Suffolk County Court Records
Suffolk County Court records are official written documents of court actions or proceedings. Court records are essential for judicial research, legal documentation, preservation of case materials, and personal purposes. Suffolk County court proceedings are in line with the provisions of the New York Court Rules. The Suffolk County Court is divided into:
- County Court: It handles criminal (felonies and lesser offenses) and civil cases not exceeding $25,000.
- Family Court: Handles cases involving child support, custody, and visitation.
- Supreme Court: Handles cases involving divorce or separation and all cases appealed from the lower courts.
- Surrogate's Court: Handles all cases involving wills and the estates of a deceased person. The Court also handles adoption and guardianship cases involving unclaimed property of deceased persons without wills.
- Town & Village Courts: Handle cases filed at the town or village level.
- District Courts: They are divided into Criminal Court, Civil Court, Small Claims Court, and Landlord &Tenant Court. The Criminal Court has trial jurisdiction over misdemeanors, violations, and infractions and preliminary jurisdiction over felony cases. The Civil Court handles cases not exceeding $15,000. Small Claims Court handles claims not exceeding $5,000. Landlord &Tenant Court handles evictions and housing proceedings.
Are Court Records Public in Suffolk County?
Per the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), public records are subject to public disclosure. Hence, anyone can request to inspect or obtain copies of Suffolk County Public Records, including court records. However, some count records are only open to a selected few. Examples include:
- Adoption records
- Juvenile records
- Grand jury records
- Matrimonial actions
- Mental health records
- Criminal history records
- Family court proceedings
- Juror questionnaires and records
- Involuntary commitment proceedings
- Sex offender registration information
- Civil commitment proceedings under Mental Hygiene Law
What Do Suffolk County Court Records Contain?
Suffolk County court records vary by case and court type. However, requesters should be able to find the following information when they conduct court record searches:
- Birth year
- Case type
- Filing date
- Court name
- Case name
- Judge’s name
- Classification
- Jury demand
- Attorneys names
- Disposition date
- Calendar number
- Attorneys names
- Incident & Arrest
- Index or case number
- Next appearance (date, time, court, and part)
Where to Conduct a Suffolk County Case Lookup
Suffolk County court records are typically generated during court proceedings. These court records are available at the following courts:
How to Conduct a Suffolk County Case Records Search
Suffolk County residents can search for case records using the statewide eCourts tool. The tool has different portals for electronic research depending on the case type. The search criteria are index number, party name, attorney/firm name or judge/justice, case number, and file or docket number.
Alternatively, members of the public can visit the courthouse to inspect or obtain copies of case records. Inspections can be done for free, but copies of records attract a fee. Individuals can inspect court records by themselves without having to pay search fees. The court has public photocopiers that can be used to print out case records at a very low rate.
Suffolk County Civil Court Case Records
A civil court case record is a document or information involving private citizens or companies filed with the Suffolk County Court. The Suffolk County Court only handles civil cases not exceeding $25,000. The Suffolk County District Court handles civil cases not exceeding $15,000, small claims not exceeding $5,000, and landlord/teat disputes.
Requests can find civil court case records online or in person at the court where the case was filed. The eCourts portal allows individuals to access civil records via WebCivil Local and WebCivil Supreme portals. A search can be conducted by index number, party name, attorney/firm name, or judge/justice. Alternatively, in-person requests can be made at the Suffolk County court where the case was filed. Requests can inspect civil court records by themselves for free at the courthouse. However, printing copies of court records via public photocopiers comes at a low cost. This cost is way cheaper than the amount the requester would have incurred if they requested the records directly from the court staff.
Suffolk County Criminal Court Case Records
A criminal case record is a document that contains information on offenders who have broken county laws. Examples of criminal cases handled by the Suffolk County Court are:
- Violations: These are not serious crimes that include unlawful possession of marijuana, trespassing, or disorderly conduct. The maximum punishment for violations is 15 days in jail.
- Misdemeanors: These are divided into Class A, Class B, and Unclassified. The maximum punishment for these level of offenses are:
- Class A: It does not exceed 1 year in jail
- Class B: It does not exceed 3 months in jail
- Unclassified misdemeanors: They do not exceed 3 years of probation. However, DWI Unclassified misdemeanor attracts a maximum punishment of one year in jail.
- Felonies: They are divided into A-I or A-II, B, C, D, and E. The maximum punishment for these groups of offenses is:
- Class A-I or A-II felony: It is life imprisonment unless it is a drug felony.
- Class B felony: It does not exceed 25 years in jail.
- Class C felony: It does not exceed 15 years in jail.
- Class D felony: It does not 7 years in jail.
- Class E felony: It does not exceed 4 years in jail.
