Ulster County, New York State Court Records

In Ulster County, court records are used to preserve information about legal cases. They are official documents filed with or created by court clerks as supportive records in litigation and serve various purposes, including the preservation of legal precedent, legal research, genealogical research, and public accountability. Furthermore, the creation, maintenance, and dissemination of court records are governed by the New York Public Records Law and local court rules.

The Ulster County Clerk’s Office is the official custodian of all court records originating from the county. Ulster County court records do not exist independently, as they are often connected to other public records, especially vital records and law enforcement records, and these records are updated dependent on each other. For instance, arrest records often precede the creation of criminal case records, which may be found while inspecting court records.

Are Ulster County Court Records Public?

Yes. New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) grants public access to government agency documents. While this also applies to court administrative records, Ulster County court records are only subject to public disclosure under Section 255 of the Judiciary Law. Furthermore, access varies with court type and is subject to specific state laws as well as court rules. In addition, a public record may be restricted from public access by a court order due to certain circumstances deemed by the court to surpass the public’s interest in the case. Exempt court case information includes juvenile information, identifying information about confidential informants, social security numbers, and sealed/expunged records.

What Information is Available in Ulster County Court Records?

Below are public contents of Ulster County court records:

Case number
Party names
Filing date
Case status and type
Court name and jurisdiction
Attorney names
Claims (civil) or charges (criminal)
Court filings and documents, including complaints, motions, responses, court orders, rulings, and affidavits
Hearing dates
Transcripts
Case dockets
Sentencing details
Verdicts

Ulster County Court Records Search

Criminal and civil court records filed in Ulster County are available through the Ulster County Clerk’s Office. Access methods are online, by mail, in person, or by phone:

Online Access - Records are available online through Search IQS, an officially recognized third-party vendor. Records are available for cases filed from 1987 to date. Users can search as a guest or create an account on the platform and log in for improved access. Searches require party name or case number.
In-Person Access - Interested persons are allowed to submit in-person requests in the Records Room located on the second floor of 244 Fair Street. This location also houses public access terminals that can be used instead. Note that fees are assessed for this service.
Mail-in Requests - Mail-in requests are done using letters that must contain the index number, filing date, and party names associated with the sought-after documents. All mail must include the requestor’s name, mailing address, and the fee. Address all mail-in requests to

Ulster County Clerk’s Office

244 Fair Street

Kingston, New York 12401

Phone Requests - Only use this option for informational purposes. To request case information over the phone, call (845) 340-3288.

Fees for Court Records in Ulster County

The court clerk’s office is legally authorized to assess fees for record searches. The first 8 pages of plain documents cost $5.20, while each additional copy costs $0.65. For certified copies, $5.00 for the first 4 pages and $1.25 for each additional page. The maximum amount that may be assessed for a particular record is $40.00.

Ulster County Courthouse Locations

The following are Ulster County’s courthouse locations, addresses, and phone numbers:

