FOIL vs. Richmond County Court Records
The most important distinction in Richmond County public records is between agency records and court records. Each has a different legal framework, a different office, and a different process.
The Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law Article 6, declares a state policy of open access to government agency records and gives any person the right to submit a request. It applies to agencies: city departments, the NYC Department of Correction, DMV, the District Attorney's administrative files, and similar government bodies. FOIL sets response deadlines, denial grounds, appeal procedures, and fee limits. The official text is available through the NY Committee on Open Government.
Court case files are a different matter. Courts are not ordinary agencies for FOIL purposes when it comes to the case files they handle. NY CourtHelp separates "How to Submit a Request for Court Records" from FOIL and explains that users request court records from the Clerk of the Court or County Clerk that holds them. Court record access is governed by Judiciary Law, court rules, and specific confidentiality statutes such as Domestic Relations Law section 235 for matrimonial files and Family Court Act section 166 for family matters.
A person looking for a divorce decree in Richmond County does not submit a FOIL request. They contact the Richmond County Clerk or the Supreme Court clerk and follow court-record procedures. A person looking for DOC administrative policies or agency reports uses FOIL directed to the relevant agency. Getting the path right is the first step.
Note: FOIL is also useful for DA administrative records, precinct-level agency documents, and city agency files, but it is not a substitute for sealed or restricted court records.
Richmond County Clerk Records
The Office of the Richmond County Clerk maintains two categories of records: Supreme Court records and county records. Both are important for public-records searches, and both are accessed through the Clerk's office at 130 Stuyvesant Place in St. George, Staten Island.
Supreme Court records include civil case files, matrimonial filings, foreclosure proceedings, Article 78 petitions, and related papers filed in the Supreme Court of Richmond County. The County Clerk collects filing fees for Supreme Court cases, including the $210 index number fee that starts a civil action. Certified copies of Supreme Court court records cost $8 per document plus $0.25 per page.
County records are a separate category. They include land documents, liens, and instruments affecting real property, along with judgments transcribed to the county, federal tax liens, hospital liens, mechanics liens, notices of pendency, powers of attorney, business certificates, and notary records. These are searched through the Richmond County Clerk land documents search, which offers six search modes: Document Number, Party or Company Name, Date Range, Block and Lot, Book and Page, and Book and Page Special.
The categories below cover the main county-clerk record types relevant to a public-records search in Richmond County.
- Land documents and deeds - transfers of real property in Richmond County, searchable by party name, block and lot, or document number.
- Judgments and transcripts - court judgments docketed with the County Clerk and transcripts of judgment from other courts.
- Federal and state tax liens - IRS and state tax liens against taxpayers with property in Richmond County.
- Mechanics liens - contractor and materialman claims against property, including original liens, amendments, and satisfactions.
- Business certificates - DBA filings and business certificate records for sole proprietors and partnerships operating under a trade name.
- Notary records - notary public renewals and commissioner of deeds appointments recorded with the Clerk.
- Notices of pendency - lis pendens filed to alert buyers of pending litigation affecting property.
For marriage and divorce records, the path is different. Current NYC marriage licenses and records are handled by the NYC City Clerk, not the Richmond County Clerk. Divorce actions are filed in Supreme Court through the County Clerk, but the underlying matrimonial papers are subject to Domestic Relations Law confidentiality restrictions. The Richmond County Clerk fee page lists authentication of a certificate of marriage at $3, which is an authentication service, not the source of the original record.
Court Records and Clerk Requests in Richmond County
When a court case file is not available through an online portal, the right path is a direct request to the clerk that holds the record. Richmond County has several clerks, each serving a different court, and the right office depends on the case type.
Judiciary Law section 255 requires court clerks to diligently search their files and certify the result once fees are paid and an offer to pay is made. This is the statutory basis for certified copy requests and record searches by the clerk. A certified copy carries the clerk's seal and is acceptable in legal proceedings; a printout from an online portal is not.
The table below identifies which clerk handles which type of record in Richmond County.
| Record Type | Clerk or Office | Search Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court civil and matrimonial case files | Richmond County Clerk, 130 Stuyvesant Place | WebCivil Supreme; NYSCEF guest search for e-filed cases |
| Supreme Court criminal case files | Criminal Term clerk, 26 Central Avenue, Room 240 | WebCriminal for pending cases with future dates |
| Civil Court, Housing, and Small Claims records | Civil Court clerk, 927 Castleton Avenue | WebCivil Local |
| Family Court records | Family Court clerk, 18 Richmond Terrace | WebFamily (limited to active cases; many files confidential) |
| Surrogate's Court estate and probate records | Surrogate's Court clerk, 18 Richmond Terrace, Room 201 | WebSurrogate |
| Land documents, liens, business certificates | Richmond County Clerk, 130 Stuyvesant Place | Richmond County Clerk land documents portal |
For full detail on search tools and certified copy procedures, the Richmond County court records page covers the eCourts gateway, each portal's search fields, and the fee schedule for certified copies.
