of civil court records in Orange County is the court clerk who also makes them available to requesters. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the Office of the County Clerk and inspect records during business hours or use its online records search tool.
Orange County Criminal Court Case Records
Orange County courts maintain criminal court records and make them available for members of the public who wish to inspect or copy them. However, exceptions are made for cases that have been dismissed or sealed per court order or pursuant to state law.
Exemptions from public access are also made for criminal court records that are confidential that contain sensitive information such as information related to juvenile offenders and sex crimes. The County Clerk is the custodian of Orange County criminal court records. Members of the public can order criminal records when they fill out and submit the Request for Criminal Records form to obtain records.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
There are no free online court records search services provided by the Orange County Clerk or any of the county’s court clerks. However, there are many third-party free lookup websites available on the internet. Keep in mind, however, that information obtained from third-party sites is usually limited and may not be up to date.
Courts in Orange County
Orange County has six courts that handle different case types. The Supreme Court has the highest jurisdiction in the county. All courts are open Monday through Friday, except on New York State holidays. These courts have jurisdictions classified according to:
- The subject matter being handled
- The geographic location.
Orange Supreme and County Court
285 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 476-3500
Orange County Family Court
285 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 476-3520
Fax: (845) 291-3054
Orange Surrogate's Court
30 Park Place
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 476-3655
Fax: (845) 291-2196
Email: VirtualOrangeSurrogatesCourt@nycourts.gov.
City Court of Port Jervis
20 Hammond Street
Port Jervis, NY 12771
Phone: (845) 476-3700
Fax: (845) 476-3691
City Court of Newburgh
300 Broadway
Newburgh, NY 12550
Phone: (845) 483-8100
Fax: (845) 565-0230 (Civil/Traffic/Housing)
Fax: (845) 483-8498 (Criminal).
City Court of Middletown
2 James Street
Middletown, NY 10940
Phone: (845) 476-3630
Fax: (845) 570-5072