Ulster County Courthouse - Supreme Court

285 Wall Street

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 481-9375

Fax: (845) 476-3619

Ulster County Courthouse - County Court

285 Wall Street

Kingston, NY 12401

Chambers: (845) 481-9393

Ulster County Family Court

2 Development Court

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 481-9430

Fax: (845) 483-8114

Surrogate’s Court

County Office Building, 3rd Floor

244 Fair Street

Kingston, NY 12401

Mailing: PO Box 1800 Kingston, NY 12402-1800

Phone: (845) 481-9338

Kingston City Court

1 Garraghan Drive, Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 481-9350

Fax: (845) 483-8113

Denning Justice Court

1567 Denning Road

PO Box 66

Claryville, NY 12725

Phone: (845) 985-2100

Ellenville Village Court

2 Elting Court

Ellenville, NY 12428

Phone: (845) 647-5107

Fax: (845) 647-5186

Esopus Justice Court

284 Broadway

Ulster Park, NY 12487

Mailing: PO Box 700, Port Ewen, NY 12466

Phone: (845) 331-5776

Fax: (845) 331-5935

Gardiner Town Court

2340 Route 44/55

PO Box 289

Gardiner, NY 12525

Phone: (845) 256-0017 ext. 106

Fax: (845) 255-2481

Hardenburgh Town Court

51 Rider Hollow Road

Arkville, NY 12406

Phone: (212) 546-6215

Fax: (845) 586-1010

Hurley Justice Court

10 Wamsley Place

PO Box 325

Hurley, NY 12443

Phone: (845) 331-7474 ext. 1

Fax: (845) 340-4523

Kingston Town Court

906 Sawkill Road

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 336-8853 ext. 12

Fax: (845) 336-0339

Lloyd Town Court

12 Church Street, Suite 2

Highland, NY 12528

Phone: (845) 691-7544

Fax: (845) 691-7103

Marbletown Justice Court

Physical: 1925 Lucas Avenue, Cottekill, NY 12419

Mailing: PO Box 128

Stone Ridge, NY 12484

Phone: (845) 687-7500 ext. 1

Fax: (845) 687-4336

Marlborough Justice Court

21 Milton Turnpike

PO Box 74

Milton, NY 12547

Phone: (845) 795-2256 ext. 3

Fax: (845) 795-5846

New Paltz Town Justice Court

23 Plattekill Avenue

New Paltz, NY 12561

Phone: 845-255-0041

Fax: (845) 255-0814

Olive Town Justice Court

50 Bostock Road

PO Box 201

Shokan, NY 12481

Phone: (845) 657-2912

Fax: (845) 657-2672

Plattekill Town Court

1915 Route 44-55

PO Box 45

Modena, NY 12548

Phone: (845) 883-5805

Fax: (845) 883-6730

Rochester Town Justice Court

140 Samsonville Road

PO Box 167

Kerhonkson, NY 12446

Phone: (845) 626-2522

Fax: (845) 626-2549

Rosendale Justice Court

1915 Lucas Avenue

Cottekill, NY 12419

Phone: (845) 658-3686

Fax: (845) 658-7691

Saugerties Town Justice Court

4 High Street

Saugerties, NY 12477

Phone: (845) 246-2800 ext. 325

Saugerties Village Justice Court

43 Partition Street

Saugerties, NY 12477

Fax: (845) 246-3958

Shandaken Justice Court

Town Hall

7209 Route 28

PO Box 6

Shandaken, NY 12480

Phone: (845) 688-5005

Fax: (845) 688-5348

Shawangunk Town Court

Town Hall

14 Central Avenue

PO Box 247

Wallkill, NY 12589

Phone: (845) 895-2111

Fax: (845) 895-5482

Ulster Town Court

1 Town Hall Drive

Lake Katrine, NY 12449

Phone: (845) 382-1737

Fax: (845) 382-1838

Wawarsing Town Court

108 Canal Street

PO Box 671

Ellenville, NY 12428

Phone: (845) 647-7800 ext. 1

Fax: (845) 647-4776

Woodstock Justice Court

Town Hall

76 Tinker Street

Woodstock, NY 12498

Phone: (845) 679-6345

Fax: (845) 679-6826

Criminal Records Access in Ulster County

Ulster County criminal records are generally public, with exceptions for sealed or restricted cases and cases exempt by New York statute. Felony cases are filed in the county or supreme court, while misdemeanors and lesser offenses are heard in city or town courts. Interested persons can view Ulster County criminal records from July 1987 to the present online using Search IQS. Searches are by name, filing date, case/index number, etc. Searches are free while copies or downloads involve fees.

For statewide searches, visit the NY Courts eCourts portal. However, not all records or documents are available but require an in-person visit to the county clerk’s office at 244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401 (2nd floor Records Room) during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m.). Record seekers can also call this office at (845) 340-3288 or send their request via mail. Criminal history record searches, used for background checks, are facilitated by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Visit their website for more information.

Ulster County Probate Records

Probate matters (such as estate administration, wills, trusts, guardianship, conservatorship, and related proceedings) in Ulster County are handled by the Ulster County Surrogate’s Court. Ulster County probate records are open to the public, although restrictions apply for sensitive cases. Online access to records can be achieved using the New York State Unified Court System tool dedicated specifically to surrogate’s court records. This free tool allows users to search for estate records and other probate filings and uses name and file number as the main search criteria.

For an in-person search or to obtain older records, visit the surrogate’s court during office hours. Older records are often on microfiche or microfilm and may be viewed using public access computers at the courthouse. Note that it is important to call the court ahead to check for appointment requirements or procedures.

County	Court Name	Address	Phone Number	Office Hours
Ulster County	Ulster County Surrogate’s Court	244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401	(845) 481-9338	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ulster County Family Court Records

The Ulster County Family Court handles family law cases, such as divorce, paternity, adoption, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and spousal support. Although generally assumed public, there are significant restrictions on public access for most family court records, especially when they involve children or sensitive family matters. To obtain certified copies for official use, visit the court during business hours with proof of identification and the search fee. Non-case parties may need to demonstrate a legitimate reason or obtain a court order to access records.

Records can also be accessed through the New York State Unified Court System. Searches are done by providing a file number or case docket number, the name of an attorney or firm, or court calendars. Note that this website mainly shows cases with future appearances or active calendars. Disposed/closed cases or full records are not generally available online.

Federal Court Records in Ulster County

In cases pertaining to federal law, Ulster County falls within the jurisdiction of the United States District Court of the Northern District of New York. Federal law cases include federal tax disputes, firearms violations, terrorism-related offenses, civil right violations, and bankruptcy cases. People can view federal case records in person at the courthouse or through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).

Interested persons can register an account on the system for free but must pay certain fees to access records. Records are available at $0.10 per page, $3.00 per document, and $2.40 per audio file. To view online records for free (which is only available to case parties), a person must receive a Notice of Electronic or Notice of Docket Activity from the court.