Sullivan County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Sullivan County in 2026
SullivanCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records in Sullivan County. Members of the public seeking court records may find case-related data including docket entries, party names, case statuses, hearing dates, and disposition information. The availability and completeness of any record depends on the case type, the court of origin, applicable confidentiality rules, and whether the record has been sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted under state law.
Records that may be accessible through public channels include:
- Criminal case filings and dispositions
- Civil court dockets and judgments
- Family court orders (subject to applicable restrictions)
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and ordinance violation records
- Small claims court filings
- Appellate court decisions
Court records in Sullivan County may be searched through several established methods. The Clerk of Court maintains the official case files and accepts in-person and written requests. Courthouse public access terminals allow on-site review of docket information at no charge. The New York State Unified Court System provides online tools for certain case types. State-level judicial search platforms offer broader index searches. Written or mail requests submitted to the appropriate clerk's office allow remote access for those unable to appear in person.
Method 1 – Clerk of Court or Court Records Office: The clerk's office is the primary custodian of court records. Requesters should provide the full case number, party name, or approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record. Fees may apply for copies.
Method 2 – Courthouse Public Access Terminals: Public terminals located within the courthouse allow members of the public to search docket information and view certain case documents at no charge during regular business hours.
Method 3 – Online Court Search: The New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF) provides online access to electronically filed documents in participating cases. Not all case types or older matters are available through this portal.
Method 4 – State-Level Judicial Search Tools: The New York State Unified Court System's eCourts platform allows searches of civil court records statewide, including Sullivan County Supreme Court matters.
Method 5 – Written or Mail Requests: Requests submitted in writing to the Sullivan County Clerk's office must include sufficient identifying information. Processing times and applicable fees vary by record type and volume.
Are Court Records Public in Sullivan County
Court records in Sullivan County are subject to the public access provisions of the New York Civil Rights Law § 52 and the Judiciary Law, which establish a general presumption that court records are open to public inspection. The New York State Unified Court System further governs access through its Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Case docket entries and index numbers
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders in non-restricted matters
- Hearing and trial dates
- Judgments, decrees, and final dispositions
- Sentencing entries in criminal matters
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and persons in need of supervision (PINS) proceedings
- Adoption records, which are sealed by statute under New York Domestic Relations Law § 114
- Mental hygiene proceedings
- Records sealed pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 following dismissal or acquittal
- Family offense proceedings where confidentiality orders are in effect
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the physical case file may be inspected at the clerk's office, not all documents are available through electronic portals. As the New York State Unified Court System notes, "electronic access to court records is subject to the same rules and restrictions that govern in-person access, with additional limitations based on the nature of the filing system."
What Are Court Records in Sullivan County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything formally submitted to or generated by the court from the initial filing of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appellate proceedings.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents — pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders — associated with those entries. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, whereas criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual accused of a criminal offense. Filed pleadings represent the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties, while final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings resolving the matter.
Public filings are those accessible to any member of the public under applicable law. Sealed or restricted filings have been removed from public access by court order or statute and may not be inspected without authorization. Trial court records originate in courts of first instance — such as the Sullivan County Supreme Court or County Court — while appellate records are maintained by intermediate appellate courts and the New York Court of Appeals.
The Sullivan County Clerk serves as the official custodian of Supreme Court and County Court records within the county. The Sullivan County Family Court Clerk maintains family court records. Records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and rulings until final disposition.
Sullivan County Clerk's Office
100 North Street
Monticello, NY 12701
Phone: (845) 807-0411
Sullivan County Clerk
Sullivan County Supreme and County Court
Sullivan County Courthouse, 414 Broadway
Monticello, NY 12701
Phone: (845) 794-4066
New York State Courts – Sullivan County
What's Included in a Sullivan County Court Record?
A court record in Sullivan County may contain a range of documents and data points depending on the case type, the court in which it was filed, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information commonly appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, index number, court name, and division or part assignment
- Filing information: Date of filing, case type, and current case status
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and in some matters, attorneys of record
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all actions, filings, and court events
- Hearing dates: Scheduled and completed court appearances, conferences, and trial dates
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, affidavits, memoranda of law, notices, and stipulations
- Court orders and judgments: Interim orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and post-judgment relief
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly displayed
Certain categories of information are excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, and protected personal data — including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain victim information — are not available for public inspection. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal or proprietary information, may be withheld from the public record by court order.