Criminal court case records can be obtained online or in person at the court where the case was filed. Online requests can be made via the WebCriminal portal available in the eCourts. The search criteria are by Case Number or Party Name. Alternatively, in-person requests can be made at the courthouse. No fee is charged for viewing criminal records, but copies of such records attract a small fee.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
For free court records online, go to the New York State Unified System website. Click “e-COURTS” in the second column to find the following court records search tools:
- WebCivil Local
- WebCivil Supreme
- WebCriminal
- WebFamily
Depending on the search tool, a search can be conducted by index number, party name, attorney/firm name or judge/justice, case number, and file or docket number. A list of cases related to the search will appear on the screen. Click on any resulting index or case number to access the court record.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Suffolk County
Below is the list of addresses of all the courts in Suffolk County:
Suffolk County Court
Cromarty Court Complex
Criminal Courts Building
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 852-2120
Fax: (631) 852-2568
Suffolk County District Court
Cohalan Court Complex
400 Carleton Ave
Central Islip, NY 11722
Hauppauge Courthouse
Building 158, North County Complex
Veteran's Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: (631) 381-6090
Huntington Station Courthouse
1850 New York Avenue
Huntington Station, NY 11746
Phone: (631) 381-6070
Lindenhurst Courthouse
30 East Hoffman Ave
Lindenhurst NY 11757
Phone: (631) 381-6028
Patchogue Courthouse
150 West Main Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone: (631) 381-6100
Fax: (631) 854-1444
Email: suffdist6@nycourts.gov
Ronkonkoma Courthouse
3105 Veteran's Memorial Highway
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Phone: (631) 381-6000
Suffolk County Family Court
Family Court - Central Islip
400 Carleton Avenue
Central Islip, NY 11722
Phone: (631) 740-3800
Family Court - Riverhead
Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex
210 Center Drive, 2nd Floor
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 852-3905/6
Suffolk County Supreme Court
Hon. Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building
1 Court Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex
Hon. Marquette L. Floyd Supreme Court Building
400 Carleton Avenue
Central Islip, NY 11722
Phone: (631) 852-2334
Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court
320 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 852-1745
Suffolk County Town & Village Courts
Amityville Village Court
21 Ireland Place
Amityville, NY 11701
Phone: (631) 691-3303
Fax: (631) 691-3304
Asharoken Village Court
1 Asharoken Avenue
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: (631) 261-8677
Fax: (631) 691-3304
Babylon Village Court
153 West Main Street
Babylon, NY 11702
Phone: (631) 669-1771
Fax: (631) 669-1920
Belle Terre Village Court
55 Cliff Road
Belle Terre, NY 11777
Phone: (631) 473-5105
Fax: (631) 928-7971
Bellport Village Court
29 Bellport Lane
Bellport, NY 11713 (Administrative Office)
4 Bell Street
Bellport, New York 11713
Phone: (631) 286-0327 (x122 for Court Clerk)
Fax: (631) 286-7055
Brightwaters Village Court
40 Seneca Drive
Brightwaters, NY 11718
Phone: (631) 665-1281
Fax: (631) 665-2830
East Hampton Town Court
159 Pantigo Road
East Hampton, NY 11937
Phone: (631) 324-4134
Fax: (631) 324-4132
Head of the Harbor
500 North Country Road
Saint James, NY 11780
Phone: (631) 584-2034
Fax: (631) 862-1417
Huntington Bay Village Court
244 Vineyard Road
Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 427-2843
Fax: (631) 425-3063
Islandia Village Court
1100 Old Nichols Road
Islandia, NY 11749
Phone: (631) 348-1133
Fax: (631) 348-7650
Lake Grove Village Court
980 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Grove, NY 11755
Phone: (631) 585-2008
Fax: (631) 585-0805
Lindenhurst Village Court
430 South Wellwood Avenue
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Phone: (631) 957-7508
Fax: (631) 957-4604
Lloyd Harbor Village Court
32 Middle Hollow Road
Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 549-8896
Nissequogue Village Court
631 Moriches Road
Saint James, NY 11780
Phone: (631) 862-8576
Fax: (631) 862-7401
Northport Village Court
224 Main Street
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: (631) 757-0935
Ocean Beach Village Court
157-164 Bay Walk
Ocean Beach, NY 11770
Phone: (631) 583-0104
Fax: (631) 583-9261
Old Field Village Court
207 Old Field Road
East Setauket, NY 11733
Phone: (631) 941-9416
Patchogue Village Court
14 Baker Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone: (631) 475-2753
Fax: (631) 208-5323
Poquott Village Court
45 Birchwood Avenue
East Setauket, NY 11733
Phone: (631) 476-4043
Port Jefferson Village Court
121 West Broadway
Port Jefferson, NY 11777
Phone: (631) 473-8287
Fax: (631) 473-8215
Quogue Village Court
123 Jessup Avenue
Quogue, NY 11959
Phone: (631) 653-9400
Fax: (631) 653-9356
Riverhead Town Court
210 Howell Road
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 727-3200 x220
Fax: (631) 727-8283
Sag Harbor Village Court
55 Main Street
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Phone: (631) 725-0621
Fax: (631) 725-0618
Saltaire Village Court
Corner of Broadway and Pomander Walk
103 Broadway Village Hall
Saltaire, NY 11706
Phone: (631) 583-5566
Shelter Island Town Court
46 North Ferry Road
Shelter Island, NY 11964
Phone: (631) 749-8989
Fax: (631) 749-2504
Shoreham Village Court
80 Woodville Road
Shoreham, NY 11786
Phone: (631) 849-1444
Southampton Town Court
32 Jackson Avenue
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Phone: (631) 702-2990
Fax: (631) 728-2954
Southampton Village Court
151 Windmill Lane
Southampton, NY 11968
Phone: (631) 204-2140
Fax: (631) 204-2145
Southold Town Court
53095 Main Road (Route 25)
Southold, NY 11971
Phone: (631) 765-1852
Fax: (631) 765-3898
Village of the Branch Village Court
40 Route 111
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: (631) 265-3315 x 1
Fax: (631) 382-7688
Westhampton Beach Village Court
165 Mill Road
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
Phone: (631) 288-3980 x1
Fax: (631) 702-1585
Westhampton Dunes Village Court
165 Mill Road
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
Phone: (631) 466-1632, (631) 288-6571
Fax: (631) 280-5321
