Court records in Westchester County, New York, are maintained by the county court clerk's office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. WestchesterCourt.us will help you find public information about the county's court records. Additionally, you can use the New York State Unified Court System portal, call the court clerk's office, or visit it in person. Below is a detailed overview of the court system, types of cases, procedures, and resources related to Westchester County.
Westchester Court System Overview
Westchester County is part of the 9th Judicial District of New York State. This district also includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland. The administrative judge of the 9th district coordinates the work of all trial courts in this area.
The main courthouse is located in White Plains, the administrative center of the county.
Westchester County Courthouse
The courts operate on weekdays, generally from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The specific schedule depends on the division—criminal, civil, or family court may have different hours of operation.
Courts Serving Westchester
Residents of the county are served by several levels of courts—from local to federal.
State Courts
- Westchester County Supreme Court — the main court of general jurisdiction for civil and criminal cases.111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
- Westchester County Court — handles criminal cases involving felonies committed in the county.111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
- Westchester County Family Court — family cases, including custody, child support, protective orders.111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
- Westchester County Surrogate's Court — probate cases, wills, guardianship.111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Local Courts (City, Town, and Village Courts)
Numerous city and town courts operate in the county—in Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and other localities. They handle minor criminal cases (misdemeanors), traffic violations, and small civil claims.
Federal Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — White Plains Division300 Quarropas Street
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York — White Plains Division300 Quarropas Street
What Types of Cases Westchester Courts Hear
Westchester County courts hear a wide range of cases:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Violations and infractions
- Civil claims—from small claims to complex commercial disputes
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probate cases: wills, estate management, guardianship
- Juvenile/family court proceedings
- Child protection cases
- Adoptions
- Traffic violations
Each type of case is assigned to the court of appropriate jurisdiction—more details in the following sections.
District Court Cases in Westchester
In the New York State system, the role of the "district court" is performed by the Supreme Court—a court of general jurisdiction. The Westchester County Supreme Court handles civil cases with no monetary limit, complex commercial disputes, and divorce cases. The County Court, in turn, specializes in criminal felonies.
A criminal case typically begins with an arrest or indictment, after which it is transferred to the County Court for substantive review. A judge is assigned according to the internal distribution of cases. Appeals from local courts can also reach this level. After sentencing, the convicted person has the right to appeal to the Appellate Division, Second Department.
Magistrate Court Cases in Westchester
The functions of magistrate courts in New York are performed by local courts—City Courts, Town Courts, and Village Courts. There are dozens of them in Westchester.
These courts handle:
- Misdemeanors and violations
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases (felony arraignments)
- Civil claims up to $15,000 (City Courts) or up to $3,000 (Town/Village Courts)
- Small claims—up to $5,000 in City Courts, up to $3,000 in Town/Village Courts
- Traffic violations
- Initial hearings in DUI/DWI cases
If a preliminary hearing establishes sufficient grounds for a felony charge, the case is transferred to the County Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Westchester
Family Law
Divorce and property division are handled by the Supreme Court. Custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights fall under the jurisdiction of the Family Court. Both courts are located in the same judicial complex on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in White Plains.
Probate Cases
The Westchester County Surrogate's Court handles wills, estate management, and the appointment of guardians and trustees. To file a petition, contact the Surrogate's Court clerk's office at (914) 824-5656.
Juvenile Matters
The Family Court also handles cases involving juvenile delinquency and child protection. Records in such cases are confidential under New York State law.
How Cases Move Through the Westchester Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with the filing of a complaint; a family case begins with a petition to the appropriate court.
- Judge Assignment. The clerk's office assigns the case to a specific judge according to the court's internal rules.
- First Hearing. In criminal cases, this is the arraignment; in civil cases, a preliminary conference or scheduling conference.
- Pre-trial Phase. Parties file motions, exchange evidence (discovery), and negotiate a possible settlement.
- Trial. The case concludes with a jury or judge's verdict, a settlement, a guilty plea, or a default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcing the court's decision.
The duration of each stage depends on the complexity of the case and the court's workload.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Westchester
The courts in the county are managed by the administrative judge of the 9th Judicial District in conjunction with the Office of Court Administration (OCA) of the state. Local court rules are published on the New York State Unified Court System website—nycourts.gov.
According to New York Judiciary Law § 255 and OCA rules, most court records are public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile cases, and materials closed by a judge's order. To obtain a copy of a record, contact the clerk's office of the respective court—in person, by mail, or through the NYSCEF (New York State Courts Electronic Filing) system.
Hearings are open to the public. In some cases, county courts conduct remote sessions via Microsoft Teams or another platform—check the participation procedure with the clerk's office of the specific court.
Contact information for general inquiries:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Westchester
- Case Search. The WebCivil Supreme portal on nycourts.gov allows searching for Supreme Court civil cases by party name or case number. For criminal cases, use WebCrims.
- Hearing Calendar. The schedule of sessions is available on the Unified Court System portal or directly at the court clerk's office.
- Forms and Self-Help. The "DIY Forms" section on nycourts.gov contains interactive forms for typical cases—divorce, small claims, protective orders.
- County Clerk's Office. The official website of the Westchester County government provides information about clerk's office services, including public records requests.
- State Inmate Search. Through the DOCCS lookup system, you can find information about individuals serving sentences in New York State correctional facilities. For county-level searches, contact the Commission of Correction.
- Inmate Search (NY.gov portal). The NY.gov page provides access to public records about current and some former inmates in real-time.
- Criminal History Check. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) allows you to request a review of your own criminal history by submitting fingerprints.
- Sex Offender Registry and Crime Statistics. The DCJS website offers access to the sex offender registry, crime statistics, and other resources.
- County Department of Public Safety. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety is responsible for law enforcement in the county; the records division can be reached at (914) 864-7683.
- State Police Reports. To request New York State Police reports, use the New York State Police portal.
- Geographic Data. The Westchester County GeoHub contains mapping data, including court district boundaries and facility locations.
For additional assistance with searching Westchester County court records, visit WestchesterCourt.us.