Types of Courts in Sullivan County
Sullivan County is served by several courts operating within the New York State Unified Court System. The court structure is established under the New York State Constitution and the Judiciary Law, with each court exercising jurisdiction over specific case types.
- Sullivan County Supreme Court: A court of general jurisdiction hearing major civil matters, felony criminal cases, and matrimonial actions. The Supreme Court also exercises appellate jurisdiction over certain lower court decisions.
- Sullivan County Court: Hears felony criminal cases and has concurrent jurisdiction with the Supreme Court in certain civil matters. The County Court Clerk maintains official records for these proceedings.
- Sullivan County Family Court: Handles matters involving child custody, visitation, support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, PINS proceedings, and family offenses.
- Sullivan County Surrogate's Court: Presides over probate proceedings, estate administration, and guardianship matters.
- Sullivan County Court of Claims: Hears civil claims against New York State.
- Town and Village Justice Courts: Limited-jurisdiction courts handling misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and civil matters up to the jurisdictional threshold. Each town and village maintains its own justice court records.
The New York State Unified Court System provides a directory of all courts serving Sullivan County. General-jurisdiction courts such as the Supreme Court and County Court hear the broadest range of matters, while town and village justice courts exercise limited jurisdiction over lower-level offenses and civil disputes.
Sullivan County Family Court
Sullivan County Courthouse, 414 Broadway
Monticello, NY 12701
Phone: (845) 794-4066
Sullivan County Family Court
Sullivan County Surrogate's Court
Sullivan County Courthouse, 414 Broadway
Monticello, NY 12701
Phone: (845) 794-4066
Sullivan County Surrogate's Court
How to Search Sullivan County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Sullivan County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of court records at the clerk's office is free of charge, though copies of documents carry a per-page fee. Courthouse public access terminals allow docket searches and, in some cases, document viewing without charge during regular business hours.
The following table summarizes common access methods and associated costs:
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person docket inspection | Free |
| Courthouse public terminal search | Free |
| NYSCEF online document viewing | Free (registered users) |
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.65 per page (standard) |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document (plus per-page fee) |
| Mail request processing | Varies by record type |
The New York State Courts Fee Schedule governs fees for copies and certified documents. The eCourts civil case search tool and NYSCEF portal are accessible without charge for basic docket and index searches. Fees for certified copies and extensive research requests are established under the Judiciary Law and applicable court rules.
How Long Does Sullivan County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Sullivan County is governed by the New York State Archives Court Records Retention and Disposition Schedule issued by the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Retention periods vary by case type and court level.
Retention periods by record category include:
- Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for a minimum of 75 years following final disposition
- Misdemeanor and violation case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
- Civil case files (Supreme Court): Retained for a minimum of 25 years; certain judgment records are retained permanently
- Probate and estate records: Retained permanently
- Family court records: Retention varies by proceeding type; certain records are retained for 10 to 25 years
- Traffic and ordinance records: Retained for a minimum of 3 to 5 years depending on disposition
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently as official court records
Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the reproduction meets applicable standards. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing, redaction, or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is removed from public access. An expunged record is treated as though it never existed for most legal purposes. Archived records may be held in county archives, the New York State Archives, or on microfilm at the originating court. Older records predating electronic systems may exist only in paper or microfilm format and require in-person or written requests to access.
How To Find a Court Docket in Sullivan County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a case. It differs from the full case file in that it functions as an index or log — recording what happened and when — rather than containing the actual documents filed. The docket is the starting point for locating specific filings within a case file.
Dockets for Sullivan County Supreme Court civil matters are searchable through the New York State eCourts WebCivil Supreme system. Users may search by party name, index number, or attorney name. The system returns docket entries, party information, and, for electronically filed cases, links to documents filed through NYSCEF.
To locate a docket through eCourts:
- Navigate to the eCourts WebCivil Supreme search portal.
- Select "Sullivan" as the county.
- Enter the index number, party name, or attorney name in the appropriate field.
- Review the returned case list and select the relevant matter.
- Access the docket entries, which display filing dates, document types, and hearing information.
A court docket entry typically contains the date of the action, a description of the filing or event, and the party or court responsible for the entry. Dockets may include hearing dates, continuances, motion return dates, conference dates, and status updates. A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or physical exhibits unless those items are separately available through an electronic filing system.
Motion calendars and hearing rosters for Sullivan County courts are maintained by the individual court parts and may be available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. The New York State Unified Court System provides court-specific contact information for calendar inquiries. As the New York Courts system states, "the docket is the authoritative record of case activity and serves as the foundation for any search of court records."