Agency Records in Richmond County
Several state and city agencies hold public records that relate to Richmond County residents but are not court records and are not held by the County Clerk. Each agency handles its own FOIL requests, and some have online search tools.
The NYC Department of Correction holds custody and administrative records for people in NYC jail custody. Richmond County arrestees may be in DOC custody at Rikers Island or another city facility. The DOC Person in Custody Lookup is the official tool for current custody status. DOC administrative records, including policies and reports, may be requested through FOIL directed to DOC.
The New York DMV holds driver records, traffic conviction histories, and license records. A driver may order their own driver abstract through the official DMV records page. Third-party access to another person's driving record is limited by privacy rules. FOIL requests to DMV for administrative records are separate from driver abstract requests, which are handled under DMV's own records access rules.
The Richmond County District Attorney's office holds prosecution records and administrative files. Pending case information may appear in WebCriminal for criminal matters. Administrative records such as press releases, policy documents, and public files may be requested through FOIL directed to the DA's office at 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301, phone 718-876-6300.
The DCJS public sex offender registry is an official agency database accessible to the public at no charge through the NY DCJS sex offender registry search. It is a law enforcement and public notification tool, not a general criminal-history database.
How to File a Richmond County Public Records Request
Filing a FOIL request in Richmond County means identifying the right agency and submitting a written request that describes the records you want. The agency must respond within five business days to either grant access, deny the request, or acknowledge receipt and set a date for a fuller response. Most agencies accept requests by mail, email, or an online portal where one exists.
- Identify the correct agency. Court case files go to the relevant clerk, not a FOIL officer. Agency administrative records go to that agency's FOIL officer or records access officer. If you are unsure, the NY Committee on Open Government at opengovernment.ny.gov provides guidance and agency contact information.
- Write a clear description of the records you want. Include the subject matter, date range, document type, names of parties or officials, and any identifiers you know such as case numbers or docket numbers. Vague requests slow down the response.
- Include your name and contact information, and state a preference for the format in which you want the records (paper copies, electronic files, or inspection in person). You do not need to explain why you want the records.
- Submit the request in writing. Many NYC agencies accept requests by email or through an online portal. Mail submissions to the agency's records access officer are also accepted. Keep a copy of your request and note the date sent.
- Wait for the response. The agency must acknowledge receipt within five business days. It may grant access, deny access with reasons, or extend the time for compliance when the volume or complexity of the request justifies it.
- Pay any applicable fees when the agency notifies you that the records are ready. Fees under FOIL are generally limited to the cost of reproduction and, in some cases, preparation time when a request is voluminous or requires significant labor.
- If the request is denied, you may appeal the denial within the agency within 30 days and then seek further review from the Committee on Open Government or pursue an Article 78 proceeding in court.
For probate and estate records, the Richmond County Surrogate's Court page explains how to use WebSurrogate and how to contact the Records Room for older files. The Surrogate's Court accepts petitions and other papers by mail to 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301.
What to Include in a Public Records Request
A well-written request reduces delays and produces better results. The table below lists the key information elements that belong in a FOIL request or court-record request. Not every field is required for every request, but including as much as you know makes it easier for the records officer to find and produce the documents.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your name | Yes | Required for court-record certified copies; FOIL requests may technically be anonymous but a name speeds up contact. |
| Mailing address or email | Yes | Needed to send records or a response notice; include both if you prefer email but want paper copies. |
| Description of records sought | Yes | Be specific: document type, subject, parties, date range. "All records about X between January and June 2024" is better than "all records." |
| Date range | Recommended | Narrows the search and reduces fees; omit only if you need all available dates. |
| Case or docket number | If known | For court-record requests, a case number allows the clerk to locate the file quickly; without it the clerk must search by name. |
| Format preference | Optional | Request electronic files (PDF) to reduce copy fees; request certified paper copies if you need them for legal use. |
| Fee waiver request | Optional | Agencies may waive fees for news media, researchers, or if disclosure is in the public interest; state your basis if requesting a waiver. |
| Phone number | Optional | Speeds up contact if there are questions about the request; not required. |
For court-record copy requests to the Richmond County Clerk, have the court name, case or index number, party names, and document type ready before contacting the office. Certified copies of court records cost $8 per document plus $0.25 per page; a plain copy is $0.25 per page.
Fees for Richmond County Public Records
Fees in Richmond County depend on which office holds the record and whether you need a certified copy. Court-record fees are set by the Richmond County Clerk. FOIL fees are set by the specific agency, subject to limits in the statute. Federal records through PACER carry per-page access fees.
| Record Type | Amount | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Plain copy, per page | $0.25 | Richmond County Clerk |
| Certified copy of court record (Supreme Court) | $8 per document plus $0.25 per page | Richmond County Clerk |
| Certified copy of county clerk record | $10 per document plus $0.25 per page | Richmond County Clerk |
| Court records search, two consecutive years | $5 | Richmond County Clerk |
| Certificate of disposition of judgment | $10 | Richmond County Clerk |
| Business certificate filing | $100 | Richmond County Clerk |
| Business certificate certified copy | $10 per document plus $0.25 per page | Richmond County Clerk |
| Authentication of certificate of marriage | $3 | Richmond County Clerk |
| Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) | $95 | NY court system per NY CourtHelp |
| FOIL copies | Generally $0.25 per page or actual cost | Varies by agency; fee waivers available in some cases |
| Federal PACER access | Per-page fees per federal schedule | PACER, pacer.uscourts.gov |
FOIL fees under Public Officers Law section 87 are generally limited to the cost of reproducing records and, where preparation is voluminous or requires significant computer programming, reasonable preparation costs. Agencies may not charge for the time spent searching for records in most standard requests.
Privacy and Sealing Rules for Richmond County Records
Not all records in Richmond County are open to the public. New York has several overlapping privacy and confidentiality schemes that limit or restrict access to certain categories of records.
Public Officers Law Article 6-A, the Personal Privacy Protection Law, governs state agency personal-information systems. The New York State Archives PPPL page explains that it gives individuals rights to access, review, and seek correction of personal data held by state agencies, with some exclusions for the judiciary and certain local units. It applies to state-agency data systems, not to court case files directly.
For court records, the key restrictions come from specific statutes. Family Court records involving children are restricted under Family Court Act section 166. Matrimonial papers are confidential under Domestic Relations Law section 235. Sealed criminal records under CPL 160.50, 160.55, and 160.59 are removed from public searches. Surrogate's Court filers must redact confidential personal information under 22 NYCRR 207.64. Civil filers must redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth, and minor names under Uniform Civil Rule 202.5(e).
FOIL section 87 sets out the grounds on which agencies may deny a request, including records that if disclosed would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, records compiled for law enforcement purposes, confidential commercial information, and records subject to attorney-client or similar privilege. Section 89 sets the appeal procedures for denied requests.
A sealed court record is not destroyed. It remains accessible to law enforcement, courts, licensing agencies, and certain authorized parties under statutory exceptions. A person who wants to inspect or unseal their own sealed record typically must file a motion or petition in the court that sealed it and follow the statutory procedures and timelines for that record type.
For more on criminal record sealing, including the paths under CPL 160.50, 160.55, and 160.59, see the Richmond County arrest records page.
Federal Records Covering Richmond County
Richmond County falls within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Federal records are not held by the Richmond County Clerk or any state court system. They require separate access through PACER or the federal courthouse.
Bankruptcy records for Staten Island residents and businesses are filed in the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York is the official source for these filings. Bankruptcy petitions, schedules, plans, and related documents are public records accessible through PACER after registration. PACER charges per-page fees, though free access is available at public terminals inside federal courthouses and for certain opinions through free legal databases.
The Eastern District Bankruptcy Court filing page is the gateway for bankruptcy records affecting Richmond County. The screenshot below shows the court's official site, which covers filing information, forms, and case search access for Staten Island bankruptcy matters.
For bankruptcy cases, search PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov after registering for a free account. PACER covers the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court dockets and documents for Richmond County cases filed in federal bankruptcy court.
The Personal Privacy Protection Law governs how state agencies handle personal data. The screenshot below shows the New York State Archives page describing Public Officers Law Article 6-A, the PPPL, which sets individual rights to access and correct personal information in state agency records.
The PPPL applies to state agency personal-information systems and is relevant to understanding what rights a person has to access or correct their own data in state administrative records, which is separate from the process for court case files.
Federal civil and criminal cases in the Eastern District are searched through PACER as well. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York posts filing rules, forms, and case access information for federal civil, criminal, and civil-rights matters affecting Richmond County.